Nissan Navara (2005–2016)

Recall 30-06-2005: Bonnet may not be secure when closed due to a welding problem with the lock support.

Recall 02-12-2005: Propshaft may detach due to incorrectly torqued bolts.

Recall 23-02-2006: Steering shaft lower joint may detach.

Recall 24-04-2006: Rear wheel bearing may fail.

Recall 08-06-2010: Clevis pin in brake servo may not have been fitted at factory.

Recall 13-06-2011: Wheels may crack and detach.

Recall 02-04-2012: Driver’s seat electric adjustment may fail.

Prone to timing chain problems.

Halfshafts suffer from high wear.

Nissan gets the basics of the dash and seating right, but a reach adjustable steering wheel would be welcome, as would larger buttons for the minor controls.

Underslung spares prone to theft. K-Lok spare wheel lock £37.50 with DIY fitting instructions direct from (requires a 20mm diameter hole).

Poor performance in 2008 NCAP test. Only one star for adult protection. Airbag mods by Nissan followed. 3 star for child protection and 2 star for pedestrian protection.

Have been problems with rear axle wheel bearings (some owners have had axles replaced). One report of failure of driveshaft to diff universal joint and 3 week wait for replacement. Also problems with Bluetooth, CD radio, satnav and aircon.

Problems reported with electronic selectors for 4WD and low range failing to de-select unless the vehicle is reversed. This has then led to transmission noise on the motorway. Or for the transmission to fail to engage 4WD. The reason seems to be a cable inside the wiring loom of insufficient capacity. The answer is to jump a heavier cable across outside the wiring loom to carry the switching current more reliably.

Unconfirmed reports of DMF problems.

Prone to stone chipping and rust spots along top screen rail.

On automatics the transmission heat exchanger inside the radiator can fracture leading to contamination of the automatic transmission fluid and failure of the transmission.

EGR can block, signified by engine management light and engine cutting out.

Upper and lower front suspension ball joints can wear, leading to wandering and knocking. £60 a side to fix. (Wandering on the road can also be due to the fitting of dedicated off road tyres.)

Vibrations from underneath probably due to wear in propshaft joints.

Poor lubrication of timing chain tensioner due to neglected oil changes can lead to them stretching and
breaking. The Simplax chain and sprockets can be changed for a Duplex chain, but it's quite an expensive job.

Feel the oil on the dipstick for metal particles. This could signify all kinds of problems including failing injection pump, failing injectors, failing turbo.

Look for weeping halfshaft seals and listen for noisy front wheel bearing hubs.

Fuel rail pressure valve can fail costing up to £1,000 to replace.

Have been problems with rear axle wheel bearings (some owners have had axles replaced). One report of failure of driveshaft to diff universal joint and 3 week wait for replacement. Also problems with Bluetooth, CD radio, satnav and aircon. 

Problems reported with electronic selectors for 4WD and low range failing to de-select unless the vehicle is reversed. This has then led to transmission noise on the motorway. Or for the transmission to fail to engage 4WD. The reason seems to be a cable inside the wiring loom of insufficient capacity. The answer is to jump a heavier cable across outside the wiring loom to carry the switching current more reliably.

On a 2005/55 Navara D40 Outlaw, the roof has started to corrode and blister around the mounting points for the roof rails, indicating that the mounting holes must simply have been drilled and left with bare metal edges.

On 36k mile 2012/62 Navara the following failures occurred: The transfer box stuck in 4WD. The engine went into 'safe' mode. The Bluetooth failed (Bluetooth frequently fails, depending on cell coverage). The passenger window failed. Subsequently the switch unit or the windows ECU failed because the passenger window failed and that should not have happened. The fuse should have broken and protected it.

Seems to be a problem with trip computers of 2013/2014 MY Navara. Production of new model NP300 Navara has led to parts and software shortage to repair the old model.

Clutch and DMF failure of December 2014 Navara at just 5,500 miles. Not warranted. Lessee forced to pay £2,000 to replace.

Engine management light intermittent on 27k mile 2012 Navara auto. Dealer told owner "it is a known fault" and prescribed a new torque converter at £2,300 and if this does not work a new "central unit" at £2,000. No financial help or goodwill offered.

Report of chassis of 2006 Navara rotted through and dangerous at 10 years old, 2 years inside rust perforation warranty. Some doubt as to whether warranty terms were complied with.

Another report of chassis of 2006 Navara failing MoT for corrosion. Owner took this up with Nissan who sent an RAC inspector to check the chassis in the owner's driveway and the inspector declared it "safe". No information supplied about maintenance of the truck.

16-11-2016: The chassis cracking/corrosion issue on Nissan Navara D40s seems to have resulted in a widspread recall by Nissan which is offereing generous part exchange allowances to trade in for its latest NP300 Navara truck.

7-2-2017: Report in Daily Telegraph that Nissan Navara D40s "could snap in two". "More than 15,000 people have joined a Facebook group for motorists concerned about models from 2005 to 2011.

10-2-2017: Comprehensive report in The Sun about Nissan Navara chassis rust. Mainly affects 2005 - 2008 Navara D40s assembled in Spain.

31-7-2017: Another complaint about cracks on the chassis. This time a 2006 model, with rot appearing between the spring hangers near to the centre of the tyres and again further forward near the front leaf spring anchor points.

27-10-2017: Further report of a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder R51 failing its MoT for the same central chassis corrosion as suffered by 2005-2007 D40 Navaras. Owner reported that once 12 year perforation warranty is up, Nissan will offer no compensation, nor any kind of goodwill gesture. So it is up to owners of these vehicles to report the problem as a safety issue to the DVSA in the hope DVSA will issue a Safety Recall.

12-11-2017: Report of 2005 Nissan Navara D40 failing MoT due to penetrative corrosion just seven weeks outside Nissan 12 year anti penetrative corrosion warranty. However, as with all anti corrosion warranties, these warranties are subject to annual inspections by Nissan dealers and if these have not been carried out, the warranty can be voided.

12-1-2018: Information received that 2010 Nissan Pathfinder 190 (based on navara D40) had excessive backlash in its differential. While in a Nissan dealer for another job, the dealer retained the car to replace worn parts in the differential under warranty. Apparently some parts were made with inferior metal which wore down quite quickly. They said they had a "shot" test to ascertain the softness of the metal.

13-3-2018: Complaint of wiper blades shredding every 6 months on a Nissan Navara D40. Owner replaced it with Navara NP300 and the same thing is happening.

23-5-2018: Report of failure of chassis October 2017 Nissan Navara at 82,212. Nissan said it would take 6 weeks for them to assess, but as the vehicle is an essential part of the owners business he had it welded at a cost of £800.

23-5-2018: Report of chassis corrosion in a Nissan D40 Navara (no age given). Nissan offered £4500 to buy it back or a 20% discount on a new Navara NP300.

24-7-2019: Strange account of Nissan taking a reader's Navara D40 to Spain to be "rust-proofed". The process took 5 months and the reader's cherished pride and joy was returned damaged with grafitti, scratches and dents so he refused to accept it.

28-1-2020: Report of poor quality chassis corrosion prevention treatment. Nissan dealer sub-contracted the work, which rejected due to being not to specification. Wiring looms were not reconnected to the chassis and central locking wiring were also cut. After many complaints by the owner, the D40 was eventually sent to an approved Nissan dealer for repairs and correct chassis corrosion prevention treatment.

24-2-2021: Report of chassis corrosion on 2013 Navara. Vehicle has failed the MoT and only done 31k miles.