Door lock actuator / door lock motor failure
doors that won't lock or unlock — anywhere from one door to all four at once
Check engine light: Off
The most-reported problem for this generation is door lock actuator or door lock motor failure, reported independently at least 5-6 separate times. The scope varies widely — one case was an intermittent rear door lock traced to a wiring harness ($250 at 44,640 mi), another was two doors that wouldn't lock and one that wouldn't unlock ($870 at 68,640 mi), and the worst case was all four actuators failing at once ($1,500 at 122,000 mi). Early-life rear door lock failures were also reported as early as 24,000-26,660 miles. Reported costs span $250 – $1,500, reflecting very different repair scopes. This is a mechanical/electrical lock fault, not an engine issue, so it doesn't trigger a check-engine light.
$250 – $1,50024,000–122,000 mi
↑ Back to the problem table
PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve failure
erratic or rough, lumpy idle
Check engine light: On
The PCV valve shows up as a recurring failure point, reported at least 4 separate times: an erratic idle covered under warranty at 40,240 mi, a rough/lumpy idle repaired for $850 at 165,000 mi, and a failed valve for $400 at 113,000 mi. We're using the two real documented repair costs directly as a range rather than widening either one. A failed PCV valve typically causes a vacuum leak, which can trigger a lean-condition check engine light — so we have this marked On as a mechanical judgment call, even though no specific case documented confirmed a lit light.
$400 – $85040,240–165,000 mi
A third documented case (40,240 mi) was warranty-covered, so it isn't reflected in the owner-paid cost range above.
↑ Back to the problem table
Rear main seal / oil seal leaks
oil leaking from the rear main seal or other engine oil seals
Check engine light: Off
One documented case of rear main seal / oil seal leakage at $1,600, reported at 75,800 miles. We've widened that single figure into a $1,280-$1,760 range using our standard methodology. This is a mechanical seal/oil-leak fault rather than a sensor or emissions issue, so it doesn't typically trigger a check-engine light on its own.
$1,280 – $1,76075,800 mi
single documented figure ($1,600) widened ±10-20% into a range.
↑ Back to the problem table
Ignition coil / spark plug failure
a no-start condition in hot weather, or in one dramatic early case, a melted spark plug
Check engine light: On
Two distinct ignition-system failures are documented: a notably early one, where a spark plug melted in cylinder 3 at just 10,983 miles (no cost figure given), and an ignition coil causing a no-start condition in hot weather, repaired for $150 at 31,000 miles. Ignition coil and spark plug failures commonly cause misfires, which typically trigger a check-engine light.
$150 – $16510,983–31,000 mi
↑ Back to the problem table
Fuel system failures (fuel pump, fuel injector, high-pressure fuel pump)
a cylinder misfire, or the vehicle stopping outright
Check engine light: On
Three separate fuel-system components are documented as failing: a "faulty" fuel pump ($100 at 113,000 mi), a fuel injector on cylinder #4 causing a misfire ($580 at 58,000 mi), and a high-pressure fuel pump failure at 115,000 miles with no cost figure given. The injector misfire in particular would be expected to trigger a check engine light.
$150 – $58058,000–115,000 mi
This entry covers three fuel-system components — the fuel pump, a fuel injector, and the high-pressure fuel pump — grouped together because each is reported less often on its own.
↑ Back to the problem table
Carbon buildup in intake valves
carbon buildup on the intake valves, addressed with a cleaning
Check engine light: Off
Carbon buildup on the intake valves is a well-known characteristic of this generation's direct-injection engine family — best treated as expected maintenance rather than a defect. Reported repairs include a minor $50 fix at 85,000 miles and a full mechanical intake-valve cleaning for $400 at 173,600 miles — two very differently scoped jobs. This is a maintenance item rather than a fault that typically sets a check-engine light.
$150 – $40085,000–173,600 mi
framed as expected maintenance for this direct-injection engine family, not a defect — per the source research's own recommendation.
↑ Back to the problem table
AC system failures
progressively weaker cooling, or in the more serious case, a refrigerant leak
Check engine light: Off
AC performance issues for this generation range from a general "not getting cold" complaint ($120 at 80,000 mi) to a more serious evaporator leak requiring a $1,022 repair at 93,000 miles. This is a comfort-system fault, not an engine issue, so it doesn't trigger a check-engine light.
$150 – $1,02280,000–93,000 mi
spans a minor cooling complaint and a specific evaporator-leak repair — two different failure severities, not averaged together.
↑ Back to the problem table
High-mileage automatic transmission shifting problems
Automatic transmission develops shifting problems at higher mileage
Check engine light: On
Automatic transmission develops shifting problems at higher mileage. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 840 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Power windows fail more than manual window cranks would
Power window failures are more common than would be expected of a manual-crank equivalent
Check engine light: Off
Power window failures are more common than would be expected of a manual-crank equivalent. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 209 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Hard-to-diagnose electrical issues, typically ground-related
Electrical faults that are hard to diagnose, typically traced to a ground issue
Check engine light: On
Electrical faults that are hard to diagnose, typically traced to a ground issue. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 207 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Odor from HVAC vents
Unpleasant odor coming from the HVAC vents
Check engine light: Off
Unpleasant odor coming from the HVAC vents. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 191 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Reverse gear failures or noise (manual transmission)
Reverse gear fails or makes noise, manual-transmission cars
Check engine light: Off
Reverse gear fails or makes noise, manual-transmission cars. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 176 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Radiator fan runs continuously after shutoff, drains battery
Radiator fan keeps running after the car is shut off, draining the battery
Check engine light: Off
Radiator fan keeps running after the car is shut off, draining the battery. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 147 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Check engine light due to glow plug or wiring harness issues
Check engine light traced to glow plugs or a wiring harness fault
Check engine light: On
Check engine light traced to glow plugs or a wiring harness fault. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 145 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Premature headlight bulb burnout, bulb harness failure
Headlight bulbs burn out prematurely, sometimes tied to a bulb harness failure
Check engine light: Off
Headlight bulbs burn out prematurely, sometimes tied to a bulb harness failure. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 117 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Coolant and oil leaks
Leaks of both coolant and oil reported
Check engine light: Off
Leaks of both coolant and oil reported. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 94 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Engine overheating, damaged water pump impeller
Engine overheats due to a damaged water pump impeller
Check engine light: On
Engine overheats due to a damaged water pump impeller. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 85 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
Shifting and drivability issues from throttle body failure
Shifting and drivability problems traced to a throttle body failure
Check engine light: On
Shifting and drivability problems traced to a throttle body failure. This is among the more frequently reported issues on this generation, with 59 owner reports on file.
↑ Back to the problem table
The most notable issue for this generation is door lock actuator / door lock motor failure — reported independently at least 5-6 times across a wide mileage range, from a single door's wiring harness (as early as ~24,000 mi) to all four actuators failing at once (122,000 mi). Separately, NHTSA complaint data flags a serious but unconfirmed safety concern around the ignition key sticking in the ignition with it still on — see the recall notice below rather than treating that as routine wear.