Recall Navaras, urges farmer

JOHN BISSET

GOING NOWHERE: Severe damage to the chassis of his 2007 Nissan Navara has South Canterbury station owner John Acland demanding the vehicle's recall.

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Mt Peel Station owner John Acland wants Nissan New Zealand to recall its 2007 Nissan Navara D22 utes over safety concerns.

The farmer believes someone could be killed driving the D22 because of concerns over cracks appearing in the chassis. His 2007 ute, which has 50,000 kilometres on the clock, needs $14,000 worth of repair work.

The Motor Trade Association national technical manager Peter Gibbs has backed Mr Acland's demands for a recall.

"I believe Nissan New Zealand should [recall the utes], we have had over 40 complaints and someone could be killed."

Mr Gibbs said the problem had been referred to the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Just having checks at warrant of fitness time is not really good enough, he said. "It is a case of the manufacturer lagging behind and Nissan New Zealand should do something."

Mr Acland's mechanic Malcolm Main, of M&G Auto Centre, said the faults were "bloody dangerous".

Mr Main said should the chassis problem occur on a main road it could easily kill someone.

"If John's one had gone on a slope rather than the flat someone could be dead."

Mr Acland has found a dozen unhappy Nissan customers with similar problems from South Canterbury and the Mackenzie.

He also found NZ Radiator magazine wrote about the D22 chassis cracks in October, saying Nissan New Zealand had requested that all repairers and vehicle inspectors pay particular attention to the chassis attachment points and welds around the chassis front end, due to cracking occurring in these areas.

Nissan New Zealand general manager John Manley said the manager responsible for technical services was currently out of the office and would return on Monday.

"At this time we will be able to research Mr Acland's vehicle history. We will respond to your questions when we have all of the necessary information."

Mr Manley said he understood there had been modifications to Mr Acland's vehicle that voided his warranty and there was also legal action pending over the issue.

Mr Manley said he was unaware of the number of specific complaints regarding the chassis or any involvement of the New Zealand Transport Authority.

"If it's 40 from the thousands sold that's not too bad but in saying that Nissan takes any safety issues seriously."

Mr Manley said Nissan did not issue the warning in the NZ Radiator magazine.

Mr Acland believed he was being fobbed off and Nissan had missed the point.

"The Nissan is a 2007 model with less than 50,000km and we having been doing the usual work on the deer farm. I had a Toyota Hi-Lux I used over the same land without a problems and it's got over 250,000km on the clock."

Mr Acland said Nissan's response was that the bull bars fitted to his truck were too heavy and had caused the cracks.

"I've got an advertisement showing `Navara – One Tough Truck' with bull bars. Now they are saying they are too heavy, not what it is designed for."

Mr Acland had an independent assessment from Perfect Autobody that stated it had been subjected to harsh, off-road conditions which may have been a factor. Perfect Autobody managing director Wayne Houghton said it was apparent that cracking around the front chassis and suspension mounts on Nissan Navara D22 vehicles was of concern.

"Although most evident on vehicles used in harsh to severe off-road conditions, a thorough inspection of vehicles used in less severe conditions would be advised."

Mr Houghton said in most cases cracking could be dealt with in the early stages.

- © Fairfax NZ News