Nissan Navara: NP300 dual-cab rear coil-spring sag under load (five-link coil rear)
NP300 dual-cab rear coil-spring sag under load (five-link coil rear) is a very common suspension fault on the Nissan Navara on the 2015–2017 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 45 documented faults on the Nissan Navara.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Navara
- Years
- 2015–2017
- System
- Suspension
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
Nissan gave the NP300 dual cab a car-like five-link rear end on coil springs instead of leaf springs, and the springs were rated for a light constant load of roughly 150 kg above kerb weight. A canopy, a steel tray, drawers, a long-range tank or a towball load takes it well past that, and the rear settles 80 to 100 mm below where it should sit. Nissan acknowledged it and issued revised coils through a bulletin in 2018, but the revised springs are a modest step up rather than a heavy-duty fix, and most owners who tow or load the ute end up on aftermarket constant-load coils. A sagging rear is not just a look: it aims the headlights up into oncoming traffic, changes how the ute steers and brakes when loaded, and lets the rear thump onto its bump stops. Cab-chassis and single-cab NP300s use leaf springs and do not have this particular problem.
What you would notice
- Rear of the ute sitting visibly lower than the front, especially with a canopy, tray or towbar load
- Gap between the top of the rear tyre and the guard noticeably smaller than at the front
- Hollow thump from the rear over speed bumps and driveways when carrying anything
- Headlights aiming high and getting flashed by oncoming traffic when loaded
- Nose-up stance and vague, floaty steering when towing
How to check it
Where to look. Rear suspension of dual-cab models: one coil spring each side sitting above the rear axle inside the rear wheel arches, with five locating links. Judge it by comparing rear ride height against the front.
Stand square behind the ute, then at each side, and compare the gap between the top of the tyre and the guard, front against rear - on a healthy dual cab the rear gap should be similar or a touch larger, and a rear sitting visibly lower is the sag.
Shine your phone torch up inside the rear arches: the dual cab has a coil spring and five locating links each side, while cab-chassis and single-cab models use leaf springs and are not affected.
Push down hard on the rear bumper and let go, and watch that it settles in one or two movements rather than carrying on bouncing.
Take it over a speed bump and a rough stretch of road and listen for the rear hitting its bump stops with a hollow thump.
Ask whether it has carried a canopy, steel tray, drawers or a long-range tank, whether it tows, and whether the rear springs have already been changed - then ask for receipts and find out whether the fitted springs are the original Nissan coils, Nissan's revised coils, or aftermarket constant-load ones.
What it costs to put right
$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has it carried a canopy, steel tray, drawers or a long-range tank?”
- “Have the rear springs been replaced, and were they Nissan's revised coils or aftermarket constant-load coils?”
- “What does it tow, how heavy, and how often?”
- “Does the rear bottom out over speed bumps when it has a load on?”
Now check the Nissan Navara you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Nissan Navara Truck Forum thread 'NP300 sag issue - 5 link' (navaraforum.com)
- Nissan-Navara.net thread 'NP300 uprated springs??'
- Nissan-Navara.net thread 'Suspension sag'
- AustralianCar.Reviews 'Recalls & faults: Nissan NP300 Navara Utility (2015-on)'
Nissan Navara buyer questions
Is np300 dual-cab rear coil-spring sag under load (five-link coil rear) serious on a Nissan Navara?
We rate it major and very common on the Nissan Navara. Nissan gave the NP300 dual cab a car-like five-link rear end on coil springs instead of leaf springs, and the springs were rated for a light constant load of roughly 150 kg above kerb weight. A canopy, a steel tray, drawers, a long-range tank or a towball load takes it well past that, and the rear settles 80 to 100 mm below where it should sit. Nissan acknowledged it and issued revised coils through a bulletin in 2018, but the revised springs are a modest step up rather than a heavy-duty fix, and most owners who tow or load the ute end up on aftermarket constant-load coils. A sagging rear is not just a look: it aims the headlights up into oncoming traffic, changes how the ute steers and brakes when loaded, and lets the rear thump onto its bump stops. Cab-chassis and single-cab NP300s use leaf springs and do not have this particular problem.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Navara?
$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Nissan Navara years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2015–2017 Nissan Navara. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Stand square behind the ute, then at each side, and compare the gap between the top of the tyre and the guard, front against rear - on a healthy dual cab the rear gap should be similar or a touch larger, and a rear sitting visibly lower is the sag. Shine your phone torch up inside the rear arches: the dual cab has a coil spring and five locating links each side, while cab-chassis and single-cab models use leaf springs and are not affected. Push down hard on the rear bumper and let go, and watch that it settles in one or two movements rather than carrying on bouncing. Take it over a speed bump and a rough stretch of road and listen for the rear hitting its bump stops with a hollow thump. Ask whether it has carried a canopy, steel tray, drawers or a long-range tank, whether it tows, and whether the rear springs have already been changed - then ask for receipts and find out whether the fitted springs are the original Nissan coils, Nissan's revised coils, or aftermarket constant-load ones. Look here: Rear suspension of dual-cab models: one coil spring each side sitting above the rear axle inside the rear wheel arches, with five locating links. Judge it by comparing rear ride height against the front.