Opel Zafira C (2012-2019): known problems and buying guide

Built: 2012–2016
Median price: €6,200
Listings: 953
Running cost per month: €446–€527
Power: 130–170 PS (96–125 kW)
Reliability: 2/5
DIY: 2/5

Middling reliability and poor breakdown rankings. Check the timing chain, oil level and diesel soot records before buying.

Updated 27 October 2026

All versions

Variant	Running cost per month	Median price	Listings	Fuel	Engine codes	Gearbox	Production years
1.4 Turbo, 140 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€491	€6,797	173	LPG / Petrol	B14NET, LUJ	Manual (6)	2012–2016
1.6 CDTI, 136 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€446	€5,990	138	Diesel	LVL	Manual (6)	2013–2016
2.0 CDTI, 165 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€486	€5,450	101	Diesel	A20DTH, LBS	Manual (6)	2012–2014
2.0 CDTI, 130 PS, 6-speed manual Research	€472	€4,900	88	Diesel	D20DTH, LFS	Manual (6)	2012–2014
2.0 CDTI, 165 PS, 6-speed automatic Research	€507	€5,900	76	Diesel	A20DTH, LBS	Automatic (6)	2012–2014
2.0 CDTI, 170 PS, 6-speed automatic Research	€527	€7,700	62	Diesel	D20DTH, LFS	Automatic (6)	2014–2016

At a glance

Years: generation C 2012-2016, facelift 2016-2019. The Tourer name was dropped after the 2016 facelift.
Reliability: 2/5. ADAC breakdown statistics rank the model low on two sites. The 1.4 Turbo timing chain and coolant loss, the 2.0 CDTI oil pump seal and diesel soot are the main known faults.
DIY: 2/5. The timing chain, gearbox and emissions jobs need a workshop.
Prefer: cars with oil and coolant service records, and proof that recall repairs were done.
Avoid: 1.4 Turbo cars with no coolant or chain history.

Engines and gearboxes

1.4 Turbo, B14NET, 120-140 PS: timing chain stretch, water pump and coolant loss, and oil loss. Ask for chain and coolant history.
1.6 Turbo CNG, B16XNT, 150 PS: a 2016 recall covers the CNG cylinder valve (see Recalls). No other fault confirmed in the sources read.
1.6 SIDI Turbo, B16SHT (LWC), 170/200 PS: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
1.8, A18XER, 115 PS, to 2015: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
2.0 CDTI, A20DT and A20DTH, 110/130/165 PS, to 2014: oil pump seal (see that row) and soot in the EGR valve and DPF.
2.0 BiTurbo CDTI, A20DTR, 195 PS: oil pump seal, reported on the Astra J with the same engine.
2.0 CDTI, D20DTH, 130/170 PS, from late 2014: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
1.6 CDTI, B16DTH and LVL, 120/136 PS, from 2013: oil loss is named on this engine. The diesel soot row applies.

Gearboxes are listed separately:

5-speed manual (1.8): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
6-speed manual, M32: bearing wear, a whine or hum in gears, reported on the Astra J with the same gearbox.
6-speed automatic: no fault confirmed in the sources read.

Known issues

Issue	Affects	Typical km	Repair cost
1.4 Turbo timing chain	1.4 Turbo (B14NET)	100,000-150,000 km	No confirmed price
2.0 CDTI oil pump suction seal	2.0 CDTI (A20DTH, A20DTR)	Not stated	No confirmed price
M32 6-speed gearbox bearings	6-speed manual (M32)	60,000-100,000 km	No confirmed price
1.4 Turbo coolant loss and water pump	1.4 Turbo (B14NET)	60,000-80,000 km	No confirmed price
Diesel soot in EGR valve and DPF	All diesels	Not stated	No confirmed price
Oil loss and leaks	1.4 Turbo, 1.6 CDTI	Not stated	No confirmed price

Before you buy

On a 1.4 Turbo, listen for a rattle or clatter on a cold start and under load changes. Ask for timing chain history at 100,000-150,000 km. A rattle is a bad sign.
Ask for proof that the 2.0 CDTI oil pump suction seal was checked or replaced. An oil pressure warning is a bad sign.
On a manual with M32, drive in 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th and listen for a whine or hum. A whine that rises with speed is a bad sign.
Ask whether the DPF was cleaned and the EGR valve checked. Ask if the car was mostly used on short trips. A scanner can show EGR or DPF codes.
On a 1.4 Turbo, check the coolant level and the water pump for leaks. Ask whether the pump was replaced. A falling coolant level is a bad sign.
Check the oil level after the test drive and ask for an oil service record. Oil loss is reported on the 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 CDTI. A low level is a bad sign.
Ask the dealer to check the VIN for open recalls: tie-rod end, parking brake software, airbags and the diesel software. An open campaign is a bad result; have it done before you pay.

Running costs

Operational	€204
Workshop	€146
Fixed costs (tax, insurance)	€151
Total per month	€501
New-car depreciation (not included)	€72

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

Market

Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.

Find offers on mobile.de

Listings: 953
25th percentile: €4,800
Median price: €6,200
75th percentile: €7,999
Median mileage: 175,200 km
Median first registration: 2014
Dealer share: 63.8%
Price at 100,000 km: €8,645

To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.

