Opel VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Wir leben Autos”
Opel Automobile GmbH is a German automaker headquartered in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, and a brand within Stellantis. Founded in 1862 by Adam Opel as a sewing-machine manufacturer, Opel began producing bicycles in 1886 and automobiles in 1899 with the licensed Lutzmann patent-motor wagon. General Motors acquired Opel in 1929, owned the brand for 88 years, and sold it to Groupe PSA in 2017 for €2.2 billion. PSA merged with FCA in 2021 to form Stellantis.
Opel was historically the largest German automaker by units (until being overtaken by Volkswagen in the 1960s) and pioneered the assembly-line technique in Germany with the 1924 Laubfrosch (tree frog). The brand is sold as Opel in continental Europe and as Vauxhall in the United Kingdom (a separate Stellantis subsidiary using the Opel platforms). Modern Opel focuses on the Corsa, Astra, Mokka, Crossland and Grandland, with the Corsa-e, Astra Electric and Mokka Electric representing electrified variants.
Opel's parent Stellantis trades on the NYSE under STLA. Recall data for European-market Opel vehicles is tracked through European agencies. ForCar.org maintains historical Opel/GM VIN data from the brand's GM era.
Opel at a glance
- Founded
- 1862 (sewing machines)
- First automobile
- 1899
- Founder
- Adam Opel
- Headquarters
- Rüsselsheim, Germany
- Parent
- Stellantis (NYSE: STLA)
- GM ownership
- 1929-2017 (88 years)
- UK sister brand
- Vauxhall (same platforms)
- Iconic model
- Manta, Kadett (legacy)
- Basic warranty
- 2 years / unlimited miles
- EV battery warranty
- 8 years / 100,000 miles
Decode any Opel VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that Opel dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature Opel technology
Opel heritage
Adam Opel founded a sewing-machine business in Rüsselsheim in 1862, expanded into bicycles in 1886, and his sons added automobile production in 1899. Opel introduced the assembly-line technique to Germany in 1924 with the Laubfrosch (tree frog) — a design heavily inspired by the Citroën 5CV that resulted in a Citroën patent lawsuit. General Motors acquired 80% of Opel in 1929 and 100% by 1931, retaining ownership through World War II (when the Russelsheim plant was destroyed) and into the 21st century until the 2017 PSA sale.
Market position
Opel competes in mainstream European passenger and crossover segments against Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, Hyundai-Kia and Toyota. Within Stellantis, Opel serves as the German mainstream brand alongside French Peugeot/Citroën and Italian Fiat, with platform sharing across all four. The brand has not been sold in the United States since the 1970s and is unlikely to return given Stellantis's US focus on Jeep/Ram/Dodge/Chrysler.
New-vehicle warranty
OPEL VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick OPEL VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any OPEL VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All Opel models (8)
Frequently asked questions
When was Opel founded and by whom?
Opel was founded in 1862 by Adam Opel and is headquartered in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
Where is the VIN on a Opel vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many Opel models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 8 Opel nameplates. Any 17-character Opel VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the Opel warranty?
Basic: 2 years / unlimited miles (Europe). Powertrain: 8 years / 100,000 miles (EV battery).
How to check Opel recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers Opel Automobile GmbH, the Stellantis brand — not Vauxhall Motors (the separate Stellantis UK subsidiary using Opel platforms) or Adam Opel personally.
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