The Nissan Primastar is a very useful companion for drivers who need a spacious vehicle. The crew vans offer up to six seats and have a full-height bulkhead. Not only that, but they can also cover pretty high mileages, so they make great for work or traveling. At the same time, there are different common faults Nissan Primastar cars have, as various owners have reported them.

Many times, Nissan Primastar vehicles experience electrical faults or engine problems, injector problems but also loss of power problems. Some vehicles do not start, which can be one of the worst scenarios.

Solving the issues of a Nissan Primastar is crucial if you want to be safe while driving the car. One way to do that is to identify the specific problem. Read this post to discover some of the model’s common faults.

Nissan Primastar – How Many Miles Do They Usually Last?

Every car model is bound to have issues after reaching a certain mileage, and a Nissan Primastar is no exception. Most of the time, a Nissan Primastar will last for more than 200,000 miles, at least as long as it is serviced properly. It’s difficult to offer an exact mileage, though.

Ideally, you should take care of your Primastar if you want it to last as much as possible. You can increase its longevity by changing the cam belt about every 72,000 miles. You should also consider changing your car’s alternator every 80,000 miles.

The best thing to do, though, is to get the Primastar to a service every 18,000 miles. This way, you can take good care of it and make sure you discover potential problems in advance.

Nissan Primastar Reliability – Which Year Is the Best?

Although Nissan Primastar cars were released in 2001, there have been many other models in the following years. Naturally, one would think that the latest Nissan Primastar vehicle – respectively the 2022 model – would be the best out of the bunch. After all, brands are supposed to learn from their mistakes and improve their vehicles to have little to no issues.

In reality, the Primastar model that was awarded by the Van Fleet World Honours as the Best Medium Van was the 2007 Primastar. So, if you are looking for a Nissan Primastar car that will not experience issues with the injectors and other parts, the 2007 model is the most reliable at the moment.

7 Common Faults Nissan Primastar Issues

Nissan’s mid-size van model has been around for more than two decades. The Primastar was released in 2001, and it served owners very well over the years. At the same time, some people experienced certain issues with the model, and the problems were common for a lot of individuals who had these vehicles.

Some of these issues could affect the performance of the vehicle and, as a result, your experience as a driver. This is why you must solve any problem as quickly as possible.

Here are some of the common faults Nissan Primastar vehicles may have:

Loss of Power Issues

A lot of individuals owning Nissan Primastar cars have been experiencing loss of power problems.

This is often the result of Mass Air Flow sensor issues. The airflow meter will measure the air amount in the car’s engine block.

Therefore, when there is any malfunction of the sensors, the vehicle’s injectors will be unable to provide the proper fuel amount. Therefore, your car will lose power.

What’s more, Primastar models have been known to have issues with blocked particulate filters, which will result in the engine being unable to ventilate effectively. Power loss can occur as a result.

Electrical Issues

The sensors and electrics can also cause problems in Nissan Primastar cars, and this is a very common situation. The EGR valve and MAF sensors have especially been reported to have problems, although other valves and sensors can malfunction as well.

Wiring issues and problems with the Electronic Control Unit can also occur. Some Primastar owners have even reported problems with the plugs and fuse box.

Such problems may require the intervention of an experienced mechanic.

Injector Problems

One problem that a lot of Nissan Primastar vehicles have in common is corrosion where the injectors and the engine’s cylinder heads meet. The cars that usually had this problem were released between 2006 and 2010 and had a 2.0-liter diesel engine.

Even journalists from big TV shows wanted to look into this issue. Investigative journalists from the BBC Watchdog TV show were very interested in this matter.

It seems that this problem happens when a windscreen’s bonnet seal is faulty. Rainwater may end up leaking onto the vehicle’s engine as a result. Then, because of the constant contact with water, corrosion will start appearing on the injectors, which makes them clench into place.

Many engines had to be replaced because of this common problem. The good news is that Nissan acknowledged the fault. So, if anyone is experiencing this, they can reach out to the company and have their repairs done without requiring a warranty.

1.9dci Engine Issues

Nissan Primastar cars might also experience faults with the 1.9dci engine.

This engine is renowned for the stalling and cutting out issues, as too many owners have already complained about this. It seems that Primastar cars that have this engine deal with this a lot.

Most of the time, the problem occurs around the cylinder heads and injectors. What’s even worse is that injector replacements or reparations often ended up with accidental damage or cracking. It’s almost as if Nissan Primastar cars with a 1.9dci engine have been cursed.

Car Not Starting

Nissan Primastar cars have also had starting issues in the past. Similar to the loss of power issues, starting problems can be caused by faulty MAF sensors. Similarly, the injectors can also be culprits when the vehicle refuses to start.

Other people who couldn’t start their Primastar had an Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve issue. The high-pressure fuel pump and the timing belt can also stop a Nissan Primastar car from starting.

Of course, there may be other reasons, but it could be hard to tell without a proper inspection of the vehicle first. This can be done by a skilled and experienced mechanic – therefore, taking the vehicle to a repair shop is a must.

Veering

There were also a few cases of Nissan Primastar owners noticing that their car started veering very badly while they were driving in a straight line. When this happens, the steering column can be the culprit. This means you will have to replace it.

Gearbox Bearing Failure

In Primastar cars, the gearbox is often not assembled properly. In fact, it was made in a way that puts too much preload on the bearings, and because they are over-torqued, they end up failing. The gearbox itself may be destroyed altogether.

Many individuals required a new gearbox bearing and sometimes even a whole new gearbox.

Conclusion

Knowing the common faults Nissan Primastar owners may experience is the first step towards figuring out your van’s problem and investing in reparations.

Certain Primastar models may have more problems than others, and they may require more reparations or replacements.

In the end, though, these mini-vans are very useful and spacious, and if you make reparations to get them to work properly, they will surely help you a lot.

FAQs

Where are Nissan Primastar vehicles built?

Most Primastar vehicles are made in Europe. Nissan Primastar vans are manufactured at the Nissan plant in Barcelona, Spain, while others are manufactured at the GM plant in Luton, UK. The models are developed within a Renault cooperation.

Does Nissan Primastar have a timing chain or belt?

Nissan Primastar models have a timing belt kit. Ideally, this timing belt should be replaced now and then, with the recommended time being every five years or every 74.500 miles. You may have to check the manufacturer manual to figure out the exact time.

What type of van is the Nissan Primastar?

The Nissan Primastar is a mid-size panel van. This vehicle is very spacious, comfortable, and cost-efficient, and it can be great for people who need more space in their car while traveling or for work reasons. It is based on the very famous NV300 car.

How many seats does the Nissan Primastar have?

A Nissan Primastar typically has up to six seats for passengers. Compared to smaller vans, it offers more space, and it has a full-height bulkhead as well. In its class, it is one of the largest in terms of load space, having between 5.0 and 8.4 cubic meters.