[Uselescrapytwit]

Right I had my chassis checked nothing like 2 hours or so on unbolting of the bed and whole inspection in less than an hour.
Not filled with confidence especialy as I am just going to spend well over a grand on the old girl in other repairs. No scientific instruments no super video of my truck being done. No camera inside the chassis just a lift and a look on the ramp by a bloke with clean overalls in a clean workshop no t even a wash or a brush needed to clean the floor wher he might have rubbed some dirt off the chassis to see it better.
I don't think he was an expert either probably just a "fitter" please don't be offended fitters but it's not engineering it's fitting.
I got back on to Nissan uk to find out what the paint was and why they hadn't done as per the leaked bulletin confrance call. Basically due to bolts not being available. Also my truck is ace aparently well it would be it's been waxoiled and looked after being washed down underneath with a hose after any muddy activerty I also get my hand behind the filler neck and rinse it down with the hose the same as the cross members I poke the hose through them with it running to rinse out all the crud.
I am old school wash away winter salt keep mud away and wax oil every summer during hot weather, it's due again in 3 weeks time.

Any way back to nissan hq I emailed my disappointment and a request to sort me out with a good deal on a new one as I had had so much go wrong in the last year .

I do support nissan and understand car life cycles , owner profiles and profit against longevity , designed in component failure and all that so can't moan at nissan quality could be better and value for both customer and Nissan could be better in my opinion by making the product more robust for longer.

Any way I got absolutely no where with them they could not give me or should I say would not a cheep deal on a new one, they couldn't tell me what product they were coating my truck with. Or even what type of product i.e. Expoxy resin reinforced paint, chemical reactive or acidic to neutralise the rust just that it was used in marine applications and could be painted on to wet surfaces. I guess it must be water activated curing then like some body jointing pasts and super glue. So no chance on researching the product.
They just said the dealer could not take the tub off because they didn't have the bolts to replace it.

I had over 30 mins on the phone with them and got nothing out of it other than a load of smoke and mirrors.

All My faith in Nissan that had been rebuilt over the last month or so has just been blown away.
Feeling disappointed and let down wit now a shed load of scepticism about what nissan are doing.

I do find it disappointing when some one does not know what they are talking about when they are talking to an educated mechanical engineer with understandings in chemistry down to element and molecular levels and bio chemistry who now works with budgets, marketing strategy s and human nature. For a living.oops may be I forgot to mention that.



Feeling let down and disappointed

 

[Pathfinder-DBS]

I took away from that you asked for money off a new NP300 because your current one is a PITA ?
Not sure Samsung would give you money of a TV if your current one kept breaking.
Goes to show about treat them mean keep them keen is true. After all the hassle you speak about you still went back for a new one. Crazy!

I don't buy into this designed in failure BS I think its a way to justify having to fork out ££££ on a badly put together shed, and it justifies Nissan s**t build quality. You go from one mechanical nightmare to another I spend more time under it than in it. Last weekend was the UJs on the rear prop, this weekend is the rear prop seal to the nearside drive shaft. I mean WTF, just stop F**king breaking!!!!
This is the first and LAST Nissan ill ever own, My RX 8 (renowned for unreliability) was more reliable than this. I go out of my way to tell people to stay clear when they are thinking of buying one. Well actually I don't have to anymore. I just say a common fault is they break in half or visit here.
Quality is a customer keeper, gimmicks and cheapness do not.
I wouldnt have another if it was free!

 

[popsdosh]

I really do have to chuckle sometimes . I sometimes wonder what buyers expect of a 8yo vehicle . I am afraid if you can spend so much time whining at Nissan over a vehicle that age you have to much time on your hands ,What response were you hoping for? Nissan have an issue that they are dealing with now in a professional way and I dont see many complaining about the deals they are offered. Yet for some reason those who do not have a problem with chassis cannot be happy ,just upset Nissan wont give them the same deal on a new one that they are offering those suffering.
My experience of Nissan has been so much better than Land Rover. As a business we run D40s and one NP300 never had huge mechanical issues with either and they work hard . When we ran D3s the dealer was on speed dial and we constantly had one off school. Our stark choice was keep buying LR or buy nissan where we could buy 2 for 1 and have remarkably better reliability with little sacrificed in comfort.
Of course if you buy secondhand you are going to get issues its the nature of the beast. We buy new because we have the back up of a new fully warranted vehicle,when we pass them on they are sold with full service histories but that does not stop age and use issues causing problems how can it . Thats why we buy new!

