D40 : Chassis rusting & breaking into pieces. I have what may be the ultimate chassis story.
My Navara is the Outlaw model, 56 plate (4.5 years old; I bought in Jul 2009 at 3 years old with 48,000 miles on the clock). I use the Navara to transport a de-mountable motor-home (made for me by Ranger Motor-homes of Rochdale in Feb 2010) which weighs 640 kg + c.200 kg of extras. I must say that Ranger have been 1st class in all my dealings with them. ;D
In fact, the main reason I bought the Navara was because of good magazine reviews (how were these funded?) & Nissan’s advertising leaflets & brochures that heavily promote the robustness of the Navara for load carrying (often off-road & in robust wild country) & for adventurous outdoor activities. I still have all these brochures.
I returned on 2nd Dec 2010 from 3-month trip to Morocco
(but after only 2 months due to clutch, dual-mass flywheel & transfer gear box failures, which cost c. £6000 & a holiday that was 1/3 shortened!). On 12th Jan 2011 the chassis completely broke at both rear "leg" extensions just forward of rear wheels – the engineer's report says rusting is to blame & my insurance refused the subsequent claim. The whole pickup section tilted backwards some 15˚ - 20˚. Repair estimated £8666+VAT; Navara worth about £9500.
The total clock mileage was c. 68000 on return from Morocco (reached Glasgow on 2nd Dec 2010). Additionally, I drive very carefully & slowly because I want to minimise fuel consumption, & also because on holiday my main interest is in wildlife and scenic photography that leads me to want to stop frequently and often quickly. The Navara has been treated very gently while in my ownership.
Nissan are being unhelpful – they want me to allow the motor-home to be put on my broken Navara (with collapsed chassis) & have it recovered to a weigh-bridge for checking both the total weight & separate axle loadings. Surely re-assembling the Navara & motor-home is irresponsible in that loading 640 kg on to a vehicle with a completely sheered (or rusted right through) chassis is likely to lead to further damage or even an accident. Additionally, for instance, my insurance would be invalid. I have already checked (fortuitously)the total combination weight fully loaded - 3150 kg - some 60 kg inside its maximum permissible load, though I don't know the individual axle loadings.
I have suggested to Nissan that the motor-home is transported on a working Navara & my damaged Navara can then be transported on a recovery truck; at the weigh-bridge I could then re-assemble the combination, do the weighings, then separate & return the Navara & Ranger home in the same fashion that we came. Alternatively, independent weigh-pads could be hired & used in my front driveway. Both these suggestions of mine are rejected by our "favourite car manufacturer", who will not accept responsibility for the vehicle move. They also state that if I do not allow the vehicle move because of the damage risk & potential safety risk, then they will not be able to take my claim any further. Nice logic!
What do I do now? The chassis broke on 12 Jan 2011 & I have been without the vehicle since then (now over 2 months). I am disabled & need the Navara for going about my everyday activities. Are there any legal actions pending concerning this rust problem? (I’m Gordon at 0141 641 4200, email at gordonridley@lycos.com.)
I have photographs available of most of the stages in this long & weary tale of woe.
Since early January I have phoned & emailed & enclosed photographs frequently to Nissan UK Servicing, Arnold Clark’s Glasgow Nissan dealership, my insurance company, the engineer, etc. Basically, I have been passed around this circle of people (& others connected with the clutch & flywheel repair), all denying responsibility of course.
The transfer box appears to have failed because there was no oil in it, which I believe is down to carelessness on the part of the motor engineers who repaired it; this is confirmed by another engineer’s report. I have taken this up separately with the motor engineers (based in Rochdale), who unsurprisingly say its nothing to do with them.
Ranger Motor-homes expressed restrained disappointment that I had bought a Nissan Navara when I turned up to collect the Ranger, but said little (presumably not wanting to dampen my high spirits). On reporting to them my difficulties and, in particular, my sheered chassis they surprised me by saying that they had seen & dealt with 3 other Navara (with Rangers fitted) that had split chassis’ like mine. They also know of one more that had been reported by one of their trade colleagues. With mine that makes 5 corroded through chassis’, surely more than a coincidence. Ranger also report that they have not come across this in any other pickup. They suggest I change to Ford, or Mazda, or any other pickup, except Nissan (
).
Any suggestions or help will be most gratefully received because, as a pensioner, I can't afford to subsidise Nissan by indulging in free customer development. I will re-post if there are any significant developments.
Best wishes,
Gordon Ridley.