I have been doing a bit of lurking and searching on this forum recently regarding the rear step on the D22 Navara.
Here’s my story:
Picked up the Brand new 2012 D22 Navara from the dealer in Melboune in March, stuff up, after stuff up I finally had all the accessories on the vehicle. One of these was a Tow Bar.
After 2 months or so after leaving on our holiday it was noticed that the tailgate is rubbing on the rear step. This in turn has rubbed off the clear coat and in one place has made it to the metal. The part that is coming into contact with the tailgate is the very edge of the black plastic on the rear step (The bit you stand on). The weird thing is the tailgate itself isn’t level at all. I can understand a small dip to the rear, but if you sit on it, you will slowly slide forwards!
I let the dealer know as soon as possible with photos and documentation but as I was in central NSW heading to Queensland there was nothing we could do.
After a service in Mackay where I had them address the issue, they simply told me to go back to the original dealer. I contacted them again, and alas never heard anything from them.
Now we are at the 20,000 km service I have been much sterner with them about rectifying the issue. They say that due to the receiving dealer OK’ing the car with the pre delivery checklist, that it is not a fault of NISSAN. No problems understand that. It is apparently up to the dealer to spot issues like this. So therefore the receiving dealer is responsible for the cost / repair of the fault.
To complicate matters further however, the car has had a bit of a bump in the driver side rear fender. Whilst out 4WD’ing we dropped into a creek and the rear step came up, made contact with the fender and dinted about the size of a 50c piece, taking some paint with it. Now this is no problems at all, we buy these vehicles for a reason, and I will own up for that one.
Of course the dealer was quick to say this was the issue, but after informing him that it was previous damage did he start to cooperate.
I am now obviously looking at alternatives to this rear bar. They are made of very light gauge steel that doesn't take much to bend. Everything ive seen and heard so far has told me that they are not made for the 2012 model yet as they have a longer tub.
Some of the third party bars look cumbersome, and in some cases crap. Some of them like the TJM bar (which I like) have the tow bar repositioned. I can see a potential danger here of dropping the gate on the hitch and dinting it worse! I can also assume that you remove the need for a tow bar by fitting one of these. Also, are you legally allowed to put your own built bar on there? Or is that an insurance issue?
I’m looking for a solution that will give some sort of stronger protection to the rear of the car, and be a bit lower so that it will not make contact with the tailgate.
What have you got, seen, or recommend?
Here’s my story:
Picked up the Brand new 2012 D22 Navara from the dealer in Melboune in March, stuff up, after stuff up I finally had all the accessories on the vehicle. One of these was a Tow Bar.
After 2 months or so after leaving on our holiday it was noticed that the tailgate is rubbing on the rear step. This in turn has rubbed off the clear coat and in one place has made it to the metal. The part that is coming into contact with the tailgate is the very edge of the black plastic on the rear step (The bit you stand on). The weird thing is the tailgate itself isn’t level at all. I can understand a small dip to the rear, but if you sit on it, you will slowly slide forwards!
I let the dealer know as soon as possible with photos and documentation but as I was in central NSW heading to Queensland there was nothing we could do.
After a service in Mackay where I had them address the issue, they simply told me to go back to the original dealer. I contacted them again, and alas never heard anything from them.
Now we are at the 20,000 km service I have been much sterner with them about rectifying the issue. They say that due to the receiving dealer OK’ing the car with the pre delivery checklist, that it is not a fault of NISSAN. No problems understand that. It is apparently up to the dealer to spot issues like this. So therefore the receiving dealer is responsible for the cost / repair of the fault.
To complicate matters further however, the car has had a bit of a bump in the driver side rear fender. Whilst out 4WD’ing we dropped into a creek and the rear step came up, made contact with the fender and dinted about the size of a 50c piece, taking some paint with it. Now this is no problems at all, we buy these vehicles for a reason, and I will own up for that one.
Of course the dealer was quick to say this was the issue, but after informing him that it was previous damage did he start to cooperate.
I am now obviously looking at alternatives to this rear bar. They are made of very light gauge steel that doesn't take much to bend. Everything ive seen and heard so far has told me that they are not made for the 2012 model yet as they have a longer tub.
Some of the third party bars look cumbersome, and in some cases crap. Some of them like the TJM bar (which I like) have the tow bar repositioned. I can see a potential danger here of dropping the gate on the hitch and dinting it worse! I can also assume that you remove the need for a tow bar by fitting one of these. Also, are you legally allowed to put your own built bar on there? Or is that an insurance issue?
I’m looking for a solution that will give some sort of stronger protection to the rear of the car, and be a bit lower so that it will not make contact with the tailgate.
What have you got, seen, or recommend?
