Selling an old Alfa Romeo 164
When the 164 left the US market in 1995, no mass-produced Alfa Romeo replaced it there until the 4C, Wikipedia notes. EPA lists the last US 164s as 1995 models, so the ones left are now about three decades old.
- Model years in EPA data
- 1991-1995
- Production (Wikipedia)
- 1987-1998
- Designer
- Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina
- Built at
- Arese Plant, Lombardy, Italy
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 12
- Recall campaigns
- 3
If yours hasn't moved in years, we buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
The car itself
Wikipedia dates 164 production to 1987-1998 at the Arese Plant in Lombardy, with styling by Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina. It rode on the Type Four platform shared with the Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000. Wikipedia lists both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive layouts. Gearboxes were a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed Getrag manual or a 4-speed ZF automatic. EPA lists the US car for 1991 through 1995.
Three recalls from the 1990s
NHTSA lists three campaigns for the 164; each vehicle figure is the campaign's total and could count other Alfas too.
- 91V019 (1991): the headlight switch could malfunction and the high beams could fail suddenly. The fix was a new switch. 4,500 vehicles.
- 96V140 (1991-1993): the rubber fuel filler pipe can become brittle and leak fuel. Dealers replaced the pipe. 5,965 vehicles.
- 95V086 (1995): the air bag caution label was missing from the driver's sun visor. Dealers added it. 229 vehicles.
Complaints and recalls by model year
NHTSA's October 10, 2026 file shows 12 owner complaints on the 164. No fires, injuries or deaths are reported.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Crashes | Recall campaigns | Named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8 | 1 | 2 | Power train (3) |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (1) |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Service brakes, visibility (1 each) |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (1) |
Restore it or sell it?
Smell fuel around the filler? That is the subject of recall 96V140, so run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup before anything else. For a 164 that has sat for years, our sitting for years guide covers what usually needs attention before it can drive. If you'd rather not take it on, a car this age can still be sold whole. Lost the 164's paperwork decades ago? Start with selling with no title.
Selling your 164 whole
- Note the VIN, mileage and condition: flat tires, a seized brake, a dead battery.
- Ask for an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
- Say where the 164 has been kept, indoors or out; pickup is free anywhere in the US.
- Keep the sedan complete. If trim, wheels or the radio went missing over the years, list them.
- Give your 164's title to the driver along with your ID. Plates and insurance are covered in after you sell.
Questions people ask
- What recalls were issued on the Alfa Romeo 164?
- Three. 91V019 for a headlight switch that could make the high beams fail on 1991 cars, 95V086 for a missing air bag caution label on the driver's sun visor of 1995 cars, and 96V140 for a rubber fuel filler pipe on 1991-1993 cars that can turn brittle and leak fuel.
- Which 164 year has the most complaints?
- Of the 12 complaints NHTSA held for the 164 on October 10, 2026, the 1991 car drew 8, and three of them blame the power train.
- Will you buy a 164 that has been parked for years?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US, including from a garage or a backyard.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), Alfa Romeo 164, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 91V019: headlight switch, 1991 164 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 95V086: air bag caution label, 1995 164 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 96V140: fuel filler pipe, 1991-1993 164 nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Alfa Romeo 164 en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Alfa Romeo 4C (the 164 left the US market in 1995) en.wikipedia.org