2018 Opel Corsa problems

• 1.3 Multijet II 16v Euro 6 (95 hp, 2015-2020)

  95 hp · A13DTE

  The timing chain problem is partly mitigated compared with earlier generations, but it does not go away, and the demands of particulate filter regenerations on cars used mainly in town are added to it. Worth considering with an oil history and mixed journeys.^[1][2]

  With caution

Faults that affect 2018 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the timing chain's hydraulic tensioner can lose pressure and let the chain slacken; if it skips teeth or breaks, it can destroy the engine. It is a documented problem on Fiat, Opel, Suzuki and Ford cars with this engine, mainly linked to long oil change intervals.Repair (garage): €350–€550Appears at around 70,000 km
• High severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlIncomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilutionIn heavy urban use, with short journeys that do not let the particulate filter regeneration finish, unburnt diesel passes into the sump and dilutes the oil; the level can rise on the dipstick and the oil loses its ability to lubricate. Repeated many times, it speeds up engine wear.
• High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboSeized variable-geometry turboOn versions with a variable-geometry turbo, the vanes can seize through soot build-up, especially on cars used in town for short journeys. The engine loses power gradually and may give off black smoke when accelerating.Repair (garage): €450–€700
• High severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuelThe Bosch injectors and the high-pressure pump of the common rail system are sensitive to poor-quality fuel or fuel with condensed water. With contaminated diesel they can generate metal shavings that damage first the pump and then the injectors themselves.Repair (garage): €600–€1,200
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlEGR valve blocked by sootThe 1.3 Multijet's EGR valve easily accumulates soot on short urban journeys, causing an unstable idle, loss of power and the engine warning light. It is one of the most cited problems among owners of this engine.Repair (garage): €130–€400

• A10XEP / A12XEL / A12XER / A14XEL / A14XER / A14XFL (2008-2019)

  65–100 hp · A10XEP, A12XEL, A12XER, A14XEL, A14XER, A14XFL

  A generic article on problem engines from a French site expressly singles out the 1.2 "from the late 2000s and early 2010s" as prone to chain failures; on the Adam, the reliability report describes the water pump as "the clearest weakness" of the car and documents ignition coil replacements, as well as imperfect gear changes from the Easytronic gearbox. These points are worth checking, although there is no sign of a systematic block failure.^[5][6]

  With caution

Faults that affect 2018 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain stretch and breakageOn the Corsa C, D and E, the Astra H and the Meriva A, this engine's timing chain tends to stretch prematurely because the tensioner does not always hold up; in the worst cases, documented across several models, the chain has jumped or snapped and forced a complete engine replacement.Repair (garage): €900–€1,400Appears at around 70,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil leaks and increased consumptionOn the Corsa C, D and E, the Astra H and the Meriva, oil leaks from the rocker cover, oil filter or pressure switch are common, along with somewhat higher than normal oil consumption between changes; there is no pattern of major engine damage if they are dealt with in time.Appears at around 80,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonIgnitionIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils on this engine fail fairly often in the Corsa, Astra, Meriva and Adam, causing jerking, the engine warning light and, in the clearest cases, the engine running on one cylinder fewer; the garage fixes it by replacing the affected coil.Repair (garage): €150–€480Appears at around 15,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonCoolingWater pump and thermostat leak or wearA reliability report describes the water pump as "the clearest weakness" of the Opel Adam, and the same component - along with the thermostat - often fails or leaks coolant on the Corsa, Astra and Meriva with this engine too, sometimes at low mileage.Repair (garage): €300–€760Appears at around 22,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTransmissionSlow shifts and clutch actuator wear on the Easytronic gearboxThe Easytronic automated gearbox, available with this engine on the Corsa, Astra, Meriva and Adam, changes gear slowly and with jerks according to several sources; there are also some cases of actuator wear or clutch control unit failure, although the evidence on its real-world reliability is limited.

• 1.4 Turbo 120-140 hp (A14NET/A14NEL/B14NET, indirect injection, 2009-2015)

  120–140 hp · A14NET, A14NEL, B14NET

  The model-by-model reliability pages consulted repeatedly document water pump or thermostat housing leaks, ignition coil failures and turbocharger wear; the Zafira Tourer with this engine also recorded a case of engine failure from a cracked piston ring at 103,000 km. It is worth checking the cooling circuit, the coil history and the turbo before buying.^{[8][9][10][11]}

  With caution

Faults that affect 2018 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockEarly engine failure from a cracked pistonOn the Astra K, Adam and Zafira Tourer with this engine there are several documented cases of complete engine failure, on the Astra K from as little as 13,000-20,000 km and with a piston crack confirmed by the garage in at least one case; there is no manufacturer campaign or overall fleet figures.Appears at around 13,000 km
• High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboWhistling, loss of power and turbocharger wearOn the Astra J, Mokka and Zafira Tourer with this engine, cases of turbocharger wear have been documented, with whistling, loss of power or the engine warning light on; in most cases the garage replaces the turbo with no further engine damage.Appears at around 75,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonCoolingCoolant leak from the water pump or thermostat housingOn the Astra J, Mokka, Meriva B and Zafira Tourer with this engine, owners frequently describe coolant leaks from the water pump or from the plastic thermostat housing, with loss of level and a risk of overheating if not dealt with in time.Repair (garage): €350–€550Appears at around 28,000 km
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonIgnitionIgnition coil failureThe ignition coils of the 1.4 Turbo fail fairly often on the Mokka and Meriva B, with jerking, occasional loss of power and the engine warning light on; the garage fixes it by replacing the affected coil or coils.Repair (garage): €400–€600Appears at around 47,000 km

• Critical severityFrequency: RareSteeringBadly manufactured steering rack (2017 campaign)According to Auto Express, in February 2017 Opel opened a third campaign on the Corsa over badly manufactured steering racks, separate from the 2015 suspension one; we have not found an official Spanish notification detailing it.
• Critical severityFrequency: RareAirbags and safetyDefective curtain airbagsAccording to Auto Express, Opel recalled the Corsa in March 2017 over defective curtain airbags; we have not located an official Spanish notification with more technical detail or the number of units affected.
• Critical severityFrequency: RareBrakesDefective handbrake ratchet mechanismAccording to Auto Express, Opel recalled the Corsa in March 2017, the same month as the airbag one, because some handbrake levers had a defective ratchet mechanism.
• Critical severityFrequency: RareAirbags and safetyBonnet can open while drivingAccording to Auto Express, Opel recalled the Corsa in October 2018 because the bonnet could open while the car was moving, with the resulting risk of an accident as it blocks the driver's view.
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionSprings, shock absorbers and steering joints flagged by the TÜVAccording to the TÜV report cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, the Corsa E frequently shows defects in the springs and shock absorbers, and also in the steering joints and the braking system.