IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2011 Nissan Primastar

We've identified 1 known issue that can affect the 2011 Nissan Primastar. None are considered critical, but they're worth knowing about before you buy.

1
Known Issues
0
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

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 2011 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.
2007–20102012–2014
Check a 2011 Nissan Primastar by Registration