Nissan Navara Review

Overall Rating

Good drive and value for second hand. Roomy cab and loads of power.

Be carefull what you buy, and be prepared to upgrade the bottom end.

If you buy one of these be prepared to upgrade the bottom end bearings for the lead copper type, also replace the bottom end bolts with ARP (American Race Products) bolts. Also upgrade the oil feed from the bottom end. Check that the Cam Tensioner upgrade has been carried out on 02/03 models. Do this lot and you will have a fine bomb proof motor and a great truck for a real low price. Shop around and you will find garages that will carry out this upgrade for you for about £500 to £600. One last one get the underside waxoyled it's worth it!
You can pick up (pun not intended) these trucks at bargain prices, carry out the work and you will have a good workhorse. Block off the exhaust gas reclaim and you can get 42 mpg. Don't forget only the UK models were fitted with the tin foil (Aluminium/tin) bottom end bearings which cause the problems. Other D22's elsewhere run on forever.
I bought mine knowing the problems and have no regrets! Now up to 89000 miles with no problems, it had 48000 when I bought it.

Members' Comments onkawasaki650's Review

• lesliebabbage04 on 26th Dec 2008

  I have a 2006 model with 15000 miles, no problems but worried sick with all the bad news, is mine any better being a 2006 model... someone please reply... do I need to carry out modifications?

• gaz11111 on 29th Dec 2008

  Please can anyone tell me where you can buy the modified parts for the bottom end of the yd25 engine.
  thanks.

• Bry777 on 7th Feb 2009

  I live in Sweden brought my 2003 D22 navara with 90,000km on it, now has 160,000km, i own a car garage here and have serviced my truck every 10,000km and put in 10-60w castrol edge sport after hearing of the engine problems never had a noise or problem from the motor or anything else have fixed other Navaras with cam chain problems , winter came here so i decided this year 2009 to put in 0-40w castrol edge sport as temperatures can go down to
  -30 here where we live, this was just to help on start up castrol say you can start the engine OK on 10-60w till -25 degrees, went to town today started a slight tapping noise stopped the truck and and call tow truck firm put it straight in the workshop stripped engine and big ends have gone never had a problem with 10-60w should have left it in 10-60w and used the engine block heater overnight, shall be it contact with Nissan on Monday see what they say 40,000 kroner here for a rebuilt engine about £3,500

• Truss on 10th Feb 2009

  Are the bottom end bearings the same as the con rod bearings? I'm a novice with all this stuff and i am trying to make sure i do all i can to look after my D22. Its on 88500 miles and the only prob i've had is that today i've had to have the front propshaft taken off because its knackered, so am looking for a repair on it or a second hand one from breakers. Havin read kawasaki650's comments i am thinking of doing the work suggested.
  From what i have read it seems to be the bearings in the con rods wearing out that is causing the problems with most D22's. I am wondering if i should get the bearings in the con rods changed to prevent any problems? Anyone got any advice, would be appreciated.

• Truss on 10th Feb 2009

  I found this review helpful because...its given me some ideas on what to do with my D22