Ignition coils / spark plugs
usually 80,000–150,000 km · Wear part
Signs: Misfire, flashing engine light
Fix: Replace coil and plugs
€100–300
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Opel Kadett E
1984–1993
1
engines covered
5
known faults
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Opel Kadett E was built from 1984 to 1993.
For this generation we cover 1 engines and 5 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is Catalytic converter: it usually appears at 180,000–260,000 km and costs €500–1,500 to fix.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol engine | Petrol | Check manual | — |
Faults by engine
Petrol engine
Water pump
usually 100,000–160,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Coolant loss
Fix: Replace pump
€250–500
Catalytic converter
usually 180,000–260,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Rattle, efficiency code
Fix: Replace
€500–1,500
Gearboxes
Manual
Clutch wear
usually 120,000–200,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Slipping, high bite point
Fix: Replace clutch kit
€500–900
Automatic 4-speed (AF13 / AF17 / 4T40)
Solenoids / pressure regulator (limp mode)
usually 100,000–200,000 km · High risk
Signs: Harsh shifts, stuck in 3rd, gearbox warning
Fix: Fluid change, solenoid / valve body repair
€300–1,500
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the Petrol engine engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Spark plugsIgnition | every 60,000 km or every 48 months | €50–160 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Manual gearbox oilTransmission | every 150,000 km | €60–130 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests in the Netherlands by age
Share of this model's Dutch fleet that had a defect in each system at a roadworthiness test (APK) in 2025. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and fuel. Sample: 1,376 cars.
| age (years) | 20+ |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 1.1 % |
| Suspension | 0.9 % |
| Steering | 0.8 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 1.1 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 1.2 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.4 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.7 % |
Common questions
What are the known problems with the Opel Kadett E?
The faults with the highest risk: solenoids / pressure regulator (limp mode) (100,000–200,000 km, €300–1,500); catalytic converter (180,000–260,000 km, €500–1,500); clutch wear (120,000–200,000 km, €500–900); water pump (100,000–160,000 km, €250–500). The full list by engine is on this page.
What should you check when buying a used Opel Kadett E?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether the car has any open recalls. On the test drive, watch for these signs: harsh shifts, stuck in 3rd, gearbox warning; rattle, efficiency code. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other Opel models
Opel Vectra A 1988–1995Opel Astra F 1991–1998Opel Corsa B 1993–2000
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026