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Hyundai · Van · 2000–2008 Custom Search

Hyundai Trajet FO

Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice

★★★★★
2.3 / 5.0 · Based on 3 engine variants · How we rate

The Trajet FO was Hyundai's answer to the Galaxy and Sharan — a spacious 7-seat minivan, solid build quality for the class, but not a bestseller. Today it's an affordable family van with well-documented weak points. Buy cheaply, expect to spend on maintenance — that's the honest Trajet equation.

Test drive: D4EA 2.0 CRDi 113 hp: the main European engine. Problem: crankshaft damper pulley (lower belt pulley with integrated vibration damper) ages after 55,000 miles — when the damper fails, belt loss and engine damage follow. Preventive replacement: $230–$460. Turbo is sensitive to oil neglect; injection pump condition needs checking above 110,000 miles. Manual gearbox synchros wear prematurely. G4JS 2.0 petrol: straightforward base option, less complicated than the diesel, but not economical (22–24 mpg). G6BA 2.7 V6 127 hp: powerful but thirsty. Reliable, but more expensive to run. Suspension: strut mounts and wheel bearings wear early — often before 60,000 miles. Rust: tailgate, door sills, wheel arches all affected.

Market 2026: $1,200–$4,500 for roadworthy examples. Good CRDi with service history to $6,000. Parts still available but D4EA-specific items take time to source.

Insider pick: D4EA with documented preventive damper pulley replacement — the only real protection against the most common engine failure mode. V6 petrol for simpler ownership.

Most Fun Engine

173 PS

Trajet · Benzin

Reliable workhorse, full stop

Decent
Problem Engine

165–175 PS

2.7L V6 (Delta) Benzin

6 weaknesses

Stay Away!

Engine Overview

The Hyundai Trajet FO is available with 3 engine variants — from 113 to 175 hp.

2.0L CRDi · Diesel· 113 PS
2001 2006

Proven 2.0L CRDi — Hyundai's diesel workhorse for SUVs and saloons of that era. Common-rail injectors wear at high mileage and get expensive. Turbocharger is susceptible — bearing wear from oil starvation or thermal stress. Head gasket can fail after overheating. High-pressure pump wears. Timing chain develops noise. Regular oil changes and turbo cool-down are essential.

  • !! Common-rail injector wear from 150,000 km

    Common-rail injectors on the early 2.0 CRDi wear at high mileage. Fuel quality and service intervals are critical for longevity.

    Symptoms: Rough running at low RPM, cold start problems, white smoke, increased fuel consumption.
    600–2,000 $
    Ad D4EA fuel injector2.0 CRDi fuel injector Santa FeBosch CR fuel injector Hyundai
  • !! Turbocharger failure from 150,000 km

    The D4EA turbocharger wears prematurely, especially with neglected oil maintenance. Turbo failures are well documented in forums; a second turbo within a few years is not unusual.

    Symptoms: Severe power loss, whistling or rattling noises from the turbo area, blue exhaust smoke, increased oil consumption.
    800–1,800 $
    Ad turbocharger D4EA28200-4A101VGT Turbo CRDi 2.0
  • !! Head gasket failure from 200,000 km

    At higher mileages or after overheating events the head gasket can fail. Coolant enters the oil or vice versa; engine damage is imminent if driving continues.

    Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, coolant level drops without visible leak, mayonnaise-like deposits on oil filler cap, overheating indicator.
    1,200–2,500 $
    Ad cylinder head gasket D4EAhead gasket 2.0 CRDi Tucson20910-27840

+ 5 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses

2.0L MPI (Sirius II) · Petrol· 136–140 PS
2000 2008

Two-litre from the Sirius II family — older design with timing belt. Belt change is the key maintenance item: interference engine, failure means severe engine damage. Oil seals leak with age. Oil consumption from piston ring wear at high mileage. Water pump fails early. Throttle body cokes up. A simple engine that runs reliably with care.

  • !! Sirius timing belt — critical maintenance interval from 90,000 km

    The Sirius G4JS engine uses interference timing belt drive. Change interval: 90,000 km. Many used vehicles are on the road with an overdue belt.

    Symptoms: Engine suddenly no longer starts; no compression; possible crunching on failure.
    350–700 $
    Ad G4JS timing belt kitSirius 2.0 timing belt Sonata TrajetG4JS timing belt water pump
  • !! Balance shaft belt destroys timing belt from 80,000 km

    Neglected oil changes seize balance shaft bearings → belt breaks → debris destroys timing belt, often BEFORE scheduled service interval.

    Symptoms: Heavy engine vibration (precursor), then sudden engine stop without warning. No cold-start rattle like chain engines.
    1,500–4,000 $
    Ad timing belt G4JStiming beltsatz Hyundai Santa Fe 2.0 Sirius II
  • !! Oil seal ageing leaks from 130,000 km

    Older Sigma/Delta V6 engine tends to oil leaks at valve cover gaskets and camshaft seals at high mileage. Labour-intensive disassembly due to the tight V6 packaging.

