NISSAN PATROL TURBO DIESEL PROBLEM - major safety concern

Submitted: Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 04:26
ThreadID: 42607 Views:3446 Replies:9 FollowUps:0
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" I am writing on behalf of myself and three other colleagues at CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products in Canberra with a major concern relating to a rear wheel detaching from our Patrol Turbo Diesel Station wagon (2002 model) on the Hume Freeway on Friday 5 November while returning from Benalla to Canberra. Fortunately, the driver was able to control the vehicle which was traveling at 110 kmh at the time, and bring it to a halt. In trying to determine a possible reason as to why this may have occurred, we thought that there was a possibility we had not fully tightened the rim after a flat tyre we got on 10 Oct, but we recall this being tight as two of us checked the nuts. We also had driven nearly 3000 km after this flat tyre before the wheel fell off. When the incident occurred, I was able to get a tow for the vehicle back to the Yass NRMA depot. At this location we were informed of three similar wheel loss incidents on Patrols, when discussing the repairs with the mechanics. The mechanic also mentioned that the rims can be incorrectly seated on the hub, due to a lip on the alloy rims which can appear tight after changing the tyre, but then later work loose. Does this sound feasible to you?. Since then we also have discovered another CSIRO colleague at CSIRO Land and Water is also aware of another case. We have major safety concerns about a recurrence of this problem and are wondering if you are aware of this problem occurring previously on the Nissan Patrols. Our vehicle is fitted with alloy wheels; does this make any difference?. As this incident could have resulted in the death of three people, we are very keen to ensure everything is done to stop it happening again." Peter Leppert

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Reply By: Peter - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 04:39

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 04:39
It appears to be a fairly common problem with the Patrols. I've lost the drivers rear wheel once (sheared off all the studs), and from damage that is evident under the vehicle the same wheel has come off at least once before. Do a quick search and you should be able to locate most of the posts. I know a survey was done a while back asking for people to provide details of wheel losses.
Peter
AnswerID: 223471

Reply By: PhilZD30Patrol - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 08:26

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 08:26
Hi

There has been far to many problems with the GU series of Patrols.

Individual private owners have had a limited level of success in getting Nissan to attend to the GU faults. However Nissan will not usually admit that there are any problems with the GU models.

Put frankly, if the CSIRO cannot do anything to persuade Nissan to address the problems for all owners and users who can?

Good luck and please get this forum updated of any developments.

Cheers
Phil
AnswerID: 223485

Reply By: ADM - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 08:33

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 08:33
I have also had the left rear come of as a result of all the studs shearing of.

As mentioned this is more common than you think.
AnswerID: 223486

Reply By: joc45 - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 13:20

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 13:20
Was it a steel wheel or an alloy one? The stories I've heard only relate to alloy wheels.
Gerry
AnswerID: 223536

Reply By: Patrol_Driver - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 14:15

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 14:15
Hi Peter,

I've had an almost identical experience, please see post 35849 in the archives for the details.

My family and I are lucky to be alive.
AnswerID: 223544

Reply By: Sam from Weipa Auto Electrics - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 14:52

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 14:52
I have had at least 2 case of this happening It is defiantly a fault of that model Nissan with alloy wheels can be a very dangerous thing in the wrong circumstance.
AnswerID: 223555

Reply By: Peter McG (Member, Melbourne) - Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 16:02

Friday, Feb 23, 2007 at 16:02
Peter, I tried calling you afew months ago on this when I heard of your incident.

Please check back at posts 35665, 34261, 38394

My advice is to always torque the nuts - I suspect this is Nissan's advice to dealers now but they have not sent any advice to owners as yet.

Peter
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AnswerID: 223567

Reply By: Member - Michael- Saturday, Feb 24, 2007 at 08:43

Saturday, Feb 24, 2007 at 08:43
I've worked for 20yrs in remote areas of WA in the mining industry, and know of and have experienced vehicles, not just Patrols but Landcruisers as well, shedding a wheel after it has been changed. One thing that was hammered home very early in my days out bush is that if you have changed a wheel STOP and recheck the wheel nuts after travelling 15-20km, nine times out of ten they will have become loose. The reason for this is that a film of dirt forms a crust on the wheel hub and this gets dislodged when replacing the wheel and gets trapped between the hub and replacement wheel rim and falls out when you start moving again,- wheel nuts become loose. This can also happen on bitumen as well.
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AnswerID: 223690

Reply By: Member - Kingsley N (SA) - Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 23:33

Thursday, Mar 01, 2007 at 23:33
It has happened to me too. I have posted several times on this forum about it. The answer as already given above is in the owners manual. Check the wheel nuts as soon as possible after a road side wheel change. Use a torque wrench. I carry one at all times. We went 300km before two studs were chewed off. Luckily I was alerted by the noise. The alloy rim had to be repaired with steel inserts,

Kingo
AnswerID: 224835

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