Nissan Navara vs Toyota Hilux: known faults compared
Both one-tonne diesel utes, both sold new here for decades, and a Navara is often the cheaper option on the same budget as a Hilux.
The catalogue documents 59 faults for the Toyota Hilux and 45 for the Nissan Navara. That is a measure of how much has been recorded, which grows with how many were sold and for how long, not a reliability score.
At a glance
| Measure | Nissan Navara | Toyota Hilux |
|---|---|---|
| Documented faults | 45 | 59 |
| Rated major or critical | 45 | 53 |
| Rated common or very common | 39 | 41 |
| Typical repair | $800–$3,500 | $600–$2,500 |
| Model years covered | 1997–2021 | 1984–2019 |
| Fuel types with documented faults | diesel, petrol | diesel, petrol |
| Service schedule on the model page | No | Yes |
Where the Nissan Navara goes wrong
Most likely to turn up
- ZD30DDTi Cracked Piston and Head Gasket Failure
- YD25DDTi Rear Timing Chain Tensioner Catastrophic Failure
- YD25DDTi Cracked Cylinder Head and Coolant Loss
Most expensive to fix
Where the Toyota Hilux goes wrong
Most likely to turn up
- 1KZ-TE head gasket & head cracking (endemic)
- 1KD-FTV Cylinder Head Crack Between Combustion Chambers
- 1KD-FTV common rail injector cracking and fuel dilution
Most expensive to fix
Where the Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux differ
- Engine: 23 documented on the Nissan Navara, 33 on the Toyota Hilux. The costliest on the Toyota Hilux is Cracked pistons on the Euro IV 3.0 1KD-FTV diesel (KUN16/KUN26 Hilux), at up to $16,000.
- Transmission: 6 documented on the Nissan Navara, 3 on the Toyota Hilux. The costliest on the Nissan Navara is D40 radiator's internal transmission cooler leaking coolant into the automatic gearbox, at up to $8,000.
- Electrical: 4 documented on the Nissan Navara, 1 on the Toyota Hilux. The costliest on the Nissan Navara is AdBlue Tank Heater Failure Causing SCR Fault, at up to $2,200.
Both carry several documented faults in engine, suspension, transmission and body & rust, so check those areas on either car.
Fault areas side by side
| Area | Nissan Navara | Toyota Hilux |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 33 |
| Suspension | 7 | 9 |
| Transmission | 6 | 3 |
| Body & Rust | 3 | 3 |
| Electrical | 4 | 1 |
| Fluid Leaks | 1 | 4 |
| Cooling | 0 | 3 |
| Brakes | 0 | 3 |
| Interior | 1 | 0 |
How to read this comparison
These are documented faults, not failure rates. A car sold in bigger numbers, for more years, has more written about it. Neither list tells you about the car in front of you: that depends on its history and how it has been looked after. Use the lists to know what to check, then check it.
Checking one of these cars?
Type the plate for the free basics and the faults that apply to that exact car. The full history and the guided inspection are one-off paid checks, no subscription.
Questions
Which has more known problems, the Nissan Navara or the Toyota Hilux?
The catalogue documents 59 faults for the Toyota Hilux and 45 for the Nissan Navara. That is a measure of how much has been recorded, which grows with how many were sold and for how long, not a reliability score. Of those, 45 on the Nissan Navara and 53 on the Toyota Hilux are rated major or critical. What matters more is whether the car in front of you has the specific faults its model is known for.
Which is cheaper to fix?
A typical documented repair runs $800 to $3,500 on the Nissan Navara and $600 to $2,500 on the Toyota Hilux, at New Zealand independent workshop rates. The expensive exceptions are listed on this page for each car, and they are the ones to check for before you buy.
What is the most expensive known fault on each?
On the Nissan Navara it is ZD30DDTi Cracked Piston and Head Gasket Failure, documented at up to $18,000. On the Toyota Hilux it is Cracked pistons on the Euro IV 3.0 1KD-FTV diesel (KUN16/KUN26 Hilux), documented at up to $16,000.