Nissan Plays Down 'Snapped' Navara Fears After Facebook Group Hits The News

Nissan is batting away accusations that the D40 Navara has a fundamental design flaw, insisting that only a small number of the popular pickup are affected by a worrying chassis rust issue
Nissan Plays Down 'Snapped' Navara Fears After Facebook Group Hits The News

Nissan is facing tough questions after a number of Navara pickups appear to have snapped between the cab and load bay.

On a disputed number of units, the central point of the chassis is apparently prone to rusting, and since it’s a stressed part of the car’s principal structure, it eventually snaps. Nissan has allegedly known about the issue for a year, according to two national newspapers.

Pictures of several snapped Navaras have been posted to a dedicated Facebook group for affected owners. Several look to have snapped when being loaded with trailers, and others snapped while being driven.

Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group
Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group

The 4x4 drivetrain should stop the two parts of the chassis separating at low speed, but this is clearly still a significant problem.

Nissan is now being urged to recall the D40 model wholesale to reassure owners of unaffected models that they have nothing to fear. Conservative MP Huw Merriman, a member of the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee, is leading the call.

He said: “To reassure the public, Nissan would be well advised to recall all affected vehicles.

“If, as they say, there are only a small amount impacted then it shouldn’t be a costly exercise in ensuring that these vehicles really are safe to be on the road.”

Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group
Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group

The D40 was built between 2004 and 2015. It suffered a blow to its reputation in 2008 after scoring a ‘one-star strikethrough’ crash safety rating before a vital software upgrade raised that to three stars, and, in fairness, the highest overall score for a pickup at the time.

The company has so far ‘strongly disputed’ the idea that all D40 Navaras are affected, and has told The Sun and MailOnline separately that measures are in place to help owners with Navaras rusting in this way.

Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group
Image: Facebook/Nissan Navara snapped chassis group

No specific remedy is on the table, but Nissan has told CT that:

“As long as these vehicles are properly maintained, serviced and MOT’d they are safe to drive, and therefore we are dealing with each customer on a case by case basis. As is standard industry practice, we only recall a vehicle when there’s a safety issue.

“Depending on the age of the vehicle, measures include a free and independent inspection of the vehicle where appropriate on older vehicles. If that inspection shows there’s an issue, we’ll do the right thing by the customer under our warranty and customer service policies.”

Remedial action could include simply telling the customer what repairs need to be carried out but not paying for them, part-paying for repairs, covering the whole cost of the fix or even replacing the broken vehicle, a Nissan spokesman has told us.

“We’ve put measures in place to quickly resolve the concerns of any customers who have contacted us about this.

“Any concerned customers should contact the Nissan Care team on 0330 123 1231. Our team is on hand to help and can advise on the most appropriate course of action for each customer and their vehicle.”

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Comments

Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

Still has less rust than phil

02/06/2017 - 16:01 |
150 | 2

This needs to be top comment…

02/07/2017 - 07:54 |
2 | 6
Valanti Demetriades

Still not as much weight reduction as the Dodge Demon

02/06/2017 - 16:03 |
200 | 4

WEIGHT REDUCTION BRO!

02/06/2017 - 21:30 |
8 | 0

I guess you can buy these cars HALF price

02/06/2017 - 22:55 |
76 | 2
Kyle Ashdown

[DELETED]

02/06/2017 - 16:04 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Oh Snap. Not again.

02/06/2017 - 16:18 |
108 | 8
Freddie Skeates

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Guess they could be worth snapping up for spare parts though

02/06/2017 - 16:39 |
12 | 0
Mazda Fanatic

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I see CT hasn’t gotten rusty with the puns…

02/06/2017 - 17:56 |
26 | 0
HF_Martini6

seems the reused the Chassis from unsold D20’s those had the exact same Problem.

02/06/2017 - 16:56 |
4 | 0
James Marshall

Well it seems like the Nissan Navara isn’t the only pickup to suffer from this problem; how many people have seen this video of an Opel Campo by a Dutch…erm…redneck (I guess?) youtube channel; Mastermilo82? Watch after 3:00 to see what I mean! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DltKTd75wIk

02/06/2017 - 17:06 |
10 | 0

Has ist survived? Almost all of Milos stuff got destroyed in a huge fire.

02/06/2017 - 19:31 |
0 | 0
[Flux]

It’s like one of those truck made from Lego bricks without any supporting plates; Just connected by two studs.

02/06/2017 - 18:05 |
10 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by [Flux]

Maaan… So easy to get broken.

02/07/2017 - 00:49 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

My face after reading this because I own one

02/06/2017 - 18:39 |
114 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I know that feeling bro, I also have one. I’m sure I’ll look out for rust

02/07/2017 - 22:00 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

I think we need a name for this…..how about ‘NAVAGATE ‘

02/06/2017 - 18:59 |
8 | 2
Anonymous

The Truck is Scowling at you for buying a Nissan pickup in the first place.

02/06/2017 - 19:04 |
2 | 2