Nissan
04 February 2012
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Nissan Cabstar road tests and consumer car reviews
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The Nissan Cabstar may be compact but has a high payload, enviable manoeuvrability and low running costs making the Cabstar a very attractive and competitive commercial vehicle.
Nissan Cabstar consumer reviews by year of make: 2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010
Steve Marriot, Dorset
Nissan Cabstar 2010
Awful! The worst driving experince of my life. I couldn’t drive it straight as it kept wondering all over the road and it just wouldn’t stop bouncing. The slightest touch of the steering wheel would make it swerve all over the place with it bouncing all the while. I had to drive this damn truck from Southampton to Poole on a very hot day; the heat from the engine was driving me mad and I’m still mad now 2 days later. Because the sun was out and I had forgoten my sun glasses I put the sun visor down, only to find my vision totaly blocked. I did however, catch a glimse of the road between bounces - did I mention that these trucks bounce a lot? I could have made a fortune if I’d charged poeple £5 a time for a bouncy castle ride! The sad thing is this is the 3rd one of these things our company has owned and everyone moans about them, perhaps if the boss had to drive it to and from work he would realise just how bad these things are, but I guess he’s fine in his BMW. If you do have to drive one to work I would suggest sitting in a darkend room for several hours afterwards to get over the shock.
Submitted: 21/08/2011 15:51:34 | ID: 8184
Paul Apthorpe, Cambridgeshire
Nissan Cabstar 34-11 dropside 2007
I have had cabstars for 15 years and have had the misfortune to own a 2007 cabstar. The rear gyres went flat after 50 miles, battery failed after 6 months, then the exhaust failed, after 12 months rust started appearing everywhere on the underside of the truck, crunching gears which Nissan said they could not notice on a road test, front shock absorbers failed after two years, main wiring loom rotted through after two and a half years Nissan just repaired it. At the end of the third year I contacted my Nissan main dealer twice about the rust situation on both occasions they took pictures then I was ignored, now the ladder rack is cracked due to a stress fracture and now the rust under the drivers seat is that bad the brackets that hold the seat in place have rusted away and the seat moves about when you sit on it and the van has only done 47k. Finally the tailboard is falling off because the welds have rotted on the fixings, the brakes constantly squeak and now have trouble with the front wheel bearing.
Submitted: 13/06/2011 18:45:09 | ID: 7861
Mark Cerrone, England
Nissan Cabstar 2007
We have run Cabstars for 25 Years and have had good reliability in the past but the last two models have been nothing like the old ones. In fact nothing like Nissans. There was a dangerous fault with the tyres deflating on motorways which the dealer couldn’t find the cause of. We found it- faulty valves. The cab protector/ladder bar cracked right through from vibration metal fatigue. There was evidence of rust from new which the dealer failed to put right but he did take lots of photos which meant we were without it on two days. Now after only 60,000 miles and just outside the waranty, the timing chain had gone so sloppy it has jumped a tooth and damaged the sprockets etc. What is worse is Nissan want £430 for the chain alone! and nearly another £400 for the sprocket, and tensioner. This is gross overcharging for parts.
Submitted: 19/10/2010 21:36:27 | ID: 6343
Tony, Lancashire
Nissan Cabstar 3.5t tipper 130hp 2008
Bought a new 2008 Cabstar 130 hp tipper from the Nissan main dealer. I also ordered a new tow bar to be fitted by the main dealer before collection of the vehicle, unfortunatly they fitted the wrong tow bar!!! SEVEN WEEKS later the correct bar was installed. Proud of my new truck I decided to treat the metal under parts to a wax sealant, when preparing to spray the wax, having lifted the tipping body for the first time I noticed numerous sections of the tipper chassis and tipper body suffering from serious corrosion (seven weeks old with 120 miles, yes one hundred and twenty miles only!). The cab also has areas of corrosion too, the gearbox is poor with a mix of crunching, stiffness and generally unwilling to actually slot into gear particually 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. the engine noise is terrible to the point you can’t even hear the radio and the alarm sounds for no reason. I took the truck to my local Nissan dealer and complained...their response after taking 3 days was "wear and tear Sir". nearly one year on none of the problems have been resolved. Buy a VW.
Submitted: 28/01/2010 10:15:08 | ID: 4464
Dave Thomas, Cornwall
Nissan Cabstar 34.11 SWB 2009
I have 2 of these now. Lots of space inside cab for paperwork etc, gears have been smooth. Very comfortable to drive, I would say a bit thirsty on the diesel in my opinion. Only gripe is that the jack failed first time I used it so be careful. Nissan have replaced it though, so no problem.
