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Opel Adam problems (2012–2019)

All 2 engines of the Opel Adam that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec and the 1.4 Turbo. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 1.4 Turbo, with a «With caution» verdict.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Outside the engine: Apart from the engine, the Opel Adam has no known recalls in the sources consulted. According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the most frequently cited problems are electronic faults (control unit, immobiliser, parking sensors), with air conditioning and rear shock absorbers mentioned occasionally.[6]

Opel Adam (2012–2019)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468106.3out of 10

Opel Adam rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 13 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: it is based on few sources or few documented faults, so it is not included in the rankings. Having few documented faults does not mean it is reliable: it may simply be little studied. How it is calculated

  • Engine4.8From 4.1 to 5.5 depending on the engine
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension8.21 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Brakes8.2Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.7 times the defects normal for its age
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering0.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 5.6 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights7.9Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.8 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment8.61 fault
  • Climate control9.61 fault
  • Bodywork and interior7.3Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.1 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults

The weak points of the Opel Adam

  1. 1Critical severity: Timing chain stretch and breakage1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec engine · repair €900–€1,400
  2. 2Critical severity: Early engine failure from a cracked piston1.4 Turbo engine
  3. 3High severity: Whistling, loss of power and turbocharger wear1.4 Turbo engine
  4. 4Medium severity: Oil leaks and increased consumption1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec engine
  5. 5Medium severity: Ignition coil failure1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec engine · repair €150–€480

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

12 sourcesHow we work

1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec

Opel/Vauxhall 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 Ecotec atmosféricos (GM Family 0 — Z10XEP, Z12XEP/A12XER, Z14XEP/A14XER) · Petrol

In the Adam
2012–2019[6][7]
Names
1.2 ecoFLEX · 1.4 ecoFLEX
Faults that affect it
6 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
59
High risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • A10XEP / A12XEL / A12XER / A14XEL / A14XER / A14XFL (2008-2019)2008–2019 · 65–100 hp · A10XEP, A12XEL, A12XER, A14XEL, A14XER, A14XFL

    With caution

    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.[6][8]

Faults that affect the Adam

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. Low severityFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlFaulty lambda sensors on the 1.2 and 1.4 petrolOpel's 1.2 and 1.4 petrol engines (Twinport and A series) show faulty lambda sensors on the Corsa C, Corsa D and Astra J. The usual consequence is the engine warning light and a poorer-regulated mixture; it does not affect the mechanics.

Adam 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec pageAll versions and faults of the 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec

1.4 Turbo

Safest option

Opel/Vauxhall 1.4 Turbo (GM Small Gasoline Engine — A14NET, A14NEL, B14NET, B14XFT, D14XFT) · Petrol

In the Adam
2012–2019[6][9]
Name
1.4 Turbo 150
Faults that affect it
4 · 2 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
45
Moderate risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

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

    With caution

    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.[1][2][3][4]

  • 1.4 Turbo 150-152 hp (B14NEH/B14XFT/D14XFT, from 2015-2016)2015–2018 · 150–152 hp · B14NEH, B14XFT, D14XFT

    With caution

    On small samples of owners, the Astra K and Adam with this 150-152 hp revision account for several engine failure cases, including a piston crack confirmed by the garage at 20,000 km; there is no public acknowledgement from the manufacturer nor overall fleet figures, so it is worth asking for a compression test and the full history before buying, without this meaning an engine to be avoided across the board.[5][6]

Faults that affect the Adam

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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

Adam 1.4 Turbo pageAll versions and faults of the 1.4 Turbo

Faults of the Opel Adam outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Opel Adam

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 2,484 inspections of 1,059 cars registered between 2012 and 2019, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 4.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.4%.

    More defects than average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 2.6% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.7%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 9.5% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.4%.

    Many more defects than average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 12.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 14.6%.

    Average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.2%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 0.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.5%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 3.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.8%.

    More defects than average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 4.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.9%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 16.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 16.3%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Opel Adam

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec (2012–2019)

Timing chain stretch and breakage

Critical severity

Oil leaks and increased consumption

Medium severity

Ignition coil failure

Medium severity

Water pump and thermostat leak or wear

Medium severity

Slow shifts and clutch actuator wear on the Easytronic gearbox

Medium severity

Faulty lambda sensors on the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol

Low severity

If it has the 1.4 Turbo (2012–2019)

Early engine failure from a cracked piston

Critical severity

Whistling, loss of power and turbocharger wear

High severity

Coolant leak from the water pump or thermostat housing

Medium severity

Ignition coil failure

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Opel Adam

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Opel Adam?

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Opel Adam reliable?

All 2 engines of the Opel Adam that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the 1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec and the 1.4 Turbo. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 1.4 Turbo, with a «With caution» verdict. Apart from the engine, the Opel Adam has no known recalls in the sources consulted. According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the most frequently cited problems are electronic faults (control unit, immobiliser, parking sensors), with air conditioning and rear shock absorbers mentioned occasionally.

Which Opel Adam engine is the most reliable?

Among the 2 engines we have documented, none has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 1.4 Turbo, with a «With caution» verdict. 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.[1][2][3][4]

What problems does the Opel Adam have apart from the engine?

Apart from the engine, the Opel Adam has no known recalls in the sources consulted. According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the most frequently cited problems are electronic faults (control unit, immobiliser, parking sensors), with air conditioning and rear shock absorbers mentioned occasionally. The most important documented faults are: electronic control unit (BCM), immobiliser, remote key and parking sensor faults (electronics and infotainment, medium severity), air conditioning faults: hose, compressor and climate control (climate control, low severity) and premature wear of the rear shock absorbers (suspension, low severity).[6]

What faults does the Opel Adam have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: timing chain stretch and breakage (1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec, critical severity), early engine failure from a cracked piston (1.4 Turbo, critical severity), whistling, loss of power and turbocharger wear (1.4 Turbo, high severity), oil leaks and increased consumption (1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec, medium severity) and ignition coil failure (1.0/1.2/1.4 Ecotec, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Opel Adam?

According to our rating by year, the best is 2012 (7.0/10); the worst rated is 2013 (6.3/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Opel Astra 3 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Opel Mokka : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  3. Opel Meriva 2 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  4. Opel Zafira Tourer : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  5. Opel Astra 5 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  6. Opel Adam : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Opel AdamWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  8. Distribution : les moteurs à problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  9. GM Family 0 engineWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Opel Corsa 3 : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  11. Opel Corsa C/D/E: Schwachstellen & KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  12. Opel Meriva (2003-2009) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French