Unexplained loss of Selespeed oil from new. 4 Selespeed actuators replaced. First at 3,000 miles, and the latest at 42,000.
Gears stuck in neutral on several occasions.
Power steering failed.
Fuse box cover replaced three times and counting.
Heating system fault on delivery.
Drivers seat (leather) damaged by the dealer. Replaced.
Inner edge of the off side front tyre suffers excessive wear. Watch out for this, the rest of the tyre will seem fine, but the inner edge could be worn through to the ply.
Water ingress into the boot (trunk).
The Selespeed system when working is excellent, but it's completly unreliable and I would not recommend this car to my worst enemy.
The customer care from Alfa is not caring, and the dealers aren't much better with limited knowledge of this car.
General build quality is poor, and the driving position is the most uncomfortable I have experienced.
I've had a similar problem with the fuse box cover - within a week of taking delivery of my new 156, the fuse box cover opened of its own accord, and now it refuses to stay shut. Appalling build quality is the cause (Alfa have probably saved a few lire in making the catches out of feeble plastic instead of metal). I've resorted to taping the cover shut!
Agree with these comments entirely.
My 156 2.0 T/S was delivered with the rear shocks smashing into the bodywork. Have lost count of the times I've been recovered after breakdowns - there have been lots.
Most unreliable car I have ever had - trouble is it looks so good.
Customer care is dreadful (don't think Alfa understand the meaning of this concept) and I drive 50 miles to the only competent Alfa dealer in the north M25 region (thanks Perry's Amersham, who are excellent).
Will never have another Alfa! Pity, but I think the dealers are victims of the huge sales success, but can't cope with the work load caused by the poor reliability.
Oh good, someone else who thinks that they are a waste of money. I can't tell you how many problems I had with mine. The worst car I have ever bought, EVER! I'd rather bloody walk (although most of the time I had to!)
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