Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The paintwork is thin, but the body itself is strong, and only damaged models rust. There are complaints on the forum about the price of body parts or weak chrome coating. The interior here is spacious, with rich finishing materials and well-equipped. However, one can complain about its low durability and poor sound insulation. Also, the front panel often cracks near the front passenger. In terms of electrical issues, there are not many problems, usually caused by broken wiring.
Engine 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engines G4KC and G4KE belong to the Theta family, they have good reviews. The 2.7-liter V6 engine G6EA belongs to the well-known Mu family. Its weak points are the short lifespan of spark plugs and an unreliable throttle body. The 3.3-liter G6DA and 3.8-liter G6DB are part of the modern Lambda lineup. Their problem lies in oil consumption and the risk of bearing failure when the oil level drops. All V6 engines are equipped with intake valves, and the bolts tend to fall into the cylinders.
Transmission The 5-speed automatic transmissions A5GF1 and A5HF1 are clones of the reliable Mitsubishi F5A51. They are only sensitive to abrupt accelerations, which reduces the lifespan of the planetary gear. The 6-speed automatic transmissions A6MF1, A6MF2, A6LF1, and A6LF2 are of their own design. During the early years of production, these transmissions had some issues and were updated multiple times. There was also a problem with the bolts of the central gear coming loose.
Chassis The suspension is quite durable, and only the stabilizer struts need replacement at around 100,000 km. Many versions are equipped with unreliable and expensive pneumatic struts. The steering rack is trouble-free, but may start making noise after mileage of over 200,000 km. The brakes are weak for such a large car, and the discs and brake pads wear out quickly.
