By make

Known Opel problems at the APK

Over all generations together Opel has an A-problem about as often than cars of the same age (rank 18 of 33 makes). 94 times a part fails clearly more often than average on a Opel generation.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

By part

Brakes

Repair: medium
  • Zafira Tourer C 2011–2019 · 5.8% at 7–8 yrs (national 1.5%)
  • Agila B 2008–2015 · 9.7% at 16+ yrs (national 6.1%)
  • Astra K 2015–2023 · 3.8% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.7%)
  • Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC 2010–2019 · 4.3% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.7%)
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 5.8% at 16+ yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Insignia A 2008–2017 · 5.7% at 16+ yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 5.6% at 16+ yrs (national 3.3%)
  • Insignia B 2017–2023 · 4.4% at 7–8 yrs (national 2.6%)
  • Crossland 2017–2025 · 3.3% at 7–8 yrs (national 1.5%)
  • Corsa E 2015–2019 · 2.4% at 5–6 yrs (national 0.7%)
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 4.7% at 16+ yrs (national 3.1%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 3.0% at 9–10 yrs (national 1.8%)
  • Grandland 2017–2026 · 2.2% at 7–8 yrs (national 1.5%)
  • Corsa F 2019–2026 · 0.8% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.5%)

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Springs and shock absorbers

Repair: medium
  • Meriva B 2010–2017 · 13.8% at 16+ yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Adam 2012–2019 · 8.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.1%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 8.2% at 16+ yrs (national 2.6%)
  • Agila B 2008–2015 · 8.0% at 16+ yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Insignia A 2008–2017 · 5.9% at 16+ yrs (national 1.6%)
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 6.8% at 16+ yrs (national 2.6%)
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 6.7% at 16+ yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 4.3% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.3%)
  • Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC 2010–2019 · 4.2% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.2%)
  • Corsa E 2015–2019 · 2.7% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.1%)
  • Zafira Tourer C 2011–2019 · 3.7% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.2%)
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 2.8% at 16+ yrs (national 1.6%)
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 1.5% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.4%)

Push each corner down firmly: the car should rebound once. Look for oil on the dampers and whether the car sits level.

Leaks

Repair: medium
  • Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC 2010–2019 · 25.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.6%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 25.7% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.6%)
  • Zafira Tourer C 2011–2019 · 24.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.5%)
  • Insignia A 2008–2017 · 19.2% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.6%)
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 24.3% at 16+ yrs (national 12.2%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 23.4% at 16+ yrs (national 12.3%)
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 22.0% at 16+ yrs (national 12.2%)
  • Meriva B 2010–2017 · 14.6% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.6%)
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 10.8% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Adam 2012–2019 · 5.4% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Astra K 2015–2023 · 4.0% at 9–10 yrs (national 1.5%)
  • Corsa E 2015–2019 · 4.2% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.6%)
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 1.5% at 5–6 yrs (national 0.1%)

Look under the engine and where the car was parked. Open the bonnet and look for wet, greasy spots.

Warning lights

Repair: medium
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 28.9% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.4%)
  • Astra K 2015–2023 · 24.7% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC 2010–2019 · 21.3% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.1%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 15.2% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 10.1% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Insignia B 2017–2023 · 4.6% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.9%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 6.0% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.2%)
  • Corsa E 2015–2019 · 4.8% at 11–12 yrs (national 2.5%)
  • Insignia A 2008–2017 · 4.9% at 9–10 yrs (national 3.1%)
  • Meriva B 2010–2017 · 2.7% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.9%)
  • Zafira Tourer C 2011–2019 · 1.7% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.9%)
  • Adam 2012–2019 · 1.6% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.9%)

Switch on the ignition: all lights come on briefly and go out after starting. If one stays on, ask about the cause.

Exhaust and emissions

Repair: medium
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 9.6% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 9.0% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 6.9% at 11–12 yrs (national 1.4%)
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 6.2% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 4.9% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.7%)
  • Zafira Tourer C 2011–2019 · 3.0% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 2.5% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
  • Crossland 2017–2025 · 1.5% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.4%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 1.9% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
  • Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC 2010–2019 · 1.5% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)

Start the engine cold and watch for smoke and an uneven idle. Listen for blowing noises under the car.