    Symptoms: Oil stains under the vehicle, oil smell, dropping oil level.
    250–800 $
    Ad G4JS valve cover gasketSigma V6 valve cover gasket

+ 4 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses

2.7L V6 (Delta) · Petrol· 171–173 PS
2000 2008

V6 from the Delta family — 2.7L with 129–139 kW in SUV and mid-size models. Timing belt engine: belt failure = engine destruction (interference), strict 90,000 km interval. Water pump is belt-driven, always replace together. Camshaft seals leak on nearly every high-mileage example. Ignition coils fail prematurely. Oil consumption rises with mileage. An engine that demands its service intervals but runs reliably with care.

  • !! Timing Belt Failure — Interference Engine from 90,000 km

    The G6BA is an interference engine — belt failure means total engine destruction. 90,000 km change interval. Tensioner bracket wears and can destroy the belt even with timely replacement. Always replace water pump together.

    Symptoms: Sudden engine cutout without warning, no restart possible. After the break, engine noise is typical on attempted start.
    690–5,000 $
    Ad timing beltsatz G6BAtiming belt kit 2.7 V6 Santa Fe Sonata24312-37110
  • !! Water Pump Belt Drive Leaks from 90,000 km

    The belt-driven water pump on the 2.7L V6 leaks at the shaft seal. Coolant can drip onto the timing belt and trigger belt failure. Preventive replacement at every belt service is mandatory.

    Symptoms: Coolant loss without external leak, coolant staining in the timing belt area, risk of overheating.
    400–900 $
    Ad water pump G6BAwater pump 2.7 V6 Santa Fe25100-37101
  • !! Camshaft Seal Oil Leak from 100,000 km

    Camshaft seals in the G6BA harden and allow oil to enter the timing belt area. Once oil contacts the belt, immediate replacement is required. A typical weak point on all 2.7L V6 engines.

    Symptoms: Oil on the timing belt cover, oil staining in the belt area, occasional oil smell from the engine bay.
    300–700 $
    Ad camshaft gasket G6BAcam gasket 2.7 V6 Santa Fe21421-37050

+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses

Vehicle Weaknesses

WeaknessCost
✖Rear axle rusts at spring seat

Critical weakness: rear axle rusts precisely at the spring seat. Control arms and trailing arms cost around 500 € per side. In Germany partially covered by Hyundai recall/goodwill.

Symptoms: Visible perforation at rear axle, vehicle bottoms out unevenly at rear over bumps, squeaking from suspension
from 100,000 km
Ad rear control arm Hyundai Trajet FOrear axle carrier Trajettrailing arm Trajet FO
 High

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Known Problems and Issues +

A total of 26 weaknesses have been documented for the Hyundai Trajet FO (2000–2008) — 21 engine-related and 5 vehicle-related. One problem engine: G6BA (2.7L V6 (Delta)). Typical issues affect Rust, Suspension, Gearbox, Interior.

Trajet (D4EA, 2001–2006) — Be Careful: Common-rail injector wear, Turbocharger failure, Head gasket failure. Power: 113 PS.

Trajet (G6BA, 2000–2008) — Stay Away!: Timing Belt Failure — Interference Engine, Water Pump Belt Drive Leaks, Camshaft Seal Oil Leak. Power: 171–173 PS.

Trajet (G4JS, 2000–2004) — Be Careful: Sirius timing belt — critical maintenance interval, Balance shaft belt destroys timing belt, Oil seal ageing leaks. Power: 136–140 PS.

What to watch out for with the Hyundai Trajet? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems and weaknesses does the Hyundai Trajet FO have? +
The Hyundai Trajet FO has 21 known engine weaknesses and 5 vehicle weaknesses.
What should I look for when buying a used Hyundai Trajet FO? +
faq.watch_a_avoid
Which engine is recommended? +
Be careful: G4JS (2.0L MPI (Sirius II)), D4EA (2.0L CRDi). No engine is rated 'Good Choice'. The most fun to drive is the G6BA (2.7L V6 (Delta)). Problem engine: G6BA (2.7L V6 (Delta)) — stay away!
Which Hyundai Trajet FO engine is the most fun? +
The {code} ({displacement}) offers the most driving fun in the Hyundai Trajet FO — rated: "Decent". {description} The Trajet moves families from A to B without fuss. That is the entire pitch.
Is the Hyundai Trajet FO worth buying used? +
Caution is advised with the Hyundai Trajet FO — 1 of 3 engine variants are rated 'Stay Away!'. The engine choice is crucial.
What horsepower variants are available for the Hyundai Trajet FO? +
The Hyundai Trajet FO is available with engine variants from 113 to 175 hp. Petrol: G6BA (2.7L V6 (Delta)), G4JS (2.0L MPI (Sirius II)). Diesel: D4EA (2.0L CRDi).

Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee