Opel Adam - Not very impressed...

C

ChrisThomas

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So this may be a bit of a rant, but just thought I'd share.

I've had my Adam 1.0t Glam for almost 5 months and have had quite a few electrical issues with it so far.

1.) On a few occasions when the "Eco" mode kicks in and the engine shuts off at a stop, I've experienced that when the engine starts back up, it almost goes into "Limp mode" but no warning lights and the car refuses to go, foot flat it will rev to about 2k rpm and that's it, I'll have to pull over, switch off and restart the car. Then all is well again.

2.) The Hill Hold assist is very, strange... A lot of times on a hill the brakes "stick" but to the point where I have my foot almost flat on the accelerator and almost have to do a wheel spin to get the car moving, other times the hill hold assist works as intended (this never happened with this feature on my Fiesta, nor does it happen with my dad's Ranger). I would switch it off, but you can't. At least not that I can find.

3.) Tyre pressure warning system - I've had this reset twice, I am always getting intermittent pop ups on the dash to say that I have between 1 and 4 flat tyres, then the next time I start the car it's fine. I've checked the pressure at many a garage and it's fine.

4.) Blind Spot warning system - 2 out of 10 times when I start my car I get "Blind Spot warning deactivated" - no idea why, just happens. Returns to normal next time I start the car.

5.) My biggest issue, 4 times now, whilst going round a corner the steering wheel will "stick" - the best I can explain is that it feels as though the power steering just gives up halfway through a corner, I then have to yank the wheel to get it to "unlock" - very strange and pretty scary as it's almost gotten me into trouble where I can't move the steering wheel mid corner - what the hell is up with that?

Opel cannot fix these issues, which I sort of understand as they are all intermittent and I wouldn't be able to replicate them if I wanted to as they seem to happen at random and not all the time. I am honestly just frustrated with this car, I didn't have any of these issues with my fiesta and am getting to the stage where I regret my purchase, would I buy this car again? I think not...
 
Does it have Glam though? If it does then it delivers on its promise.
As for the steering wheel sticking check the powersteering fluid level, if it's low something is wrong. Everything else is meh... it's an Opel

Watch the Top Gear episode where they steal an old Opel without keys.
You "think" you wouldn't buy it again... Stockholm syndrome?
 
I would force them to replace the vehicle immediately if they cannot fix it especially with the steering safety issue.
 
You dear sir may have a dud. i.e. your car sound defective. Take it back. Its still under warranty/guarantee and they should be able to do something about it. Draw up a list of issues (as you have done here) to give to them. Have them sign/stamp it upon completion of said issue being resolved. If it (said problem) returns, hold them liable and proceed with a vehicle replacement process.
 
I'm sure they'll fix it if you rage enough.

Try a different dealer. Failing that, send a rage mail to their customer service people.
 
Thanks for the support guys. I am going to try a different dealership this weekend, I am not going to be walked all over. For the price of these little cars you expect the customer service to go along with it, I was just saying that, as someone in the software business it is difficult to diagnose an issue that you can't reproduce.

I have been reading up this morning that there was in fact a recall in the UK on the Corsa and Adam for steering issues, so with a bit of luck I can use that to my advantage.
 
**WARNING**

Roux is going to have a vendetta out on you for daring to say anything negative about an Opel!! :p
 
Sounds like something that must definitely be covered under warranty. If they don't believe you, tell the manager to drive it for a week to see for himself...
 
Those should all be covered under warranty. I had an intermittent problem on my Cruze where the dash and radio would flicker on and off. I managed to record it going down a quiet road at night to show them. At first I had the battery done, didn't fix it, than apparently the ECU needed to be flashed (told them that it is the negative cable as the crimping looks weak), this obviously didn't fix it, just got the phone call now, they fixed the problem the negative cable was faulty and they replaced it. Will see if it really is fixed.
You need to really fight them on the issues, especially the steering one, the recall might only be UK based as their manufacturing standards are different, but give it a try.
 
So silly since issues 1-4 are totally unnecessary tchotchkes as far as driving s motor car is concerned.

Sounds like you have a lemon though, at 5 months you have one month left to return that car under the CPA.

Some info here but you should wikkel because your time is almost up AFAIK.
 
Last edited:
SlinkyMike said:
So silly since issues 1-4 are totally unnecessary tchotchkes as far as driving s motor car is concerned.

Sounds like you have a lemon though, at 5 months you have one month left to return that car under the CPA.

Some info here but you should wikkel because your time is almost up AFAIK.
Click to expand...

I wonder if this would refer to me as I bought the car as a demo with 9k km on the clock.
 
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