The Alfa Romeo Spider spans 1981–2013 with 9 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1987, 1989, 1984 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1981, 1982, 1983. It delivers up to 23 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Alfa Romeo Spider a good car?
Short answer: it depends heavily on which year you buy. Our score for the Alfa Romeo Spider is 3.5 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
The complaint that comes up most is the wheels — 1 of the 4 reports owners filed with NHTSA. If you're choosing a year, 1981, 1982, 1983 score best in our data, and 1987, 1989 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Alfa Romeo Spider is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1981 to 2013 across multiple generations.
How to read a Alfa Romeo Spider VIN — every digit explained
Every Alfa Romeo Spider carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Alfa Romeo and the country it was built in (real Alfa Romeo codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Spider.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- ItalyZAR · ZAS
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. See exactly what your VIN decodes to: model year, assembly plant, country of origin and the full 2001–2026 year-code table.
How many recalls does the Alfa Romeo Spider have?
The Alfa Romeo Spider has 9 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–2013. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1992 Alfa Romeo Spider recalls 1
Interior Lighting
What's wrong. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT MAPLIGHT.
Risk. THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
Fix. REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT MAPLIGHT AND ATTACHMENT BRACKET.
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider recalls 2
Steering:linkages
What's wrong. A CASTING FLAW IN THE STEERING BOX PITMAN AND OR IDLE ARMS MAY CAUSE METAL FATIGUE FAILURE.
Risk. FAILURE OF THE STEERING BOX PITMAN OR IDLE ARM COULDRESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING WITH A POTENTIAL FOR ANACCIDENT.
Fix. REPLACE COMPONENTS WITH CASTING FLAW.
Interior Lighting
What's wrong. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT MAPLIGHT.
Risk. THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
Fix. REPLACE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT MAPLIGHT AND ATTACHMENT BRACKET.
1982 Alfa Romeo Spider recalls 1
Electrical System:ignition:switch
What's wrong. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES STARTING DIFFICULTIES. THE ENGINE MAY FAIL TO START WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED.
Fix. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH THE LATEST TYPE, FREE OF CHARGE.
1981 Alfa Romeo Spider recalls 2
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN MISALIGNMENT OF THE PUMP.
Fix. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND RELATED HARDWARE WITH A NEW PUMP KIT, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Electrical System:ignition:switch
What's wrong. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES STARTING DIFFICULTIES. THE ENGINE MAY FAIL TO START WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED.
Fix. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH THE LATEST TYPE, FREE OF CHARGE.
Best and worst years for the Alfa Romeo Spider
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 28 tracked years, the worst years are 1987, 1989, 1984 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1981, 1982, 1983.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Spider | — | Best | |
| 1982 Spider | — | Best | |
| 1983 Spider | — | Best | |
| 1984 Spider | Wheels | Avoid | |
| 1985 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1986 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1987 Spider | Tires | Avoid | |
| 1988 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1989 Spider | Engine And Engine Cooling | Avoid | |
| 1990 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1991 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1992 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1993 Spider | — | Average | |
| 1994 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2000 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2001 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2002 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2003 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2004 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2005 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2006 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2007 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2008 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2009 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2010 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2011 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2012 Spider | — | Average | |
| 2013 Spider | — | Average |
What are the most common Alfa Romeo Spider problems?
The most-reported Alfa Romeo Spider problems are Wheels (1 reports) — out of 4 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Wheels 1 Read
Took vehicle to dealer to have tires rotated and the left rear wheel fell off due to failure to torque nuts down
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Alfa Romeo Spider specifications & dimensions
The 1992 Alfa Romeo Spider measures 168″ long on a 89″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 2,549 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Alfa Romeo Spider window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 168″ | 64″ | 50″ | 89″ | 2,549 lb |
| 1986–1989 | 169″ | 64″ | 49″ | 89″ | 2,553 lb |
| 1983 | 169″ | 65″ | 49″ | 89″ | 2,549 lb |
| 1981 | 169″ | 64″ | 49″ | 89″ | — |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Alfa Romeo Spider cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Spider holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 45 cu ft of passenger volume and 5 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Alfa Romeo Spider tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Alfa Romeo Spider get?
The Alfa Romeo Spider returns up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,350/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1994 Alfa Romeo Spider (2L 4-cyl) gets 22 mpg combined and costs about $3,500/yr to fuel, emitting 404 g/mi CO₂ — about $6,500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 Spider | 19 | 27 | $3,500 | 404 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1993 Spider | 19 | 27 | $3,500 | 404 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1992 Spider | 19 | 27 | $3,500 | 404 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1991 Spider | 19 | 27 | $3,500 | 404 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1990 Spider | 20 | 28 | $3,350 | 386 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1989 Spider | 19 | 25 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1988 Spider | 19 | 25 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1987 Spider | 19 | 25 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1986 Spider | 19 | 26 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1985 Spider | 19 | 25 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 1984 Spider | 18 | 25 | $2,950 | 423 | — | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Spider stacks up against the most fuel-efficient two-seaters, or calculate this Spider's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Alfa Romeo Spider have? Power & range
The Alfa Romeo Spider is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Alfa Romeo Spider cost to own?
A Alfa Romeo Spider tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Check what a used Spider is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Spider loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $16,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Spider ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Alfa Romeo Spider safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Spider yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How many miles does a Alfa Romeo Spider last?
A well-maintained Alfa Romeo Spider typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Alfa Romeo Spider’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Spider’s VIN free →All Alfa Romeo Spider model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Alfa Romeo Spider — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2012 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2011 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2010 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2009 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2008 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2007 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2006 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2005 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2004 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2003 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2002 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2001 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 2000 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1994 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1993 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1992 Spider | 1 recall | — | |
| 1991 Spider | 2 recalls | — | |
| 1990 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1989 Spider | 1 recall | — | |
| 1988 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1987 Spider | 1 recall | — | |
| 1986 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1985 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1984 Spider | 1 recall | — | |
| 1983 Spider | 0 | — | |
| 1982 Spider | 1 recall | — | |
| 1981 Spider | 2 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Spider?
By owner-complaint volume, 1987, 1989, 1984 drew the most reports. 1981, 1982, 1983 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Spider have?
9 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–2013. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Alfa Romeo recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Spider get?
Up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Spider last?
A well-maintained Spider typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Spider reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Spider is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Alfa Romeo Spider warranty?
New Alfa Romeo models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 4 years / 50,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Alfa Romeo dealer.
Where is the Alfa Romeo Spider made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Spider's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Alfa Romeo may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Spider have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.