Nissan1986–2004 Critical issues documented

Nissan Terrano WD21: common faults & what to check

The WD21 is the Nissan Terrano built 1986–1995. Of the 5 faults documented for the Terrano, 3 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Nissan Terrano

Odometer history
Money owing
Reported stolen
Ownership history

Official NZ vehicle register data
NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$900–$3,500

Typical repair

Systems covered

You're looking at the WD21

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

1986–1995WD21 Selected1986–1995WD21Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: TTTNIS via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Which engine is in it? These cover every year of this model.

2.5L petrol (QR25-DE)· 2.5 litre petrol 2.5L diesel (YD25-DDTI)· 2.5 litre diesel 3.3L petrol (VG33-E)· 3.3 litre petrol 3.5L petrol (VQ35-DD)· 3.5 litre petrol 4.0L petrol (VQ40-DE)· 4.0 litre petrol

A 1986 Nissan Terrano is the WD21 generation (1986 to 1995).

We cannot narrow the engine list to this year, so every engine this model was sold with is offered.

Start your free check on this Nissan Terrano

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Nissan Terrano WD21Engine not picked yet

Pick the engine above first: the Terrano came with 5, and without it the report has to show all of their faults. Pick the engine

Can't confirm for this car

Nissan Terrano · 1986

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Nissan Terrano before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

Serious issue
Crouch at each wheel and shine your phone torch along the chassis rail, then at the rear crossmember behind the back axle.
See why
WD21 chassis rail, rear crossmember and body-mount rot
The WD21 Terrano has a separate ladder chassis, and after 30-plus years on New Zealand roads the rails, the rear crossmember and the rubber-cushioned body mounts are the parts that end the car rather than the engine. Mud and road salt pack into the boxed sections and rot them from the inside out, so a rail can look painted and solid from below while the metal above it has gone. A rusted body mount lets the cab move on the chassis, which shows up as doors that no longer line up and a rattle over bumps. Repairs run from a couple of patched sections to a chassis that cannot be certified, and a badly patched truck usually costs more to put right than a clean one costs to buy.
What you would notice
- Flaky or bubbling metal along the chassis rails behind the front wheels
- Doors and tailgate that no longer line up with their openings
- Clunk or shudder from under the cab over bumps
- Fresh underseal or paint on an otherwise tired underside
Typically $1,500–$6,000 to put right.

See all 3 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked, including 1 rated critical.

Engine, transmission & cooling1

01Automatic front free-wheeling hub failure — stuck in two-wheel drive

The WD21 uses automatic front locking hubs, and they are the weak point of the four-wheel-drive system.1986–1995Transmission$350–$1,200Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Body, brakes, suspension & interior1 critical1

02WD21 chassis rail, rear crossmember and body-mount rot

Crouch at each wheel and shine your phone torch along the chassis rail, then at the rear crossmember behind the back axle.1986–1995Body & Rust$1,500–$6,000Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Depends on the exact engine — 1 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.

Engine, transmission & cooling1

01TD27 / TD27T injection pump seal leak and hard hot starting

Ask the seller not to warm the truck up before you arrive, so you can hear the cold start yourself.diesel1986–1995EngineCan't confirm for this car$900–$3,500Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Other Nissan Terrano engines and years2 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.

Engine, transmission & cooling1

01R50 QD32ETi / TD27ETi electronic injection pump wear — power loss and cut-out

This is a test-drive fault, so insist on driving it yourself, not just riding along.diesel1995–2004EngineDoes not apply$2,000–$4,500Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Electrical1

01R50 crank angle and TDC sensor failure — stalling and no-start

Ask directly whether it has ever stalled or cut out on the seller — this fault is remembered by anyone who has had it.diesel1995–2004ElectricalDoes not apply$350–$900Read the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

Nissan Terrano faults in detail

Narrowed to the Nissan Terrano · 1986. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

Automatic front free-wheeling hub failure — stuck in two-wheel driveMajor · Transmission TD27 / TD27T injection pump seal leak and hard hot startingMajor · Engine WD21 chassis rail, rear crossmember and body-mount rotCritical · Body & Rust

Other Nissan models

Nissan Patrol48 documented faults Nissan X-Trail47 documented faults Nissan Navara45 documented faults Nissan Vanette5 documented faults Nissan Skyline41 documented faults Nissan Pathfinder36 documented faults

Nissan Terrano buyer questions

Is the Nissan Terrano reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 5 documented faults for the Nissan Terrano, the recurring problem areas are body & rust, engine, and transmission. A Nissan Terrano with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Nissan Terrano?

We've catalogued 5 known faults for the Nissan Terrano, covering body & rust, engine, and transmission. All 5 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Nissan Terrano?

Most single repairs on the Nissan Terrano fall between $900–$3,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 5 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Nissan Terrano?

Yes. A Nissan Terrano inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.