IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2008 Nissan Primastar

We've identified 2 known issues that can affect the 2008 Nissan Primastar. 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

2
Known Issues
1
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Parking brake intermediate connector can break (recalls R/2008/170 and R/2010/231)

SeriousBrakes

Two DVSA campaigns hit the Primastar handbrake. R/2008/170 covers 7,373 UK vans built between 1 January 2006 and 10 June 2008, where the intermediate handbrake connector may break, letting the cable separate from the connector and the parking brake fail to hold. R/2010/231 covers a small window of vans built between 19 May and 23 August 2010 where the primary handbrake cable end crimping did not conform, so the cable could detach. For a loaded van parked on a gradient that is a genuine hazard, and it is the single check the RAC's used-van advice boils down to on the road: make sure the parking brake actually holds.

Est. Repair Cost: £0 under recall; £120–£350 for new cables, connectors and adjustment
Warning Signs:

Handbrake lever that ratchets to full travel with no holding effort, Van creeping on a slope with the brake applied, Lever feel that is loose or springs back oddly, or a cable visible hanging near the rear axle, MOT failure recorded for insufficient parking brake efficiency

What to Inspect:
  • Park on a slope, apply the handbrake, switch off and push the van - it must not move at all
  • Look under the rear of the van for the intermediate connector and cable routing, checking for corrosion, fraying and a detached end
  • Check the GOV.UK recall service for R/2008/170 or R/2010/231 and ask for the repair invoice
  • Test the pedal brake separately, so you know whether the problem is the cable, the connector or the rear shoes
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

Cam belt, fuel system and brake wear add up fast on high-mileage vans

ModerateEngine

The RAC's Primastar buying guide is unusually specific about what costs money: the engines are rugged but 72,000 miles is the cam belt interval and a van that has missed it needs a £350 discount, glow plug replacement is around £500, injectors about £1,000, a fuel pump roughly £2,000 and a replacement gearbox around £1,000, while vans driven fully loaded can eat through pads and discs and the named wear items include slipping clutches and tired rear suspension. It also warns that a persistent engine management light can mean a wiring loom or ECU fault rather than the cheaper camshaft sensor. None of these are surprises on a twelve-year-old diesel van, but they are the difference between a £1,500 buy and a £4,000 one.

Est. Repair Cost: £350 for the cam belt job, £500 glow plugs, £1,000 injectors, £2,000 fuel pump, £1,000 gearbox
Warning Signs:

Hard starting when cold with a glow plug warning, or a misfire and white smoke under acceleration, Ticking from the cam cover, or a rattle at idle that points to the belt, tensioner or injectors, Clutch judder and rising revs with no matching acceleration under load, Long pedal, groaning rear end and visible corrosion on brake pipes and discs

What to Inspect:
  • Ask for the cam belt invoice and the mileage or date it was done, and treat any van over 70,000 miles without one as needing £350 off
  • Have a garage read the injector trim values or at least run a glow plug and fuel pressure test before buying
  • Check the clutch on a hill from a stop with a load in the back, and listen for rear suspension clunks over speed cushions
  • Trace the wiring loom and check for a stored fault with the engine management light on, per the RAC's warning
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

Buying Tips for 2008 Nissan Primastar

  • Ask for proof of the cam belt change at 72,000 miles. The RAC's own guidance is that a van at that interval without the job done is worth roughly £350 off, and on these engines it is not optional.
  • Check the whole recall list on GOV.UK before buying: campaign R/2008/170 covers the parking brake intermediate connector on vans built from January 2006 to June 2008, and R/2016/185 covers cracked steering wheels on vans built from September 2012 to December 2013.
  • If the engine management light stays on after a couple of seconds of ignition, walk away or get a diagnosis first - the RAC warns it may point at a wiring loom or ECU fault, with the cheaper answer being a camshaft sensor.
  • Inspect the brakes and clutch as a matched pair: the RAC says Primastars driven fully loaded can eat through pads and discs, and slipping clutches are one of their named checks.
  • Examine the load bay floor, tie-down rings and both side and rear door locks for damage, which is where a working van's life shows and what makes a repair uneconomic.
  • Verify the body style and roof height against your needs - short and long wheelbase with low and high roof combinations differ hugely in usable volume, and conversion damage is common on this generation.
Check a 2008 Nissan Primastar by Registration