Overview and Common Failures
Body Even if you buy a well-maintained and non-accident car, most likely you will find rust in the wheel arches, on the edges of the doors or hood. The paintwork is not durable either.
Interior The interior has differences from the standard version, but the quality of the finish is still budget-friendly. Noises, creaks, and knocks appear from the first kilometers and only get worse over time. But the most concerning issue for owners are regular malfunctions in the electrical system. Anything can break here at any time, luckily repairs are cheap and uncomplicated.
Engine The 1.4-liter engine with the index VAZ 11194 is known for high oil consumption at 50,000 km. And in case of a belt failure, you can end up not only replacing the valves but also the pistons. The 1.6-liter engine with the index VAZ 21126 also bends the valves in the event of a timing belt failure. However, it is significantly more reliable than its counterpart and practically does not consume oil.
Transmission The manual gearbox VAZ 1118 is famous for not the smoothest gear shifts, low synchronizer lifespan, howling, and unexpected loss of reverse gear.
Suspension The suspension differs greatly from the stock Kalina model, providing a more composed ride. Usually, the shock absorbers and hub bearings are replaced by the 100,000 km mark. The brakes have also been redesigned for increased strength, and there are no complaints about them. The steering rack may start making noises as early as 50,000 km, but one can continue driving with these noises for a long time.
