Recall 18V205 covers 12,595 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles for body-control-module water intrusion. Repair will be free at any franchised Alfa Romeo dealer once available.
Alfa Romeo is recalling 12,595 2018 Stelvio SUVs under recall 18V205 because water intrusion can corrode the body control module and connectors. The defect can disable windshield wipers, exterior lights, or the horn, or trigger unintended turn signals, raising crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The body control module in the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is an electronic controller that manages many body electrical functions, including exterior lights, windshield wipers, horn operation, turn signals, and warning indicators. Its connectors carry signals between the module, wiring harnesses, and the parts those switches control. The module and connectors need to stay dry so those low-voltage signals stay clean and predictable.
On affected Stelvios, sealing at the A-pillar sheet metal joint and the plenum area near the heating and air-conditioning box lets water enter places it should not reach. That water can get into the body control module, the A-pillar connector, or both. Once moisture sits on the electrical contacts, corrosion forms and interferes with the signals the module sends and receives. The result can be warning lamps, inoperative wipers, loss of exterior lighting, horn failure, or turn signals activating without the driver choosing them.
Owners can see a malfunction indicator lamp tied to the windshield wipers, automatic headlights, or exterior lights. Those warnings mean the electrical system needs dealer inspection.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Electrical |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 12,595 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Wipers that fail in rain and exterior lights that fail at night increase the risk of a crash. If the warning light appears, or the wipers, auto headlights, or exterior lights stop working, avoid rain and night driving and contact an Alfa Romeo dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Alfa Romeo dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Alfa Romeo dealer to ask whether the body-control-module sealing repair is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 18V205 when you call, and use Alfa Romeo recall U36 if the service desk asks for the manufacturer recall number.
- Bring the owner notice if Alfa Romeo mailed one to you.
- Avoid driving in heavy rain or at night until the repair is complete, since water damage to the body control module can affect wipers, exterior lights, the horn, and turn signals.
What happens at the repair
Once the repair opens, an Alfa Romeo technician will install additional sealing protection so water does not enter the body control module and its connectors. The final dealer repair will be free under the recall. Alfa Romeo's reimbursement policy covers owners who already paid to repair the same problem before the recall notice. Send the original receipt or other adequate proof of payment to Alfa Romeo as directed in the owner letter so the company can confirm the expense.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 29, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 25, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 18, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| May 18, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 18, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 18, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V205?
Recall 18V205 covers 12,595 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles with a body control module water-leak problem. Water entering the module and connectors can cause corrosion and electrical malfunctions, including loss of wipers, exterior lights, horn function, or unintended turn signal activation.
What should I do if my 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Stelvio is included in recall 18V205. If it is, contact a franchised Alfa Romeo dealer and ask for recall U36. The dealer installs additional sealing protection for the body control module and its connectors.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost to the owner. For recall 18V205, the dealer repair adds sealing protection to keep water out of the body control module and connectors.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V205?
The safety risk is an electrical malfunction that interferes with equipment the driver needs to see, signal, and stay visible. Wipers that fail in rain or exterior lights that fail at night increase crash risk. The recall repair addresses the water path into the control module.
What if I bought my 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Stelvio is included, then call a franchised Alfa Romeo dealer and reference recall U36 or 18V205.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V205000 |
|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo customer service | 1-800-853-1403 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V205 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V205000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →