IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2009 Nissan NV200

UK launch of the Nissan-designed NV200 compact van with the 86hp 1.5 dCi diesel and a five-speed manual, sold as a panel van and as a five or seven-seat Combi, built around a supermini-derived front end and MacPherson strut suspension.

What changed for 2009

  • •First Nissan commercial developed and sold independently of the Renault range
  • •1,358mm load height, 2,040mm load length (extendable to 2,800mm with the Versatility Pack) and two Euro pallets
  • •Car-style equipment and a low step-in height, aimed at owner-drivers rather than large fleets

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Corroded brake pipes and tired rear brakes on short-run vehicles
  • !Split rubber bushings and worn rear shock absorbers from load carrying
  • !Tailgate and sliding door damage with corroded gas struts, plus failed locks
1
Known Issues
0
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Tailgate gas struts corrode and let the door drop (recall R/2016/081)

ModerateBodywork & Rust

The DVSA notice is unusually physical for a small van: the paint coating on the back door gas stay does not meet the anti-corrosion requirement, so the outer tube can corrode, crack and lose its pressurised gas, leaving the stay unable to support the rear door - which then drops on whoever is loading. It covers NV200 vans built from 1 August 2009 to 27 November 2015 and e-NV200s built from 1 April 2014 to 4 March 2016, 4,377 UK vehicles between them. My MOT Checker's summary of the register repeats the same defect and the fix, which is replacement of the gas stay. Any used van kept outside will be showing the same corrosion around the door hinges and stays regardless of whether the campaign was done.

Est. Repair Cost: £0 under recall; £80–£220 per pair for new stays and fitting
Warning Signs:

Rear door that falls rather than holds when opened, or needs one hand to keep it up, Rust scale, pitting or oil residue on the strut tubes, Stiff or noisy rear door hinges, and paint bubbling around the hinge mountings, A door that is misaligned or has been packed and re-shimmed

What to Inspect:
  • Open both rear doors fully and let go - they must stay up without dropping, cold and after the van has sat all day
  • Wipe the strut tubes with a cloth and look for rust pitting or a weeping seal
  • Check the GOV.UK register for R/2016/081 and ask for evidence of the stays being renewed
  • Inspect the door and hinge area for corrosion repair, since a welded or filled hinge is a structural MOT item
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

Buying Tips for 2009 Nissan NV200

  • Check the recall position for the brake clevis pin campaign that covers early 2010-built vans
  • Look for abuse in the load bay: pierced floors, welded-in racking and bowed tie-down rings all cost real money
  • Verify the payload plate matches your needs before buying, since these vans are easily overloaded
2010–2011
Check a 2009 Nissan NV200 by Registration