Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The body is galvanized and resists corrosion for a long time, but rusts mercilessly along the edges. Rust can easily be found under plastic covers or on suspension components. The interior here is made of cheap materials, with weak noise insulation and wear resistance. Especially quickly lose their appearance are the leatherette on the steering wheel and front seats. The electrical system in the cabin is practically trouble-free, although there usually isn't much of it.
Engine The 2.0-liter gasoline engine G4JP is simple, reliable, and trouble-free. The 2.4-liter gasoline engine G4JS is completely identical, just more powerful. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the timing belt and balancers, as their failure is fatal for the engine. The 2.7-liter gasoline engine G6BA has a huge lifespan of up to 500,000 km. In this engine, it is also important to monitor the timing belt, especially the hydraulic tensioner. The 2.0-liter turbo diesel D4EA is very temperamental and usually comes with its fair share of problems. Cracks in the cylinder head and bearing wear due to oil starvation are also common.
Transmission The 5-speed manual M5HF1 is very reliable and does not have any weak points. The flywheel has a relatively short lifespan, and in some versions, it is dual-mass. The 4-speed automatics F4A42 and F4A51 are also known for their good performance. In the automatic transmission until 2003, increased wear of the Overdrive planetary gear was noted. Unreliable spline connections also cause a lot of trouble in the transmission.
Suspension The suspension cannot be called very reliable, but the parts are inexpensive and widely available. Front strut mounts tend to fail more often than other components, and springs sag quickly. The braking system here is a bit weak, and the lifespan of most of its elements is short. The steering rack works without problems for up to 200,000 km, only the power steering pipes often leak.
