Overview and Common Failures
The body here, although made of thin metal, is well treated and does not rust by itself. However, the paintwork is thin and chips quickly rust. The paint also doesn't hold up well on plastic elements such as door handles, bumpers, and wipers.
InteriorThe interior materials are not exactly budget-friendly and looked decent for their time. However, their durability is low, and at 100,000 km, they are already significantly worn out. The front seats do not fare well with heavy drivers and quickly start to come apart at the seams.
Due to unreliable wiring, electrical components often fail: central lock, lighting, air conditioner control unit, and clock on the dashboard. Usually, soldering the contacts helps.
EnginesEngines with a capacity of 1.4 and 1.6 liters until 2007 suffered from valve sticking, but then the manufacturer redesigned the structure, and this problem practically disappeared. The remaining breakdowns are typical for all engine models: oil leaks, short-lived ignition coils, and sticking throttle valves in the intake manifold. In general, there are separate detailed articles about the F14D3, F16D3, and F18D3 engines.
TransmissionThe D16 manual transmission is quite reliable, owners only complain that the gear lever quickly loses sharpness, and over time, shifting becomes difficult. The ZF 4HP16 automatic, which came with the 1.8-liter engine, has no problems. However, the Aisin 81-40LE, which was paired with the 1.6-liter engine, proved to be weak and often required serious repairs by 100,000 km.
SuspensionThe car's suspension starts rattling at around 30,000 km, but significant intervention is needed closer to 80,000 km. Rear shock absorbers and bushings are the first to give in most cases.
The steering rack has a modest lifespan and can develop knocking or leaking at any mileage, fortunately, repairs are inexpensive. As for the brakes, there are minimal complaints, only the calipers tend to corrode.