 

[chris vince]

I really do have to chuckle sometimes . I sometimes wonder what buyers expect of a 8yo vehicle . I am afraid if you can spend so much time whining at Nissan over a vehicle that age you have to much time on your hands ,What response were you hoping for? Nissan have an issue that they are dealing with now in a professional way and I dont see many complaining about the deals they are offered. Yet for some reason those who do not have a problem with chassis cannot be happy ,just upset Nissan wont give them the same deal on a new one that they are offering those suffering.
My experience of Nissan has been so much better than Land Rover. As a business we run D40s and one NP300 never had huge mechanical issues with either and they work hard . When we ran D3s the dealer was on speed dial and we constantly had one off school. Our stark choice was keep buying LR or buy nissan where we could buy 2 for 1 and have remarkably better reliability with little sacrificed in comfort.
Of course if you buy secondhand you are going to get issues its the nature of the beast. We buy new because we have the back up of a new fully warranted vehicle,when we pass them on they are sold with full service histories but that does not stop age and use issues causing problems how can it . Thats why we buy new!

Personally I expect from vehicle (up to 8 years old)
1 It will not blow up 2 engines in 88,000 miles (mine did)
2 It will not snap in half (don't have this problem)

As has just been demonstrated (posts above) this is a half ***** delaying tactic by Nissan, lack of bolts etc completely unacceptable, there are stockholders out there with thousands on their shelves, previous excuses that they must be 'torque stretch bolts' etc what a load of rubbish!
I can fully understand those that have supposedly sound chassis still being anxious and concerned, and wanting to get rid of their trucks, as Nissan THEMSELVES have by their own actions admitted this is a problem that affects the whole D40 range and that will NOT be going away any time soon.
Regardless of this 'extra special super duper, rust destroying paint' that no one in Nissan can give any more details of except that it is PAINT that will cure all ills!
Paint the chassis', make them look nice, tell the sad faced customer that has poured his hard earned into their products that all is well, and then send them on their way, until the rust underneath the 'paint' returns, and the areas that are missed rust through, by then the truck will be that much older and it can ALL be put down to fair wear and tear!
Delaying tactics is all this is!
As FreemanSteve would say 'snake oil' comes to mind, sorry to pinch your line Steve.

 

[Pathfinder-DBS]

Of course if you buy secondhand you are going to get issues its the nature of the beast. We buy new because we have the back up of a new fully warranted vehicle,when we pass them on they are sold with full service histories but that does not stop age and use issues causing problems how can it . Thats why we buy new!

Maybe I'm being overly harsh then, it just seems like it's one long school in mechanics. Every weekend for the last 6 weeks, something has needed to be fixed.

 

[landmannnn]

I don't buy into the designed failure either.
I think it is a combination of simulated testing (desktop rather than real world), rushed development, cost control and production line efficiency.

Going back to the chassis issue, they are doing the right thing by protecting the chassis, just too late.

 

[popsdosh]

Personally I expect from vehicle (up to 8 years old)
1 It will not blow up 2 engines in 88,000 miles (mine did)
2 It will not snap in half (don't have this problem)

As has just been demonstrated (posts above) this is a half ***** delaying tactic by Nissan, lack of bolts etc completely unacceptable, there are stockholders out there with thousands on their shelves, previous excuses that they must be 'torque stretch bolts' etc what a load of rubbish!
I can fully understand those that have supposedly sound chassis still being anxious and concerned, and wanting to get rid of their trucks, as Nissan THEMSELVES have by their own actions admitted this is a problem that affects the whole D40 range and that will NOT be going away any time soon.
Regardless of this 'extra special super duper, rust destroying paint' that no one in Nissan can give any more details of except that it is PAINT that will cure all ills!
Paint the chassis', make them look nice, tell the sad faced customer that has poured his hard earned into their products that all is well, and then send them on their way, until the rust underneath the 'paint' returns, and the areas that are missed rust through, by then the truck will be that much older and it can ALL be put down to fair wear and tear!
Delaying tactics is all this is!
As FreemanSteve would say 'snake oil' comes to mind, sorry to pinch your line Steve.

