These instructions apply to the Vauxhall Mokka Mk2 (P2QO) 2020-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Vauxhall Mokka Mk2 (2020–present) — Opel Mokka — has a Stop/Start system that switches the engine off at a standstill to save fuel. Pull up with the brake held and the engine falls silent; press the accelerator and it fires straight back up — a normal economy feature, not a fault. If you’d rather keep it running in traffic, on a hot day, or before working in the engine bay, you switch it off with one button.
How It Works on the Mokka
Petrol and diesel Mokka Mk2 models use a conventional Stop/Start setup: the engine control module cuts the engine only when the car is stopped, the brake is held, the engine is warm and the 12 V battery has charge in reserve. A battery sensor decides whether a safe restart is guaranteed, so a weak battery is the usual reason it stops working. The full-electric Mokka-e has no engine and no button, so this guide covers the petrol and diesel versions only.
First, a Few Checks
- Switch the ignition on — the button and the touchscreen setting both respond whenever the ignition is live.
- You can press it stationary or on the move; either way it only applies to the current drive.
- Turn it off before opening the bonnet so the engine can’t auto-restart while you work.
- Check whether your car has the physical button or relies on the touchscreen — trim levels vary.
How to Turn Off Stop/Start
- Find the ‘A’ (eco / Stop-Start OFF) button on the centre console, just below the climate controls and wireless charging pad — the one marked with an “A” in a circle, next to the lane-keep and ESP buttons (see photo above).
- Press it once — a message confirms Stop/Start is off, and the engine will keep running when you stop.
On cars without the button, switch it off in the touchscreen Driving menu.
It Resets Every Drive
Like nearly every car with this feature, the Mokka re-enables Stop/Start each time you restart. There’s no permanent factory ‘off’ — press the button once per journey if you don’t want it.
Why Switch It Off?
- Before engine-bay work — stops an unexpected restart.
- Stop-go traffic — avoids constant restarts.
- Maximum cabin cooling/heating on extreme days.
If the Engine Won’t Stop — or Won’t Stay Running
If Stop/Start is on but the engine keeps idling at a stop, the Mokka is holding it running deliberately. Check the common reasons before assuming a fault:
- Weak or ageing 12 V battery — by far the most common cause; the system needs a healthy charge to promise a restart.
- Cabin not yet at temperature — heavy heating or air-con demand keeps the engine running.
- Engine still cold — it won’t stop until it’s up to normal operating temperature.
- On a slope — a noticeable gradient can make the system skip the stop.
- Bonnet open — the engine will not auto-stop with the bonnet catch released.
- Very cold or very hot weather — extremes at either end keep the engine on to protect comfort and the battery.
- Manoeuvring — reversing or turning the wheel at low speed can inhibit a stop.
Once It’s Done
Once switched off, the message clears and the engine idles as normal at every stop for the rest of the journey; the setting returns to on next time you start the car. If the engine never stops even when the battery, temperature and slope all look fine, have the 12 V battery load-tested — a marginal battery is the classic culprit here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off Stop/Start on a Vauxhall Mokka?
Press the A (eco) button on the centre console, below the climate controls, or switch it off in the touchscreen Driving menu if your trim has no physical button. A message confirms it’s off and the engine idles at every stop until you switch the ignition off.
Can I disable it permanently?
No — the Mokka resets Stop/Start to on at every restart, so it’s active again the next time you start the car. You have to switch it off once per drive. There is no owner menu that stores the off state between journeys.
Why did Stop/Start come back on?
Restarting the car re-enables it automatically. This is by design rather than a fault — the system defaults to on every ignition cycle so it keeps saving fuel unless you deliberately turn it off again for that drive.
Why won’t the engine stop sometimes?
A low battery, strong climate demand, a cold engine or a gradient will all hold the engine running. The Mokka only shuts down when it’s sure it can restart cleanly and keep the cabin comfortable, so these are deliberate limits rather than a problem.
Does the Mokka-e have a Stop/Start button?
No. The full-electric Mokka-e has no combustion engine, so there is nothing to stop or start and no A-in-arrow button. This guide covers the petrol and diesel Mokka Mk2 only; on the Mokka-e the car is silent at a standstill by nature.
Will frequent stops wear out my battery?
Stop/Start cars use an AGM-type battery built for repeated cycling, so normal use is fine. The battery does more work than on a non-Stop/Start car, though, so it can wear out sooner — and once it weakens, the system quietly stops shutting the engine down.
If a Stop/Start fault light shows instead of the normal indicator, look it up on autodtcs.com — a tired 12 V battery is the usual cause. See our Mokka battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Vauxhall. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.