Opel Mokka
Robust PSA diesel with SCR exhaust aftertreatment. The AdBlue system is the known Achilles heel: tank, pump and NOx sensor frequently fail between 60,000 and 100,000 km. Timing belt instead of chain; strictly observe maintenance intervals.
Mokka diesel PSA
81 kW diesel in the Mokka – solid everyday engine.
Engine Weaknesses 8
AdBlue tank, injector nozzle and NOx sensor frequently fail, often together. Tank replacement costs approx. 900 € parts + 1,200 € labour. Known widespread problem with PSA BlueHDi engines from 2014.
Symptoms: Urea warning light and engine management light on, engine immobilisation after goodwill mileage expires. Fault codes P20E8
Recall action "19-C-006": DPF can overheat and be damaged due to a missing spacer. Affected Grandland X models 2018–2019 receive a free DPF replacement including ECU update.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, reduced engine power, excessive soot emission, elevated fuel consumption.
With frequent short-trip use the DPF blocks because regeneration temperature is not reached. Cleaning 300–500 €, replacement up to 1,500 €.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, power loss, elevated fuel consumption, limp mode
The EGR valve carbonises with heavy city use, causing power loss and elevated consumption. Cleaning or replacement necessary. Typical diesel problem of this engine generation.
Symptoms: Hesitation under part throttle, engine warning light, power loss especially at low RPM
The DPF on the DV6FD blocks with frequent short-trip use because regeneration temperature (>600 °C) is not reached. A new DPF costs 1,500–2,500 €. At least one motorway drive per week recommended.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, reduced engine power in limp mode, elevated fuel consumption, workshop regeneration required.
The AdBlue pump on the DV6FD (integrated in the tank) fails regularly. Costs for the unit including installation: 1,300–1,700 €. The problem is widespread in Grandland X forums and affects many 1.6 BlueHDi vehicles.
Symptoms: Fault message "exhaust aftertreatment faulty", AdBlue warning light, engine immobilisation after several start cycles without repair.
The DV6FD EGR cooler becomes heavily sooted with short-trip use. Massive soot ingress reduces cooling capacity, leading to thermal overload of the EGR valve. EGR cooler cleaning or replacement: 300–800 €.
Symptoms: Power loss especially under load, black smoke, elevated fuel consumption, rough idle, fault codes in P0400 range.
When the engine is switched off the urea injector can seize; at the next start no AdBlue injection is possible, resulting in elevated NOx emissions and warning messages.
Symptoms: AdBlue warning display, fault message on the instrument cluster; injector cleaning or replacement required for repair.
Vehicle Weaknesses 15
The Haldex coupling of the Mokka A AWD variants becomes sludged due to infrequent coupling oil changes. The pre-pressure pump fails and the rear wheels are no longer driven.
Opel recalled Mokka A models due to defective airbag igniter modules. Ignition chemistry can decompose and emit fragments. Affects certain build years and production batches.
The rear brake calipers of the Mokka A tend to stick due to corrosion build-up. Especially on vehicles used predominantly on motorways where the brakes are rarely used hard, corrosion locks the pistons.
The AC system of the Mokka A fails due to a defective compressor. Refrigerant loss through leaking pipe connections is also known. According to owner reports this occurred within the first two years on some vehicles.
The AC system of the Mokka A fails due to compressor defects or refrigerant loss. Stone chip damage to the condenser and age-related hose leaks are common causes.
The rear brake calipers of the Mokka A tend to seize due to corroded guide pins. Brake pads are loaded unevenly and prematurely destroy the discs.
Ignition switch and starter motor on the Mokka A fail prematurely. The starter cranks but no longer reliably fires the engine — especially on older high-mileage examples.
The EPS control unit of the Mokka A shuts down during voltage drops. Defective capacitor in the ECU or weak alternator as cause. Sudden failure while driving possible.
The M32 6-speed manual gearbox has excessive bearing preload from the factory. Bearings in the gearbox cover wear prematurely. Particularly affects gears 1, 5 and 6.
The Navi 950 IntelliLink of the Mokka A crashes regularly or freezes in navigation mode — a fault officially acknowledged by Opel. Software updates only helped to a limited degree; map updates were discontinued in 2018.
Water enters through all four doors and the tailgate and runs over the door sill when opening — a known design fault. The door drainage holes are suboptimally positioned so water collects in the cavities.
Exhaust hangers, rear subframe edges and spring seat plates of the Mokka A rust comparatively early. The affected areas have only paint without wax preservation, which quickly leads to visible rust on winter vehicles.
The rubber bushings of the front axle control arms wear on the Mokka A and cause clunking noises. Incorrect torque can lead to sudden loss of driving stability.
On the Mokka A (1.4 Turbo) the front coolant flange made of plastic cracks or the expansion tank splits. Loss of approx. 0.2 l/1,000 km possible. The supply line to the turbocharger also leaks.
The dashboard of the Mokka A rattles or ticks in the area above the speedo, especially in cold weather and on start-up. Chrome plastic trim strips and loose trim clips are common causes.
Reports & Tests
Oil loss is the dominant weak point with costly repairs. Exhaust system (particularly flex pipes) shows increased wear from four to nine years of age. Suspension deteriorates noticeably from the second MOT.
