Known APK problem
Opel Karl: lights
On the Opel Karl the APK inspector finds lights problems 60% more often than on cars of the same age: at 5–6 years 12.7%, against about 7.9% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Broken bulbs, misaligned headlights or damaged light units.
How to check it at the viewing
Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.
Ask the seller: Have the headlights been aligned, and has there been moisture in the light units?
By age
Share of inspected Opel Karls with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | Karl | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 – 6 years | B | 12.7% | 7.9% | 1.6× |
| 7 – 8 years | B | 12.6% | 11.5% | 1.1× |
| 9 – 10 years | B | 14.2% | 12.9% | 1.1× |
| 11 – 12 years | B | 12.5% | 17.9% | 0.7× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Comparable cars at 5–6 years
| Model | Lights | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| Opel Karl | 12.7% | 1.6× |
| Hyundai i10 II | 9.4% | 1.2× |
| Renault Twingo III | 7.7% | 1.0× |
| Peugeot 108 | 12.1% | 1.5× |
| Citroën C1 II | 12.6% | 1.6× |
| Fiat 500 (312) | 9.6% | 1.2× |
Looking at a Opel Karl? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Opel Karls of the same age.
All weak spots of the Opel Karl · Lights: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Opel Karl often have lights problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 5–6 years the inspector found a lights defect on 12.7% of inspected Opel Karls, against about 7.9% of all cars of the same age (1.6×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the lights on a used Opel Karl?
Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
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