Steering

Repair: large
  • Corsa E 2015–2019 · 18.9% at 7–8 yrs (national 1.2%)
  • Adam 2012–2019 · 16.0% at 7–8 yrs (national 1.2%)
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 13.2% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.8%)
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 5.0% at 13–15 yrs (national 1.1%)
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 3.1% at 16+ yrs (national 1.6%)
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 0.6% at 5–6 yrs (national 0.1%)

Turn the wheel while stationary: no play, knocking or heavy spot. On the test drive the car should keep running straight.

Drive shafts

Repair: medium
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 7.5% at 16+ yrs (national 3.4%)
  • Grandland 2017–2026 · 1.4% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)
  • Mokka B 2020–2026 · 0.7% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.2%)
  • Crossland 2017–2025 · 0.9% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)
  • Astra K 2015–2023 · 0.8% at 7–8 yrs (national 0.5%)

Look behind the front wheels at the rubber boots: no tears or grease around them. Drive a tight turn: no clicking noise.

Windows and visibility

Repair: small
  • Corsa F 2019–2026 · 9.4% at 3–4 yrs (national 3.9%)
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 7.8% at 5–6 yrs (national 3.4%)
  • Agila B 2008–2015 · 7.8% at 13–15 yrs (national 5.2%)
  • Mokka B 2020–2026 · 5.8% at 3–4 yrs (national 3.9%)

Look for chips and cracks especially in the driver’s field of view. Test the wipers and washers.

Structural rust

Repair: large
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 2.4% at 16+ yrs (national 1.2%)
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 1.5% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.3%)
  • Adam 2012–2019 · 1.5% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.4%)
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 2.1% at 16+ yrs (national 1.2%)

Look under the sills, in the wheel arches and at the suspension mounts, and press on suspicious spots. Watch for fresh sealant or new underbody coating.

Engine and drivetrain

Repair: large
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 1.8% at 16+ yrs (national 0.9%)
  • Astra H Station Wagon 2005–2012 · 1.0% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.4%)
  • Astra J 2009–2017 · 0.6% at 9–10 yrs (national 0.2%)
  • Zafira B 2005–2015 · 0.7% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.4%)

Start cold and listen for ticking, watch for smoke and jerks when shifting.

Control arms / ball joints

Repair: medium
  • Mokka (A) / Mokka X 2012–2019 · 11.8% at 11–12 yrs (national 0.8%)
  • Agila B 2008–2015 · 6.9% at 13–15 yrs (national 2.0%)
  • Mokka B 2020–2026 · 1.0% at 3–4 yrs (national 0.4%)

Listen for clunks or knocks over speed bumps on the test drive. The car should not wander when braking.

Lights

Repair: small
  • Corsa D 2006–2014 · 22.2% at 9–10 yrs (national 13.1%)
  • Karl 2015–2019 · 12.7% at 5–6 yrs (national 7.9%)

Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.

Tyres

Repair: small
  • Grandland 2017–2026 · 7.9% at 7–8 yrs (national 5.3%)
  • Mokka B 2020–2026 · 7.0% at 3–4 yrs (national 4.4%)

Check the tread and look for uneven wear: that points to an alignment problem. The DOT code on the tyre tells its age.

Brake lines

Repair: medium
  • Meriva A 2005–2011 · 3.6% at 16+ yrs (national 1.3%)
  • Agila B 2008–2015 · 1.4% at 13–15 yrs (national 0.6%)

Use a torch to look along the lines near the wheels and rear axle: no thick rust or wet spots.

All Opel generations in a row

GenerationA-problems vs. the same ageKnown problemsInspected
Astra L2021–202677% less often0925
Insignia B2017–202363% less often22,906
Astra K2015–202359% less often428,654
Karl2015–201947% less often630,480
Meriva B2010–201739% less often321,599
Grandland2017–202628% less often310,291
Insignia A2008–201725% less often49,553
Mokka (A) / Mokka X2012–201922% less often622,714
Zafira Tourer C2011–201919% less often59,063
Astra J Sports Tourer / GTC2010–201917% less often511,663
Astra J2009–201717% less often615,399
Corsa F2019–202616% less often217,125
Crossland2017–202512% less often314,954
Adam2012–201910% less often59,975
Corsa D2006–2014about as often773,719
Astra H Station Wagon2005–20127% more often617,634
Meriva A2005–20117% more often717,174
Zafira B2005–20157% more often613,029
Corsa E2015–201911% more often527,726
Mokka B2020–202615% more often44,565
Agila B2008–201552% more often526,930

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Frequently asked questions

Which problems are common on Opel cars?

At the APK brakes stands out for Opel: on 14 of 22 generations it is clearly more common than on cars of the same age. Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know