Nissan Problems

The diesel mechanics are correct, there was/are problems with the injectors in the Navara. One dealer told us to stop blaming Nissan as all brands use the same injectors and they too have the problem. But that head-in-the-sand approach doesn't help the poor customer who has shelled out to buy a car with a known problem, and it doesn't help that you now have to shell out even more money to fix it. It helps that you reported the problem when the car was still under warranty, so I would go back to Nissan and give them the full history of your car and press them for some assistance with the cost of repairs. You could also try consumer affairs.

I can understand why you would think it's dangerous. We haven't had any other reports of this issue, so can't say that it's widespread as you claim, but it's something that needs to be addressed on your vehicle at the very least. It would not appear to be a problem of the vehicle going into a limp-home mode, as you would expect a warning light to come on. That said, switching the car off and on again usually reboots the computer and eliminates the problem. I would suggest it's a fuel supply problem, perhaps the pickup that the dealer is suggesting, or even the fuel pump or injectors.

Part payment for the failure of a turbocharger on a car that is just five years old, has been serviced by the factory dealer and has only done 50,000 km, is not too much at all. We were able to help get a new engine for the owner of a car from another carmaker when his engine had destroyed itself after more than 200,000 km, so a measly turbocharger on a car that is almost new shouldn't be an issue.

I agree that car companies and their dealers should step up to the plate and fix any cars that have a problem, particularly one that is as potentially dangerous as you describe. In their defence it can be difficult to isolate and fix a problem that only occurs intermittently. If it doesn't occur in their presence then it's hard to criticize dealers and their mechanics.

But they should do their utmost to find and fix the problem, and you have to question if they've done that in this case. Your friend should go back to the dealer and express her disappointment and frustration at the situation, and ask the dealer to call on Nissan's help to sort the problem out, and don't take the car back until they can demonstrate to her that the problem is fixed. The dealer should also provide her with a car to drive while hers is off the road.

Fitting an external cooler would do no harm, it can only help. The other thing to keep in mind when towing is not to let the gearbox lug in overdrive, but change down when the road demands it.

Yours is not an unusual problem, and it's not restricted to Patrols. The Navara does it, and so too does the Toyota Hilux. Toyota reprogrammed the Hilux to fix it, and while that works, we know of one where it came back soon after. Nissan doesn't appear to have a fix for it, and independent Nissan specialists usually replace the injectors in the hope of fixing it. One suggested that you should take your truck to a diesel engine expert and have them check it for you.

It's most unusual for an engine to break a connecting rod under normal driving conditions if the engine has been serviced regularly and the oil changed. After so many years it's unlikely to be a manufacturing fault, so I doubt that you would have any chance of getting Nissan to even listen to your case. I would suggest you take up one of the offers you have in front of you.

If it were normal why would they clean the EGR valve and reset the fuel pump? Clearly there is a problem, either with the pump or the injectors, as it seems to be getting too much fuel. Take it back and demand a real fix.