IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2013 Nissan NV200

We've identified 3 known issues that can affect the 2013 Nissan NV200. 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

3
Known Issues
1
Serious
2
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Steering wheel boss could fail and cause loss of steering (recalls R/2012/103 and R/2015/007)

SeriousSteering

Two overlapping DVSA campaigns cover the same defect: a steering wheel boss that may not have been produced to the correct specification, so that normal high loading - typically at low speeds, when drivers turn the wheel hard against the kerb - can let the boss fail and cost the driver steering. R/2012/103 covered 7,329 UK vans built between 27 February and 20 April 2012, and the follow-up R/2015/007 covered a much larger 27,252 vehicles built between 17 February and 30 July 2012. For a buyer of a cheap ex-courier van this is a safety defect with no second chance, and the repair history is rarely presented with the vehicle.

Est. Repair Cost: £0 under recall; £300–£800 to replace the steering wheel and boss out of campaign
Warning Signs:

Cracking, creaking or a loose feel from the steering wheel hub itself, Airbag warning light after the wheel has been removed or re-fitted, Wheel trim or screws disturbed without any invoice to explain it, A notch or play felt through the wheel when turning fully at parking speeds

What to Inspect:
  • Run the plate on the GOV.UK recall checker for R/2015/007 and R/2012/103 before viewing a 2012 van
  • Grip the wheel and rock it side to side at a standstill, feeling for movement at the hub rather than at the track rods
  • Ask for the dealer invoice showing the steering wheel or boss being renewed
  • Check the airbag light behaviour through a full ignition cycle, since the wheel has to come off for the repair
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

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:

Ignition switch and park lock recalls plus a load of commercial wear items

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

The rest of the NV200's recall cluster is worth checking in one go: R/2018/234 covers vans built between 30 March and 29 May 2017 where a surface defect on the internal ignition switch spring could stall the engine while driving and even affect airbag operation, and R/2020/294 covers 2,547 vans built between July and September 2019 where a poor weld on the park lock actuator plate inside the reducer could let the park lock fail. Alongside that, the RAC's ownership survey flags stuck sliding doors, evaporative emissions faults on 2013-2017 vans letting fumes into the cabin, and a starter, alternator and battery trio that gives up on delivery work.

Est. Repair Cost: £0 under recall; £150–£500 for an ignition switch, starter, alternator or park lock actuator work
Warning Signs:

Engine cutting out and the key or button refusing to restart it immediately, Airbag or drivetrain warning lamps appearing after the engine dies, Park lever that does not positively lock, or a clunk when the van is parked on a slope, Smell of exhaust fumes inside the cab on 2013-2017 vans, or a sliding door that sticks half open

What to Inspect:
  • Check the whole recall list for the registration on GOV.UK before viewing, including the March-May 2017 and July-September 2019 build windows
  • Cycle the ignition and run the engine until hot, then restart it warm to test the switch and starter
  • On a ramp, check the park lock holds with the wheel chocked and listen for a clunk from the reducer
  • Smell the cab for fumes after a long idling session, and work every sliding door open and shut several times
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

Buying Tips for 2013 Nissan NV200

  • Check the plate on the GOV.UK recall service and get the paperwork for R/2012/103 and R/2015/007 (steering wheel boss), R/2010/061 (brake pedal clevis pin), R/2016/081 (tailgate gas struts) and R/2018/234 (ignition switch).
  • Buy the 1.5 dCi with the five-speed manual, which Parkers praised for low-down torque and refinement, and treat any automatic or CVT car as the one to test hardest.
  • Expect the payload to be the limitation: Parkers rated the NV200 worst in class for payload, so check the plated weight on the VIN sticker against what you actually carry.
  • Test the rear doors fully open with the load area empty and again loaded; the gas strut corrosion recall means a tailgate that drops is a known danger, not just an annoyance.
  • Inspect the sliding door tracks, locks and the load bay tie-down rings - the RAC's own buying checklist calls out damaged locks, tired rear suspension and bent or broken tie-downs as the recurring commercial wear items.
  • Service records matter for the 1.5 dCi: check the fuel filter, injector and clutch history, because the parts most likely to fail are the same ones that make a van uneconomic to keep.
Check a 2013 Nissan NV200 by Registration