Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior
The paintwork is weak and prone to chipping, but the body is galvanized and does not rust quickly. Corrosion can only be found on the edge of the hood or on the rear door. Off-road vehicles without any anti-corrosion treatment rust heavily on the frame. The interior here looks quite attractive, well-equipped, and has decent sound insulation. Critics only complain about the short lifespan of the leather on the steering wheel and the abundance of lacquered plastic. The electrical system in the car is reliable, malfunctions occur rarely and only due to wiring issues.
Engine
The 3.8-liter gasoline V6 engine G6DA causes owners a lot of trouble. Chains and phase regulators have a short lifespan, and oil consumption is common. The 4.6-liter gasoline V8 engine G8BA is reliable. The 3.0-liter diesel engines D6EA and D6EB are the optimal choice. Their weak points are considered to be the glow plug block and the crankcase ventilation system.
Transmission
The 5-speed automatic A5SR2 is a clone of the very reliable Jatco JR507E transmission. If not abused with aggressive starts, its service life easily exceeds 500,000 km. The late version had the 6-speed ZF 6HP26 automatic transmission, which is also durable. However, it is not as long-lasting, and major repairs at 250,000 km are not uncommon. The 8-speed automatic A8TR1 does not cause major problems for its owners. However, under active driving, the friction elements wear out before reaching 200,000 km.
All-Wheel Drive System
The all-wheel drive system with a transfer case from BorgWarner is quite reliable. The only weak point of this transmission is the spline connections.
Suspension
The off-road vehicle's suspension is fairly complex, but there are no problems with the reliability of the iron parts. The main concerns are related to the rear axle pneumatic system, especially with the level sensors. The steering rack is durable, and knocks or leaks only appear after a high mileage. The brakes are powerful and have a good service life, with sensor issues being the only frequent concern of the ABS system.
