Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The paint is weak and the body rusts quickly, it requires careful maintenance. The integrated frame is particularly prone to corrosion and can rot through. The interior and trunk are spacious, but the materials used are cheap, though they hold up reasonably well. Owners complain about the unreliable climate control and weak sound insulation. Electrical system is considered reliable, all issues are related to broken wiring.Engine 2.4-liter gasoline engines G4CS and G4JS are very reliable and low-maintenance. It is important to monitor the condition of the timing belt and balancers, as their failure is fatal for the engine. 2.5-liter diesels D4BA, D4BB, D4BF, and D4BH are also quite durable units. However, under heavy loads, their weak cylinder head can crack. Diesel engines also have problematic balancer shafts with a belt drive. 2.5-liter Common Rail diesel D4CB is much more powerful than its predecessors with pre-chambers. However, it has a low lifespan for the timing chain and weak hydraulic lifters. It also has a less durable oil pump, and bearing failures are not uncommon.Transmission 5-speed manual transmissions M5SR1 and M5ZR1 are clones of the reliable Mitsubishi V5MT1 gearbox. Owners criticize them for quick wear of synchronizers and regular oil leaks. 4-speed automatic transmissions Aisin 03-72LE and 30-43LE serve without problems up to 400,000 km. Failures occur only at high mileage, and it is easier to buy a used gearbox. Splines and the vacuum valve are considered weak points in the all-wheel-drive versions.Suspension The front suspension is quite durable and more often suffers from corrosion rather than wear. The option with rear leaf springs is not distinguished by reliability or smooth ride. The rear multi-link suspension is much more comfortable and not so expensive to maintain.Steering rack usually does not cause much trouble, it is important to monitor the dust boots and power steering.Braking system is reliable and effective, complaints are only about corroded pipes and ABS.
