Overview and Common Failures
The body of this model is quite resistant to corrosion, with some parts even made of plastic. Rust can only be found on the trunk lid, rear fenders, and door edges.
The interior of this sedan is decent in terms of materials for a budget car, but weak in terms of noise insulation. The main issues here are electrical problems, mainly due to oxidation of contacts. The heater motor, resistor, and blend door gears often fail.
The 1.4-liter 8-valve engine K7J with a cast iron block and non-hydraulic tappets is generally very reliable, but often bothers its owners with minor issues. The most common complaints are about the temperamental engine electrical system, as well as leaks of lubricant and coolant. The 1.4-liter 16-valve engine K4J has the same cylinder block, but it has hydraulic tappets and separate ignition coils, yet it faces similar problems. Both engines have a timing belt drive, which can cause valve damage if it breaks. Other markets offered a 1.2-liter D4F engine, a 1.6-liter K4M engine, and a 1.5-liter diesel engine K9K.
Most configurations of this model were equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox JB1, which is known for frequent oil leaks and low synchronizer lifespan. However, on the small Symbol with its weak engines, it performs more or less normally. The 5-speed manual gearbox JB3 is used with the 16-valve engine and is similar to the one described above. The 4-speed automatic transmission DP0 also rarely fails, with its main issue being overheating. High temperatures cause rubber and plastic components in the transmission to deteriorate, leading to fluctuations in oil pressure in the automatic transmission system and reducing solenoid lifespan.
The suspension of this sedan is structurally simple, very strong, and quite energy-consuming. Only the front control arm bushings and wheel bearings are replaced at 100,000 km. The rear suspension is sensitive to overload, with rear shock dust boots often tearing. The steering rack is reliable but known for regular leaks at the power steering pump seal. Periodic leaks from the brake force distribution valve can also occur here.