Of course its very feasible theres a lack of torque stretch bolts . How many do you think they would normally sell in a year LOL. We all know many would have taken the buck off and just put it back together . At least Nissan arent scrimping on that bit. As I said clearly else where if my chassis had rust I wouldnt accept the painting in the first place. However on one thats not gone that far is a good thing.

 

[chris vince]

Of course its very feasible theres a lack of torque stretch bolts .

Come on, it's an excuse!
Look at the way your buck IS actually bolted, there is a compliant pad between the chassis mountings and the buck mountings.
NO commercial body is rigidly fixed to the chassis, it HAS to have an amount of controlled movement, to avoid cracking the chassis as it flexes.
Therefore the rubbish excuse about torque bolts is just that, rubbish, what is the point of the compliant mountings when the bolts are done up so tight that the bolts can actually stretch?
I can see your point of view, buying new with the manufacturers warranty must give a wonderful feeling of security?
I have empathy however with those in this mess through NO fault of their own.
Nissan have NOT dealt with this well in my opinion, surely the possibility of a chassis snapping on a motorway at 70 mph can be considered an extremely dangerous situation?
May I ask all D40 owners?
How many of YOU have received a letter through the post inviting you to visit a stealership for this wonderful cure all chassis inspection, and treatment (when the torque bolts ARE available, obviously).
IF (?) Nissan have sent such letters out I may change my opinion of their concerns for customer safety.
Or is the only notification making you aware of this wonderful gesture, 'word of mouth' on here?

 

[popsdosh]

My dealer told me when the NP300 was in for service . They said mine would have to go in when Nissan OK them looking at 2012 onwards.

 

[PCUK]

If you've not bought from a dealer or had dealer service then they will presumably not know where we are!

 

[17743]

recalls are done via DVLA usually

 

[Inta]

There is a valid point made there.
I don't see it made clear to all owners here:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

 

[chris vince]

If you've not bought from a dealer or had dealer service then they will presumably not know where we are!

It would only take a simply application to the DVLA to find out ALL the registered keepers of D40's, the DVLA would charge for this service, possibly why Nissan haven't BOTHERED!

 

[chris vince]

recalls are done via DVLA usually

A manufacturer can also instigate a voluntary service campaign, should they have real concerns?

 

[Pathfinder-DBS]

Well there are already 2 pages of recalls on their site. So what is one more? Actually I think its more sinister than just not willing to pay a few quid. You could pretty much remove all other faults on the list if the top entry was " due to manufacturing fault vehicle may snap in half". It would cost them a packet if everyone started showing up with broken cars. Imaging the brand damage. That's why it hasn't gone to the DVLA recall... It would be admitting to a government agency that the chassis is unsafe on all vehicles after an unacceptably short period of time on the road.

 

[chris vince]

There is a valid point made there.
I don't see it made clear to all owners here:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/default.asp

This just shows the complete ineptitude and deficiencies in both the government and manufacturers dangerous situations warning procedures.
Below is the latest D40 recall notice, it is deemed so important that justifies a vehicle recall as the 'STOP LAMP MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED'!

15 31/10/2016 R/2016/233 NISSAN Navara stop lamp may not be functioning as expected 01/10/2015 16/06/2016

Really a broken stop lamp, when there are still thousands of potential deathtrap D40's and Pathfinders still being driven around out there by completely innocent unsuspecting owners and in the case of Pathfinders possibly families.
Don't forget these things are coming towards all of us and our families.
Yet this does not even register a concern in government and with Nissan.

PS
Still waiting to hear from any D40 owner that has been contacted directly by Nissan alerting them to their concerns.
(I'm not holding my breath though)

 

[popsdosh]

This just shows the complete ineptitude and deficiencies in both the government and manufacturers dangerous situations warning procedures.
Below is the latest D40 recall notice, it is deemed so important that justifies a vehicle recall as the 'STOP LAMP MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONING AS EXPECTED'!

15 31/10/2016 R/2016/233 NISSAN Navara stop lamp may not be functioning as expected 01/10/2015 16/06/2016

Really a broken stop lamp, when there are still thousands of potential deathtrap D40's and Pathfinders still being driven around out there by completely innocent unsuspecting owners and in the case of Pathfinders possibly families.
Don't forget these things are coming towards all of us and our families.
Yet this does not even register a concern in government and with Nissan.

