When people think of luxury carmakers, prominent brands that come to mind include Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, and Porsche. Alfa Romeo vehicles are known for their unique styling and delightful driving experience, and some consumers feel attached to the brand due to its long history in motorsports. One of the automaker’s most recent additions, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, is a luxury compact SUV that debuted in 2018. However, the 2021 model just got its first recall, and it involves airbags. 

Learn more about the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, its first recall, and how to find out if your vehicle needs repairs. 

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio at a glance

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio commands attention with its unique and eye-catching exterior. Its grille and headlights look futuristic and unlike anything else on the market. The back looks smoother, featuring rounded taillights and circular dual exhausts. One of the most interesting exterior features are the wheels, somewhat representing a snowflake shape. It adds instant personality and makes this compact crossover SUV look athletic yet opulent. 

The interior is similarly beautiful, though U.S. News calls the seats stiff. It also wasn’t impressed by the cabin’s overall feel compared with other vehicles in its class. Where the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio really shines, however, is its performance. The engine is powerful, and the steering is responsive and downright fun. It also drives incredibly smoothly on even the roughest of roads. These performance aspects almost make up for the less-than-stellar interior. 

Overall, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a decent luxury SUV, and it might be a good choice for those who prioritize performance over anything else. 

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s first recall

The 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio recently received its first recall, thanks to faulty side curtain airbag mechanisms that can cause them to deploy incompletely or not at all. The issue stems from an improperly crimped clamp, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports. However, the problem affects only about 1,200 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. Still, these issues could increase a person’s risk for injury during an accident. 

This isn’t the first time in Alfa Romeo’s long history that one of its models has received a recall. The 2018 Stelvio has eight recalls as of this writing, and the 2018 Giulia has eight, NHTSA records show. But that doesn’t mean Alfa Romeo necessarily produces low-quality vehicles. Recalls are a common occurrence for car manufacturers. 

How to find out if your vehicle is affected

If you own a 2021 Stelvio, you should receive a notice via mail and/or email from the manufacturer in the next few weeks. However, it’s a good idea to check to see if your vehicle is affected by this recall. Side curtain airbags are important safety features, and it’s in your best interest to get them fixed if needed. Alfa Romeo dealers will replace the affected inflatable curtain assembly for free.

The brand’s parent company, Stellantis, plans to begin notifying owners beginning May 19. If you want more information about this recall, you can visit the NHTSA‘s website and use your vehicle identification number (VIN) to check your Stelvio’s status. You can also call the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. And if you have questions, you can call Stellantis customer support at 800-853-1403.