Quick Facts — Vauxhall Adam

Est. On UK Roads
60,000+
Years Made
2013–2019
Common Engines
1.2, 1.4, 1.0 Turbo

6 Most Common Vauxhall Adam Problems

These are the faults most frequently seen on the Vauxhall Adam by UK garages — ranked by how commonly they occur and what they cost to fix.

1
Timing Chain (1.4 & 1.0 Turbo)
High Priority
The Adam's turbocharged engines share the same timing chain tensioner issue as the Corsa. A startup rattle needs immediate attention.
💷 Typical repair cost: £400–£1,200
2
Head Gasket (1.2)
Watch
The naturally aspirated 1.2 can suffer head gasket failure on higher-mileage examples — white smoke and coolant loss are the symptoms.
💷 Typical repair cost: £400–£800
3
Electric Power Steering Fault
Watch
Power steering faults are seen on the Adam — sudden loss of assistance or a warning light.
💷 Typical repair cost: £200–£500
4
Infotainment System Faults
Watch
The Adam's IntelliLink system can freeze and lose Bluetooth connectivity. Software updates usually resolve this.
💷 Typical repair cost: £0–£150
5
Interior Plastic Wear
Low Priority
Given the Adam's target market, interior plastics can show wear earlier than expected — particularly the steering wheel and door handles.
💷 Typical repair cost: £50–£200
6
Air Con Failure
Low Priority
AC compressor and refrigerant leaks are seen on older Adams. No cold air is the typical symptom.
💷 Typical repair cost: £100–£500

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Vauxhall Adam — MOT Tips

Check timing chain on turbo models. Inspect the tyre condition — city car tyres often wear unevenly from kerbing. All lights and electrical systems must work correctly.

Engine management light on before your MOT? It's an automatic fail. Run a MotorLoom diagnostic for £1.99 to get the likely cause and repair cost before booking the test.

Vauxhall Adam Tyres

Most Vauxhall Adam models run 185/65 R15 or 195/55 R16 depending on trim level and year. Always check the placard inside the driver's door for the exact size for your vehicle.

Summary

The Adam is a fun, characterful city car. Relatively low mileages mean many are still in good condition but timing chain issues on turbo engines remain the most important fault to check.

If your Vauxhall Adam has a warning light on or a symptom you can't identify, a MotorLoom diagnostic report for £1.99 gives you likely fault causes, UK repair cost estimates and MOT risk — instantly.

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Other Vauxhall Models

Vauxhall Corsa → Vauxhall Astra → Vauxhall Mokka / Mokka-e → Vauxhall Insignia →