Opel Agila
Robust 1.0-litre three-cylinder from GM/Suzuki development. Frequent problems with crankcase ventilation and throttle body. Head gasket is a known weak point on older examples.
Tall body holds it back
43 kW in a tall-body compact MPV – everyday motoring at a minimum. No driving pleasure whatsoever.
Engine Weaknesses 4
Head gasket failure occurs regularly with increasing age. Coolant enters the oil circuit, visible as a yellowish emulsion under the oil filler cap.
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, sweet smell, coolant level drops with no visible leak, yellowish streaks on oil filler cap.
Lambda sensor downstream of the catalytic converter fails frequently, accelerated by oil vapour from a contaminated crankcase ventilation. Fault codes P0135/P0136 are typical.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, increased fuel consumption, emissions test failure due to high CO levels.
The throttle body potentiometer gets contaminated by oil mist from the crankcase ventilation. Cleaning fixes the problem temporarily; a replacement is needed if the potentiometer is faulty.
Symptoms: Juddering and stumbling when pulling away, rough cold running, power loss in part-throttle range.
Ventilation hoses clog with oil sludge on short trips. Blocked hoses increase crankcase pressure, leading to oil loss at seals.
Symptoms: Oil loss with no visible leak, MAF sensor fault, heavy oil mist, whistling noises from engine bay.
Vehicle Weaknesses 13
The electric power steering on the Agila A can fail without warning. The EPS warning light comes on and the steering becomes heavy.
The fuel pump relay can fail on the Agila A, preventing fuel delivery. The engine then cranks but does not start.
The clutch release fork lever can break on the Agila A, making gear changes impossible. A known design weakness — a reinforced replacement part is available.
The MAF sensor on the Agila A fails or becomes contaminated, causing rough running and poor throttle response. This is a common wear item after 80,000 km.
Coolant loss at the thermostat housing is a common fault on the Agila A. The plastic housing cracks or the seal becomes porous.
Front brake discs and pads on the Agila A wear below average. With the lightweight construction the braking forces are manageable, but cheap replacement parts accelerate wear.
Door locks on the Agila A seize and are known for breaking keys. The problem mainly affects older vehicles with worn lock cylinders.
The fuel gauge sender in the tank fails on the Agila A. The display shows incorrect or stagnant readings.
The downstream oxygen sensor fails repeatedly on the Agila A (1.0 and 1.2 16V), sometimes multiple times within a few months. Fault code P0141 (O2 sensor heater circuit) is typical. Aftermarket replacements available cheaper than OEM.
Rear wheel bearings on the Agila A wear out past 70,000–100,000 km. Shares this issue with the Suzuki Wagon R+ it is based on.
Sill panels and rear wheel arch edges on the Agila A are susceptible to rust. Affected areas are often behind the wheel arch liner.
Agila A door locks are structurally prone to failure. Keys break in the lock cylinder, especially when locks seize in winter.
The blower motor resistor burns out on the Agila A. The fan then only works on the highest speed setting.
