Nissan Navara: D40 chassis rail cracking or bending at the towbar (genuine Nissan towbar recall, built 2005 to 2010)

D40 Navaras built July 2005 to January 2010 with a genuine Nissan towbar were recalled in 2013 (about 40,400 in Australia) because the towbar could overstress the rear ends of the chassis rails, which can crack or bend. The cracking is caused by torsional stress concentration at those mount points combined with the double-cab body's relatively rigid cab structure transferring load into a short rear frame section. Cracking was severe enough that Nissan Australia and Nissan Thailand issued a field fix involving welded reinforcement plates. In NZ the issue has been identified at WoF inspections as a structural defect preventing certification. Unrepaired cracks propagate and can lead to complete shock tower separation or frame rail fracture.

• Visible cracks or paint cracking around rear shock absorber mounting points
• Unusual clunking or banging from rear suspension over rough terrain
• Vehicle fails WoF or CoF inspection on structural grounds
• Uneven tyre wear at rear axle

Wire-brush any surface rust from these zones before inspection. Look for hairline cracks radiating from bolt holes. Check for any previous weld repairs or patch plates that may indicate prior cracking. If a workshop inspection is possible: Lift vehicle on a hoist and thoroughly inspect both sides of the chassis rails with a torch, particularly the area 100–200 mm around the rear shock upper mounts and the rear spring front hanger brackets.

Parts involved: Chassis and structural rust.

$1,500 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Has the chassis ever been inspected or repaired for cracking, particularly at the rear shock mounts?”
• “Is there a workshop certificate confirming chassis integrity?”
• “Has the vehicle been used for towing or off-road driving regularly?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.