Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior The paint coating is thin and easily scratched, but the body itself holds up well. Rust can be easily found under plastic covers, moldings, or handles. The car's interior is made of decent materials, but the steering wheel and gear lever quickly peel off. The electrical system is quite reliable and only the climate control occasionally fails. Engine The G4KA and G4KC Theta series engines are practically exemplary in terms of reliability. However, the G4KD and G4KE engines from the Theta II series are known to develop cylinder scoring. All 4-cylinder engines of this model are notorious for having a low timing chain lifespan. The V6 engine with the G6EA index not only consumes a lot of fuel, but also oil. In the early years of production, intake valves would unscrew and fall into the cylinders. The common issues with the D4EA diesel engine include the fuel system, EGR, and diesel particulate filter. Transmission The manual transmissions with the M5GF1 and M5GF2 indexes are very reliable and durable. The only thing that doesn't last long with the diesel engine is the dual-mass flywheel. The Mitsubishi F4A42 and F4A51 automatic transmissions are good, but they do not tolerate frequent abrupt starts. The in-house 5-speed automatic transmissions A5GF1 and A5HF1 also don't have any particular issues. Suspension The suspension is reliable, with only the shock absorbers and stabilizer bushings needing replacement before reaching 100,000 km. However, owners on forums constantly complain about knocking sounds from the shocks during winter. The steering rack bushings tend to break quickly, but repairs are not very expensive. As for the braking system, there are no major complaints, except that the handbrake often gets stuck.
