Nissan Navara's flaw

NISSAN has begun a mailout to 22,000 Navara owners asking them to return their cars for work on airbags found to be dangerous during recent crash testing.

But Navara owners contacted by The Australian are not rushing out anxiously to watch their letterboxes — they are unconcerned by the findings and happy with their choice of four-wheel-drive ute.

The recall follows testing that found the Navara had serious safety flaws that could cause fatal injuries.

The European New Car Assessment Program testing revealed the Navara's “passenger compartment became unstable” in front-on crashes.

“The airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners were triggered late in the impact,” the testing body found.

ENCAP, a partner body to Australia's crash test organisation, gave the Navara a rating of less than one star in its latest review.

Nissan has responded with a mailout asking Navara owners to contact their dealerships to arrange for upgrades to their cars' airbag software.

Adelaide plumber Gabriel Virag, who is on his second Navara, was surprised by the results.

“It doesn't sound real flash but I feel perfectly safe in it,” he said. “I've got nothing but good things to say about the car.”

With its striking silver duco, spotlights and bull bar, his car turns many more heads outside worksites than his mates' utes.

“The blokes on the site all say the Navara looks better,” Mr Virag said.

“It's not like a trade vehicle, so to speak; it's like driving a car.”

He said the diesel engine was quiet and delivered good fuel economy.

“It only gets a bit sluggish when there's a really big load,” Mr Virag said.

Adelaide construction worker Kevin Gartner had heard of the poor testing result, but was unconcerned as airbags were not high on his list of priorities when weighing up the range of dual-cab utes on offer.

“I'm very happy with the car and I've recommended it to heaps of people to take it for a drive, and they've come back impressed,” Mr Gartner said.

The vehicle is the second most popular pick-up in Australia after Toyota's HiLux, with more than 18,000 sales Australia-wide last year.

In crash tests of light commercial vehicles by the Australian New Car Assessment Program, the HiLux and Mitsubishi Triton scored four stars, while the Holden Rodeo received three.