Opel is a German carmaker founded in 1862, now part of Stellantis. 4 models are tracked here (1997–2026). Reliable? yes, and comfortably so — 4.5 out of 5 across 4 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Opel
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.
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.
| Opel | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1862 |
| Founded by | Adam Opel |
| Headquarters | Rüsselsheim, Germany |
| Owned by | Stellantis |
| Listed as | STLA |
| Slogan | «Wir leben Autos» |
Technology it is known for: IntelliLux LED Pixel headlights, Opel Connect telematics, CMP and STLA Medium platforms, Opel OS (formerly Insignia OnStar), Pure Panel digital dashboard.
This page covers Opel Automobile GmbH, the Stellantis brand — not Vauxhall Motors (the separate Stellantis UK subsidiary using Opel platforms) or Adam Opel personally.
All Opel models 4
Every Opel model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Opel More models 4
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opel Roadster | 2007–2008 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Opel Ampera | 2012–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Opel Ampera-e | 2017–2026 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Opel Sintra | 1997–1999 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
Opel by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Get a Opel window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Opel's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Opel window stickers →How to read a Opel VIN
Every Opel built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Opel and the country it was built in (real Opel codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USAW08 · W0L
- UKW04
- GermanyW06
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. Our VIN decoder breaks all seventeen positions down — year codes, country of assembly and the plant that built the car.
Who owns Opel, and what you get
Opel belongs to Stellantis. 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.
| Opel | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Ownership | Stellantis |
| Stock ticker | STLA |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Opel models actually start to break →
Opel — frequently asked
Is Opel german?
Opel is a German company, headquartered in Rüsselsheim and founded in 1862.
Who owns Opel?
Opel is part of Stellantis.
How many Opel models are there?
We track 4 Opel models spanning 1997–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Opel warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Opel reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Opel model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.