PS
Still waiting to hear from any D40 owner that has been contacted directly by Nissan alerting them to their concerns.
(I'm not holding my breath though)

Your link just to clarify is not for a D40 but the NP300
I consider being told by a dealer to be the same as contacted by Nissan.

To be fair to Nissan and VOSA they have not been unresponsive.
Vosa have took the attitude that MOT test should pick up the dangerous ones now, it was about 4yrs ago that MOT testers were first alerted to the problem and were told to look carefully as I remember the tester telling me when it was in. Nissan have now come up with a system to deal with it on a voluntary basis so it is not an official recall,however they will have access to DVLA records of current owners. Logistics suggest however not every one can be dealt with straight away !

Just to enlighten you on the stretch bolts ! They indeed became the norm after the problems they had with the early D40s with the bed bolts shaking loose it is indeed possible to to have a moving mount that also failsafes to a stretch bolt. Believe it or not D40s were subject to a recall for that issue.

 

[chris vince]

Your link just to clarify is not for a D40 but the NP300
I consider being told by a dealer to be the same as contacted by Nissan.

To be fair to Nissan and VOSA they have not been unresponsive.
Vosa have took the attitude that MOT test should pick up the dangerous ones now, it was about 4yrs ago that MOT testers were first alerted to the problem and were told to look carefully as I remember the tester telling me when it was in. Nissan have now come up with a system to deal with it on a voluntary basis so it is not an official recall,however they will have access to DVLA records of current owners. Logistics suggest however not every one can be dealt with straight away !

Just to enlighten you on the stretch bolts ! They indeed became the norm after the problems they had with the early D40s with the bed bolts shaking loose it is indeed possible to to have a moving mount that also failsafes to a stretch bolt. Believe it or not D40s were subject to a recall for that issue.

Point 1
YOU were told in person when visiting a dealer.
What about ALL the other owners driving around in vehicles completely unaware that they can snap in half at any time, these poor sods have had NO warning.


Point 2
I have never suggested it should be an official recall (although I find it hard to accept the government is allowing vehicles like this to remain in daily use!), again I feel for any person putting a vehicle in for an MOT and having a prohibition notice put on it, once again Nissan are putting the onus on a third party i.e. the MOT tester.
Nissan have a voluntary system?
How about Nissan informing D40 and Pathfinder owners then?
"Logistics suggest however not every one can be dealt with straight away !"
Nissan's system can't cope now, when this marvelous voluntary system is a semi secret, the 'system' will fold up when it becomes common knowledge!

Point 3
You don't have to enlighten me on stretch bolts, I don't believe they are in fact used for this application.
Have you any idea just how much torque is need to stretch these bolts?
Enough to destroy the purpose of a compliant mounting!
Nissan KNOW how many D40's are involved, Nissan should NOT have entered into this super voluntary scheme BEFORE they could support it.
Prior preparation prevents p!ss poor performance, to quote a military saying.

 

[17743]

same issue they are waiting on body mount bolts apparently they are stretch bolts and are not to be reused but they have managed to tell me both lower ball joints and a track rod are worn which is weird as it passed its MOT 300 miles ago, not worth the paper, anyway have asked for a price and put some mattresses on the floor to cushion my Jaw think my local boys will be getting that tbh

Wow just WOW got my quote from Nissan christ almighty, nearside balljoint £549, offside Balljoint £487, Trackrod end £378 all plus Vat! thats a grand for 2 balljoints and a track rod, thinking it was a massive labour Bill I got the parts prices off them ns Balljoint £327, I stopped Her at that point, I can get all Three done by my local guys and tracked for less than the cost of just that part.

 

[chris vince]

Wow just WOW got my quote from Nissan christ almighty, nearside balljoint £549, offside Balljoint £487, Trackrod end £378 all plus Vat! thats a grand for 2 balljoints and a track rod, thinking it was a massive labour Bill I got the parts prices off them ns Balljoint £327, I stopped Her at that point, I can get all Three done by my local guys and tracked for less than the cost of just that part.

They know how to lose customers!