What problems do Japanese cars have after 200,000 kilometers?
3 Answers
Compared to the performance of German cars, the power of American cars, and the chassis of French cars, the biggest selling point of Japanese cars is their economical durability, which is also why they are most popular among car owners. Therefore, after 200,000 kilometers, the shifting remains smooth, the engine noise is still deep and 'sexy', and there is no significant loss in power. Introduction to Japanese cars: 'Japanese cars' generally refer to cars produced in Japan or Japanese brand cars produced in other regions. Japanese cars have won a significant market share globally due to their high cost-performance ratio, fuel efficiency, and excellent craftsmanship. Major Japanese car brands include: Toyota TOYOTA, Nissan NISSAN, Honda HONDA, Subaru SUBARU, Mazda MAZDA, Mitsubishi MITSUBISHI, Isuzu ISUZU, Suzuki SUZUKI, Daihatsu DAIHATSU, etc.
My old Japanese car, which has over 200,000 kilometers on it, honestly has quite a few minor issues now. The engine has started burning a little oil, requiring half a liter top-up during each service. The transmission has a noticeable jerk when starting cold, and gear shifts aren’t as smooth as before. The chassis is the most obvious—it creaks over speed bumps, and the mechanic said the control arm bushings are worn out. The door seals have hardened and deformed, and during the last heavy rain, water leaked in and soaked the floor mats. There’s always some faint rattling noise from the dashboard, and the A/C cooling isn’t as strong as before. However, the three major components (engine, transmission, and chassis) have never failed me. I’ve replaced the shock absorbers twice and a few bulbs, and it still gets me to work reliably. The steering wheel has recently felt a bit heavy, and the inspection revealed a leaking power steering pump—I’ll need to address that next month.
After dealing with various old Japanese cars for a long time, I'm very familiar with their common issues after 200,000 kilometers. The engines are generally fine, but the valve cover gaskets tend to leak oil, and you can even see oil stains in the spark plug holes. If it's an older CVT transmission, the steel belt will inevitably slip, causing jerking; AT transmissions often have delayed shifting issues. Chassis components aging is the most common problem—eight out of ten shock absorbers are leaking oil, and when the lower control arm bushings crack, they start clunking. Seals are even more troublesome—if the sunroof drain holes get clogged, water seeps into the headliner, and when the door seals deform, rainwater always leaks into the door gaps. On the electrical side, oxygen sensors or crankshaft position sensors often throw fault codes, but they work fine after replacement. Fortunately, the parts aren't expensive, and repairs are much easier than with German cars.
