Is the Opel Corsa F the Worst Generation of the Popular “City Car”? These Are the Most Common Issues of the Model.
The Opel Corsa F is the latest edition of the model, and at the same time, it significantly changes the image of the line. It’s not only the first Corsa based on a Peugeot platform but also the first Corsa on the market sold in a fully electric variant (EV). How does it fare in terms of reliability? So far — rather poorly…
Opel Corsa F — Model Overview
The Opel Corsa F was first introduced in 2019. The sixth generation of the model was supposed to be shown two years earlier, but the premiere coincided with the brand’s takeover by PSA. The French ordered a redesign of the model from scratch, rejecting GM’s project and starting to create their own vision based on Peugeot.
The car differed significantly from its predecessor, which is hardly surprising. The Corsa E was from the beginning more of a modernized version of the Corsa D than a completely new model, so introducing something “fresh” to the market positively impacted the image and intrigued customers. Especially after the success of its twin – the Peugeot 208 received the Car of the Year award in 2020.
The Opel Corsa F can be purchased from the dealership in four combustion engine variants. The three petrol engines are three-cylinder 1.2 PureTech in different power variants: 75 HP (without turbo), 100 HP, and 130 HP (with turbo). The diesel engine, on the other hand, has four cylinders, 1.5 liters of capacity, and generates 102 HP.
In 2020, the electric version of the Corsa F also entered the market. The Corsa-e is equipped with a standard Stellantis battery and powertrain, shared by several other cars.
Opel Corsa F — What Breaks Down?
Less than 5 years have passed since its market entry, and the Corsa F has already disappointed its owners multiple times. Problems mainly concern the car’s electronics, but not only.
Electronics Problems
Most of the reported issues concern Corsa’s electronics. This includes not only multimedia and comfort-enhancing systems but also driver assistance. Failures include ABS, traction control, electronic handbrake, parking sensors, cameras, blind spot sensors, and generally all other elements. The problematic area is the wiring harness running under the car (including to the parking brake), which can catch moisture or wear out and cause a short circuit.
Problems also include navigation, car audio, malfunctioning buttons, non-functioning LEDs, start-stop system, wipers, and even erratic electronics during rain — basically, everything that is powered by the wiring harness can break down. Of all the troubles, these are the ones that irritate owners the most, and there are many such cases.
Faulty Air Conditioning System
Issues also affect the air conditioning and heating in the Corsa. The blowers under the dashboard break down, leading to a complete lack of electronic ventilation in the car (related to the problems from the previous paragraph). This applies to both combustion and electric models.
Combustion Engine: 1.2 PureTech
Under the hood of the petrol Corsa is a three-cylinder 1.2 PureTech engine. Although it’s a relatively new construction, it has already received very bad opinions from users. Problems concern piston rings, timing belts (breaking even after 40 thousand kilometers), or wearing cylinder sleeves. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Faulty Gearboxes
Even after about 30 thousand kilometers, manual gearboxes could start to make characteristic “grinding” noises. Such cases are confirmed by dealerships, which replace the entire gearbox while still under warranty.
Is the Corsa F a Car Worth Buying?
It’s hard to answer this question. In terms of driving properties and suspension system, the last generation of Corsa has made not one, but at least a dozen steps forward compared to its predecessors. This is definitely an advantage achieved by the Peugeot group with the premiere of the twin Peugeot 208.
However, in terms of reliability, it’s quite difficult to recommend this car. Many units have already undergone numerous services even before the end of the warranty period. It’s hard to determine any pattern of “defectiveness” in these cars if the problems described by users of different units concern… basically everything.
