Laguna Hills, CA – December 31, 2018 – Fiat (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia vehicles equipped with GME 280HP engines and All Wheel Drive (“AWD”) due to a potential brake fluid leak and subsequent risk of fire. The potential number of units affected is 6,136.
The defect
According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, certain 2017-2018 MY Alfa Romeo Giulia vehicles equipped with GME 280HP engines and All Wheel Drive (“AWD”) may have an out of specification condition between the brake fluid line and a cooling hose clamp.
The recalled vehicles may experience contact between a coolant hose clamp and a brake fluid line in the engine compartment. Over time, this contact may lead to a brake fluid leak onto the engine catalyst.
If the brake fluid line is damaged and brake fluid enters the catalyst, there is potential for an engine compartment fire which may result in an increased risk of injury to motor vehicle occupants or persons outside the vehicle.
In certain circumstances, the customer may smell a burning odor or see smoke prior to an engine compartment fire. A loss of brake fluid may also result in the illumination of the brake fluid tell-tale lamp.
Timeline of events
On June 8, 2018, Alfa Romeo received a field report from the Belgian market of a thermal event in a Giulia Super 2.0L GME 280HP AWD.
On June 11, 2018, Alfa Romeo opened an official investigation. The dealer field report identified possible contact between the coolant hose clamp and the brake fluid line.
Additionally, evidence of a small thermal event was reported, localized within the engine compartment.
Between June 12, 2018 through July 31, 2018, the Alfa Romeo Product Development team performed an audit of all Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio engineering vehicles in EMEA, for evidence of contact between the coolant hose clamp and the brake fluid line within the engine compartment.
Between August 1, 2018 through November 7, 2018, FCA US field service engineers surveyed 21 vehicles to measure the clearance between the coolant hose and brake fluid line.
On November 7, 2018, Alfa Romeo engineering quality concluded that the clearance issue was evident on the 2.0L GME 280HP AWD and determined the scope as vehicles built from September 7, 2016 through September 18, 2017, when a new engine layout for the cooling and brake fluid lines was introduced into production.
As of November 16, 2018, Alfa Romeo had identified approximately no CAIRs or VOQs and only 4 field reports related to this issue; total warranty is 4 claims.
Alfa Romeo was aware of no accidents and no injuries potentially related to this issue, but determined on that date, through the Vehicle Regulations Committee, to conduct a voluntary safety recall of the affected vehicles.
The solution
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket on the brake fluid line to prevent contact with the coolant hose clamp. If damage is found on the brake line, it will be replaced, free of charge.
The recall is expected to begin January 15, 2019. Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
FCA US has a longstanding policy and practice of reimbursing owners who have incurred the previous cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes the subject of a field action.
To ensure consistency, FCA US, as part of the owner letter, will request that customers send the original receipt and/or other adequate proof of payment to the company for confirmation of the expense.
MotorSafety.org can help you determine whether your vehicle is subject to a government-mandated recall or whether there is some factory notice that you should be informed of. Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
