Alfa Romeo is recalling 719 of its cars to address a faulty electronic parking brake. When it malfunctions it can cause carbon rotors to fracture. According to documents submitted to the NHTSA, Alfa Romeo is currently unaware of any injuries or accidents surrounding the issue.
Carbon ceramic brakes are well known for their ability to handle a licking while they keep on ticking. More directly, they handle heat cycling exceptionally well. What’s cracking some carbon ceramic matrix brakes on Alfa Romeo Giulias and Stelvios is pressure though. In this case, clamping pressure from the electronic parking brake.
Alfa Romeo says that during certain driving maneuvers, the brake system may react with an excessive clamp force that fractures the rotor which decreases brake performance.” What those “driving maneuvers” are is up for debate but Alfa Romeo also mentions that this system includes a “roll away prevention feature.”
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That seems to indicate that it could be happening while a vehicle is stopped on a hill either in the middle of a journey or while parked. Regardless of when it’s happening, the force from the braking system is too great and at times causes fractures in the braking disc. Alfa Romeo is aware of 19 warranty claims surrounding the problem.
As such, it’s recalling 603 Giulias (MY 2017-2020) with these brakes and a further 116 from the Stelvio (MY 2018-2020) population. The solution includes an update of the brake system module system and a “software update that will request reduced engine torque during certain driving maneuvers.” Again, Alfa Romeo isn’t specific about how engine torque plays a role in the issue.
Regardless of how exactly the problem arises, it seems like it affects a very small population of cars. Of all the ways one might think they could damage their hardcore performance brakes, this probably isn’t high on that list. Anyone concerned that they might own an affected vehicle can contact their local dealer or search for their VIN number at NHTSA.gov.