1993 Nissan Hardbody Pickup review from North America

4x4 stopped working after 30,000 km

Speedometer cable broke after 30,000 km

Tachometer stopped working after 80,000 km

Dash and roof interior cracked and ripped after 120,000 kms

Leaking rear drive shaft seal at 130,000 km

Timing chain guide broke at 140,000 km costing $3,000.00 Cdn to fix.

This car has been good for reliability and I quite like the interior layout, the crisp and logical function of all the controls. The handling is also sweet as this truck corners as if it were on rails which is odd considering it is a 4x4. It also looks awesome.

My problems with this truck are the poor gas mileage of app 22 miles per UK Gallon on the highway and the dismal acceleration when passing. The highways are getting so crowded now that I think I need a better car. The space between oncoming traffic is getting so small I can't pass anymore!

My biggest grief was obviously with the timing chain guide. What a fiasco! The truck starts rattling like a diesel one day as I'm driving along. I bring it in to the dealer for repairs and return in the evening a few days later after work. The bill on the seat is ~$1,500 for taking the engine apart and replacing the timing chain and guides. I start the car and it still makes the same noise! The bill indicates the engine top had been short of oil and I may yet have to replace the lifters, but I should drive it for a while. I drive it and it still makes racket. I've had trouble with this dealer before so I bring my truck to another place and they replace the lifters and charge another ~$900. The truck still rattles like a diesel. The two dealers speak and decide to take the engine apart again. They found a plastic piece (probably from the timing chain guide) stuck in an oil port. Another $600 bill. Now I have a $3000 engine job and my truck still rattles cause the new lifters were short of oil before the plug was found and removed. Good grief! I can't believe there are no other reviews with this trouble as a buddy of mine indicated that replacing these lousy plastic guides is a popular item in the garage.