Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The car body requires careful maintenance as it is poorly treated and susceptible to corrosion. Rust particularly affects the wings, edges, and sliding door mechanism. The interior of the minivan is spacious and functional, which is the main advantage of this model. The quality of the finishing materials and their resistance to wear are the main disadvantages. The unreliable air conditioner causes a lot of trouble, with its pipes often rotting.
Engine The 2.5-liter gasoline V6 engine K5 was created by Rover for its models. It is an engine with wet liners that sag over time or due to overheating. The replacement of timing belts is also very complex and expensive, and a valve failure can cause serious damage. The 3.5-liter G6CU engine for the American market does not cause any particular problems. The main thing is to monitor the oil level or there is a risk of missing a bearing seizure. The 2.9-liter J3 diesel engine before restyling was equipped with a simple Bosch VE fuel injection pump. However, due to the decrease in performance of the oil pump, the camshafts often suffered. The 2.9-liter J3 diesel engine after restyling got rid of most of the problems. However, it received a demanding Common Rail fuel system from Delphi.
Transmission The 5-speed manual transmission is quite reliable, and forum users often complain only about leaks. Sometimes the shift mechanism falls apart, but the design can be improved. The 4-speed Aisin 50-40LE automatic transmission is considered reliable and does not cause problems. Cracks may appear on the Forward-Direct drum at high mileage, but this is rare. The 4-speed Aisin 50-42LE automatic transmission is stronger and is installed with the diesel engine.
Suspension The suspension of this minivan is quite reliable, but there are a couple of weak points. The wheel bearings here serve for a very short time, and the shock absorbers are not very durable. It is important to monitor the development of corrosion under the bottom, as the control arms can simply rot. The steering rack joint does not have durability, and neither does its power steering. There are no major complaints about the braking system, except for occasional rusting of the handbrake.