In detail

1.4 Turbo timing chain

Symptoms: rattling or clacking on a cold start and on load changes. The German guide says a stretched chain can cause major engine damage, so treat these noises as a warning. On the Astra J with the same 1.4 Turbo, chain wear is typical at 100,000-150,000 km, and oil quality matters. Cause: the chain stretches. Repair cost: not confirmed.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Opel Zafira C problems, Kolesa.ru: Astra J engines, zr.ru: Astra J faults, auto.ru: Astra J durability

2.0 CDTI oil pump suction seal

Symptoms: an oil pressure warning and bearing damage. Cause: the rubber seal on the oil intake pipe hardens and can slip out. The pump then draws air, oil pressure drops and bearings can be destroyed. The Astra J pages name the same 2.0 CDTI (A20DTH and A20DTR). No Zafira source names this fault. Fix and price: not confirmed.

Sources: Motor-Talk: 2.0 CDTI engine damage (Astra J), Autoscore: Opel 2.0 CDTI A20DTH (Astra J), gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Opel Astra J problems

M32 6-speed gearbox bearings

Symptoms: a whine or hum in gears, mostly 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th. The lever can move back when pulling away. Cause: bearing wear in the M32. The Astra J pages with the same gearbox report this from about 60,000 km, and after 100,000 km in some cases. Fix: replace the bearings. The Zafira pages read name no bearing fault. Repair cost: not confirmed.

Sources: australiancar.reviews: Opel Astra 2012-13 faults, Motor-Talk: M32 gearbox humming (Astra J), auto.ru: Astra J durability, Kolesa.ru: Astra J engines

1.4 Turbo coolant loss and water pump

Symptoms: coolant drops slowly and the reservoir needs topping up. The pump can whistle on a warm engine, and the engine cools poorly with a working thermostat. Cause: the water pump wears and leaks, and the thermostat-to-pump joint often leaks. A DRIVE2 garage says the pump rarely lasts beyond 80,000 km. The Astra J pages with the same engine give 60,000-80,000 km. Other causes named on the Astra J: thermostat housing, coolant lines and the expansion tank cap. Repair cost: not confirmed.

Sources: DRIVE2 garage: 1.4 Turbo common faults, Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: 1.4 Turbo coolant loss, Kolesa.ru: Astra J engines

Diesel soot in EGR valve and DPF

Symptoms: lost power and warning lights. One owner had the EGR valve coked at 85,040 km and ended in limp mode; the valve was cleaned, not replaced. Cause: soot from high mileage and frequent short trips. The German guide says soot builds up on injectors and in the EGR valve on all diesels, mostly at high mileage. Carwiki says the DPF clogs on short trips. RAC names one car where a particulate filter fault destroyed the catalytic converter. Prevention: avoid many short trips, and use a regular fuel additive (German guide). Fix: clean or replace the EGR valve, and clean or replace the DPF. Repair cost: not confirmed.

Sources: gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Opel Zafira C problems, carwiki.de: Opel Zafira problems, RAC: used car review, Zafira Tourer 2012-2016, DRIVE2 owner log: A20DTH EGR valve at 85,040 km

Oil loss and leaks

Symptoms: the oil level drops between services. Carwiki names the Zafira 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 CDTI as known oil-loss engines. On the 1.4 Turbo, the breather diaphragm valve can crack and the hoses can let in air. Carwiki gives 300 ml per 1,000 km as the defect threshold for the Zafira range; normal use is 50-250 ml per 1,000 km. Fix: not stated. Repair cost: not confirmed.

Sources: carwiki.de: Zafira oil consumption and oil loss, gebrauchtwagenberater.de: Opel Zafira C problems, DRIVE2 garage: 1.4 Turbo common faults, Kolesa.ru: Astra J engines

Recalls

Country	Code	Years	What is done
UK, Austria, Germany	not given	Built 13-19 April 2016 (Auto Express); ÖAMTC says 2016	Tie-rod end may come loose or its thread is out of spec. Replacement tie-rod end (Auto Express); thread check and replacement if needed (ÖAMTC).
Germany	not given	2011-2014 (gebrauchtwagenberater); campaign Sep 2015 (ADAC)	Parking brake can apply by mistake or show applied: software fault on manual cars with hill-start assist (ADAC, carwiki, gebrauchtwagenberater). Fix not stated.
Germany	not given	2011-2012 (gebrauchtwagenberater); campaign Sep 2012 (ADAC)	Passenger airbag cover (ADAC, carwiki, gebrauchtwagenberater). Fix not stated.
Germany	not given	Build years not stated; campaign Feb 2022 (ADAC)	Driver airbag gas generator (ADAC, carwiki). Fix not stated.
Germany	not given	Build years not stated; campaign May 2019 (ADAC)	Hill-start assist can let the car roll away (ADAC, carwiki). Fix not stated.
Germany	not given	2012-2016 (gebrauchtwagenberater); campaign Oct 2018 (ADAC)	Diesel emissions software update (ADAC, carwiki, gebrauchtwagenberater).
Germany	not given	Up to 2016 (gebrauchtwagenberater); campaign Dec 2016 (ADAC)	CNG cylinder valve O-ring leaks, CNG cars only (1.6 Turbo CNG; ADAC, gebrauchtwagenberater). Fix not stated.

Maintenance

Engine oil: check the level often, since oil loss is reported on the 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 CDTI. Oil quality matters for the 1.4 Turbo timing chain.
Coolant: on the 1.4 Turbo, check the coolant level and fix small losses early.
Diesel: avoid many short trips so the DPF can clean itself. A regular fuel additive helps against soot (German guide).
Automatic gearbox: change the fluid regularly.