Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior Despite the galvanization, the car body is not highly resistant to corrosion. Rust quickly affects the rear arches, sills, door edges, and hood. There are also frequent complaints about sagging hinges of the front doors and weak headlight glass. The interior has simple finishing materials but looks decent and spacious in the front. This car is criticized for its creaking plastic, cramped rear row, and lack of sound insulation. The electrical system, following Japanese standards, is reliable, but it's difficult to find an Almera with a working air conditioner.
Engine The 1.5-liter gasoline engine QG15DE is simple, reliable, and not picky about fuel. Its drawbacks include a weak timing chain and a tendency to consume oil after 100,000 km. The 1.8-liter gasoline engine QG18DE differs only in displacement from the previous one. Both engines are not equipped with hydraulic compensators and require valve adjustment. The 2.2-liter YD22DDT diesel engine with direct injection is considered the most undemanding. It was replaced by the 2.2-liter YD22DDTi diesel engine with the Common Rail system during restyling. It is also reliable but requires more maintenance and high-quality fuel. The 1.5-liter Renault K9K diesel engine is very economical and appeared during the update. Its Delphi fuel system does not tolerate poor diesel fuel, and repairs are expensive. Some owners have experienced bearing wear at 200,000 km.
Transmission The 5-speed manual transmission RS5F30A is the weakest and often requires overhaul at 50,000 km. Other 5-speed manuals RS5F31A, RS5F50A, or RS5F70A have no issues. The 6-speed manual transmission RS6F51A is also reliable but equipped with a dual-mass flywheel. The 4-speed automatic transmission RE4F03A is considered very durable and reliable.
Suspension The suspension in this model is a bit stiff but reliable and not very expensive in terms of spare parts. Up to 100,000 km, only stabilizer struts are often replaced in versions where they are present. The steering rack is relatively weak and may rattle or leak before reaching 100,000 km. The front brakes are disc brakes, while the rear brakes are drum brakes. Everything is simple and works without complaints.
