As with many cars, the Alfa Romeo 147 has its fair share of known problems that owners talk about. From minor annoyances to potentially serious mechanical failures, these are problems. Topics are common to include electrical gremlins, suspension wear, Selespeed transmission woes in the automated models, and engine related issues, the timing belt failing on some variants. These problems are so frequent and severe that they are the cause of endless debates about the I.47's reliability and whether it's true that Italian cars are temperamental. Owners and enthusiasts argue the issues are overblown, if they are even offset by the car's other qualities, or how those relative problems compare to those of competitors. Among other things, the discussion often includes the availability and price of parts, how difficult it may be to DIY repairs, as well as which model years and engine variants tend to be more reliable.