Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior: The paint coating here is weak, and damaged areas quickly turn rusty. Corrosion can easily be found on the edges of doors and hood, or under plastic overlays. The frame also rusts quickly, which is dangerous for the VIN number engraved on it. The interior is made of cheap materials, with poor resistance to wear and no sound insulation. The instrument panel lighting often burns out, and the air conditioner clutch fails.
Engine: The 3.5-liter gasoline engine G6CU is not very reliable and consumes a lot of fuel. It often consumes oil, and a drop in its level can lead to bearing failure. The 2.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine D4BH is simple, durable, and has a long service life. However, it is too weak for this model, taking over 20 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. Owners often rev it up, which results in overheating and cracking of the cylinder head. The 2.9-liter Common Rail diesel J3 is optimal in terms of performance and fuel consumption. However, the Delphi fuel system does not tolerate low-quality diesel fuel and often causes fuel injector clogging.
Transmission: The 5-speed manual transmission M5SR1 is a copy of the reliable V5MT1 from Mitsubishi. The 4-speed automatic transmission Aisin 30-40LE is also very durable and rarely causes problems. Its weak points are the control cable and the selector position sensor. The part-time four-wheel drive system with EST engagement is quite reliable. The automatic ATT frequently experiences ECU malfunctions and the electromagnetic clutch fails.
Suspension: The suspension is designed for heavy-duty use and has an impressive lifespan. At around 150,000 km, torsion bar adjustment or replacement of rear springs may be necessary. Weak points of the steering mechanism include bushings, control arm, and power steering pump. The braking system is reliable, except for the tendency of the brake lines to quickly corrode. On forums, the ABS module and its sensors are often criticized, especially on pre-facelift models.
