2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Curtain Air Bag Recall (21V221)

Recall 21V221 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio in recall 21V221?

An improperly crimped clamp may allow the side curtain air bag cushion and inflator to separate, causing an incomplete deployment or preventing the deployment of the air bag.

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. An improperly crimped clamp may allow the side curtain air bag cushion and inflator to separate, causing an incomplete deployment or preventing the deployment of the air bag.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Stelvio with recall 21V221?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incomplete deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incomplete deployment or non-deployment of the side curtain air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Stelvio shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the curtain, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V221?

Recall 21V221 covers 1,222 vehicles: 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.

NHTSA lists 1,222 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Stelvio curtain air bag recall?

Yes. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag inflatable curtain assembly, free of charge.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag inflatable curtain assembly, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 19, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Y15.

When was recall 21V221 announced?

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 21V221 to NHTSA on March 30, 2021.

This recall was filed 67 months ago. If your Stelvio was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Stelvio is part of recall 21V221?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V221 is open on your Stelvio, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V221000 is open on your Stelvio, it will be listed there, along with Alfa Romeo recall number Y15. You can also ask any Alfa Romeo dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Stelvio owners do about recall 21V221?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V221000 applies to your Stelvio.
2. Call a Alfa Romeo dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the curtain happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Stelvio owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V221 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 7 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Can recall 21V221 make my Stelvio a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V221