2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia
The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Giulia, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giulia | Gas | RWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 33 | 27 | $3,050 |
| Giulia AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 31 | 26 | $3,150 |
| Giulia | Gas | RWD | 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 25 | 20 | $4,100 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43352, 43353, 43611.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giulia, Giulia AWD | 3 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2 L |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 280 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Blind-spot monitoring, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: SPORT (BASE), Ti - Ti LUSSO - Ti SPORT - Ti SPORT CARBON). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (6)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseEquipment
81BAir Bags
82BFuel System, Gasoline
54BFuel System, Gasoline
Y91Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Y24These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific Giulia
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Alfa Romeo publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Giulia →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
16 per 10,000 built · Alfa Romeo reported 5,655 Giulia built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 4
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
The contact owns a 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The contact stated that it was difficult refuel the fuel to full. Additionally, it was difficult to insert the nozzle into the fuel filler neck. There was no warning light illuminated.
In Feb 2025, I was involved in an accident where a driver damaged my driver's side door. I brought my car to the Fix Auto Downtown LA location for repairs. Cosmetically the door was repaired, but over the next year my latch would temporarily lock, preventing access and requiring me to enter through my passenger side door/climb over the…
Front Panoramic sunroof suddenly shattered while the vehicle was in operation and in motion. Shards of glass went into the vehicle and scattered on the exterior. The sudden shattering cause an explosion like sound which startled the driver. It did not cause an accident but it could have
The contact owns a 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The contact’s son was driving approximately 65 mph on the freeway when the transmission erroneously shifted to neutral and the vehicle would not accelerate. After stopping and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as normal and the failure was no longer present.
The contact owns a 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The contact stated while on vacation driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, no issues were found.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Alfa Romeo itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 18 per 100,000 built. Every Giulia model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Alfa Romeo warranty extension 22D Combo Rev122D - On Board Diagnostics - Dealer Notification (Revision 1)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Alfa Romeo warranty extension 22D22D - On Board Diagnostics - Dealer Notification
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Stellantis warranty extension (117) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Power Train, Structure.
- 22D Combo Rev1 Warranty extension2026-09-10 · Electrical System
- Emissions Recall 22D - On Board Diagnostics - Dealer Notification (Revision 1)
- 22D Combo Warranty extension2026-09-02 · Electrical System
- Emissions Recall 22D - On Board Diagnostics - Dealer Notification
- 112842 Service bulletin2026-06-18 · Engine
- BOLT - HEX FLANGE HEAD
- 2623000037 REV. A Service bulletin2026-06-05 · Structure — Body
- Condensation Or Water Infiltration In Headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Turn Signals, Fog Lights, Taillights. Rev A
- S2623000037 Service bulletin2026-05-28 · Structure — Body
- Condensation Or Water Infiltration In Headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Turn Signals, Fog Lights, Taillights.
- 01-001-26 Service bulletin2026-05-16 · Engine
- Oil Change Monitor Displaying Prematurely Customers may experience the following: ● The oil change light illuminated on the dash shortly after taking delivery of the vehicle within 6,437 Km (4,000 miles) This bulletin involves resetting the oil life monitor and if necessary changing the engine oil and filter.
- S2621000003 REV. A Service bulletin2026-03-09 · Power Train
- The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.
- S1408000384 REV. J Service bulletin2026-03-04 · Electrical System
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0513 P0513 on Alfa Romeo → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
| P1CEA P1CEA on Alfa Romeo → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 3 bulletins |
| B1E21 B1E21 on Alfa Romeo → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).
failed emissions
279 initial inspections of 270 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2021 Giulia | Every 2021 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.9% | 1.9% | 278 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 2.1% | 1.5% | 279 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0% | 0.19% | 279 |
| Miles driven a year | 7,665 | 10,343 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 40,622 | 54,681 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Giulia by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2021 Giulia
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The most serious on file is 24V510000, covering Air Bags. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (70/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia, most often about fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia?
The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia is 3 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia?
The manufacturer has filed 137 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-09-10. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia failed the emissions check on 2.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 6 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 9 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 137 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 12 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.