- A man bought a new Tonale but still hasn’t received it two months later.
- Alfa Romeo recalled over 8,000 Tonales due to a rear camera safety issue.
- The buyer’s dream car has been sitting idle at the dealer lot since late April.
Buying a new car can be one of the most exciting (and expensive) purchases one can make. It’s even more exciting when that car is something you’ve spent years dreaming about. Now imagine the frustration of making that deal, only to then learn that you can’t take the car home. That’s the reality one individual is dealing with two months after purchasing an Alfa Romeo Tonale.
Review: Our $60K Alfa Romeo Tonale Is Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places
The story came to light on Reddit, where the frustrated buyer said they signed paperwork for the Tonale on April 26. That timing turned out to be unfortunate. Just days earlier, Alfa Romeo had issued a recall affecting 8,122 Tonales, all due to a backup camera issue that requires repair.
The buyer found out about the recall online, and after checking in with the dealership, they confirmed that the car couldn’t be delivered with an open safety campaign. Since then, the vehicle has been sitting untouched.
A Dream Car, A Stalled Deal
This was what the poster calls a dream car brand for him, but this situation sounds like a total nightmare. Evidently, the additional features he paid for, like ceramic coating and a full detail, aren’t done either. It’s as if the dealer doesn’t plan on the car going anywhere anytime soon. That sort of tracks, since Alfa Romeo itself clarified that it didn’t have a solution for the recall at the time of filing.
Thankfully for the customer, many on Reddit have offered some good advice. “I would call every single day and make their life hell,” said one. “I’d call Alfa/Stellantis directly,” said another. That type of dogged determination appears to be helping, too. The buyer reports that he’s picking up a loaner car on the 24th and that he’s also reaching out to corporate.
What To Watch Before You Sign
Let this be a good lesson for all of us. Signing on the dotted line for any car with an open recall requires some due diligence. This would be different if Alfa Romeo had a clear fix for the issue. Then, the customer could’ve inquired about parts availability, timelines, and more. Without that, he’s stuck waiting around for his dream car to roll up. At least until then, he’ll be putting free miles on the dealer’s loaner, if that’s any consolation…
Photo Stephen Rivers
