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CriticalCommonBody & Rust

Nissan Patrol: Rear leaf spring mount and chassis rail corrosion

Rear leaf spring mount and chassis rail corrosion is a common body & rust fault on the Nissan Patrol on the 1987–1997 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $6,000 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 48 documented faults on the Nissan Patrol.

Vehicle
Nissan Patrol
Years
1987–1997
System
Body & Rust

This page covers the Nissan Patrol as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Patrol faults48 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Chassis and structural rust or Rear leaf spring or Body corrosion yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Y60 Patrols operated in coastal NZ or wet AU regions develop heavy rust in the rear chassis rails, leaf spring perches, and shackle mount areas. The boxed chassis sections trap moisture and road salt, corroding from the inside out. Leaf spring mount corrosion can cause spring perch failure under load, which is a structural and safety failure. Especially prevalent on NZ vehicles that have been near the coast or used in wet conditions for their working life.

What you would notice

  • Visible surface rust or bubbling paint on chassis rails near rear axle
  • Leaf spring perches showing heavy scale rust or pitting
  • Creaking or movement at spring mounts under load
  • WOF/COF failure on chassis inspection

How to check it

Where to look. Underside rear chassis — leaf spring perch mounting points and rear chassis rails

  1. Get under the vehicle and inspect all four chassis rails from front to rear, paying particular attention to the rear leaf spring perch weld points, shackle mounts, and crossmember junctions.

  2. Probe with a screwdriver — any soft spots indicate structural rust.

  3. Check that the spring eye bolts are not seized or corroded through.

Parts involved: Chassis and structural rust, Rear leaf spring, Body corrosion.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $6,000 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.

Ask the seller

  • “Where has the vehicle spent most of its life — coastal, rural, or urban?”
  • “Has the chassis ever been repaired, plated, or rust-treated?”
  • “Has it passed a recent WOF with no chassis issues noted?”

Now check the Nissan Patrol 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.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

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.

Nissan Patrol buyer questions

Is rear leaf spring mount and chassis rail corrosion serious on a Nissan Patrol?

We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Patrol. Y60 Patrols operated in coastal NZ or wet AU regions develop heavy rust in the rear chassis rails, leaf spring perches, and shackle mount areas. The boxed chassis sections trap moisture and road salt, corroding from the inside out. Leaf spring mount corrosion can cause spring perch failure under load, which is a structural and safety failure. Especially prevalent on NZ vehicles that have been near the coast or used in wet conditions for their working life.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Patrol?

$1,500 to $6,000 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 Patrol years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1987–1997 Nissan Patrol. 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?

Get under the vehicle and inspect all four chassis rails from front to rear, paying particular attention to the rear leaf spring perch weld points, shackle mounts, and crossmember junctions. Probe with a screwdriver — any soft spots indicate structural rust. Check that the spring eye bolts are not seized or corroded through. Look here: Underside rear chassis — leaf spring perch mounting points and rear chassis rails