Submitted: 12/10/2009 09:28:03 | ID: 3703
Steve Robson, England
Nissan Cabstar 34 11 2007
Problem after problem: brakes, rear wheel bearings, oil seals, exhaust, Ariel body panels, seat cover, and foam electrics. Do not bother buying these trucks until Nissan have sorted them out maybe a few years how much has this cost me in time phone calls etc £100 and £100s...
Submitted: 08/10/2009 15:46:34 | ID: 3676
Jim Davies, Dorset
Nissan Cabstar 2008
Good work horse and economical to run. Ideal truck for narrow lanes.
Submitted: 24/08/2009 10:29:46 | ID: 3464
Kevin Sheridan, England
Nissan Cabstar SWB 2008
Bought one of these and I do like them... I have 7 of the old ones and they are bullet proof... .mine crunches gear from 1st-2nd also and I had a dealer respray which was very bad quality and front fogs fitted with badly drilled out cut outs. No problems as yet though but the only better things are the cab space and the power...
Submitted: 23/03/2009 10:12:39 | ID: 2687
Mark Wright, Cornwall
Nissan Cabstar 2004
Drove off forecourt proud as punch with my new Cabstar but 1st to 2nd crunch and jam. Back up to their forecourt to be told gearbox will bed in,1 new gearbox and 2 new gear change cables later having covered 27000 very uncomfortable miles the truck's no better. Nissan should be sued for selling goods unfit for purpose at time. I didn't have enough money to take such a huge firm to court. Now what's the point as they appear to be going under… I wonder why! Their customer service is the worst I've ever come across and their trucks are even worse. I have had 2 older ones which were superb. I'd buy an Isuzu if I were you.
Submitted: 13/03/2009 10:46:37 | ID: 2641
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Keith, Devon
Nissan Cabstar 2008
Having owned Nissan Cabstars in the past, all purchased from new and had excellent, solid, reliable service from all of the models, my expectation of the latest version, 35.13 was high. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Yes, the cab is bigger and more plush , the service from the Nissan dealer was and still is awful. After a 20 mile trip on the M1 and stopping the vehicle, it then refused to start due to a faulty battery, half pressure tyres etc. Dealer told me to ring the RAC ( I’d owned the vehicle for an hour!!) as they appeared disinterested. Numerous problems later, including gears crunching, paint coming off and rust, with many calls to customer services have still not rectified these problems. In my opinion the new Cabstar isn’t a patch on the old. The engine is noisy in the cab, the gearbox is a bag of nails and it drinks fuel like an alcoholic!! WHAT A SHAME. In this day and age I think the vans competitors deserve to take the Cabstars market.
Submitted: 18/02/2009 12:45:07 | ID: 2540
Tony North, Surrey
Nissan Cabstar 2008
I purchased a Cabstar at the end of September, at first I would say what a vast improvement on the older one. The cab has so much more space with compartments behind the seats and in the dash keeping paperwork and straps nice and tidy. The engine again so much more responsive than before. The driving position is more like a car and overall a vast improvement on the old one. The cab that now tips forward to get to the engine instead of having to hold the seat up. I must say the RAC man that I called out after having the vehicle for one day because the power steering hose came off found it of benefit which is the start of my negatives. From the first time I drove it the gearbox crunched in 2nd & 3rd gear, I put this down to a new vehicle needed a bit of time to wear in. Unfortunately after 1800 miles it was still doing it. A quick call to the local Nissan dealer to find out that there is only 25 Nissan dealers in the whole country from Scotland to Cornwall that has the ability to work on the new Cabstar, my nearest one happened to be 1hrs drive away! After getting it there and them having it for 2 days I get a phone call to say that there is nothing wrong with it!! A call to Nissan UK customer services and again they say its normal, that is how it is meant to be. WHAT!!!! I take it this is a safety feature so you know when you are entering 2nd or 3rd gear, doesn’t look like they are interested. Unfortunately they have now spoilt what I thought was going to be a very good vehicle but anyone in there right mind wouldn’t buy a brand new vehicle that has a gearbox that crunches in 2nd & 3rd gear. Would I buy another one, I REALLY DON’T THINK SO!!!
Submitted: 25/11/2008 08:47:19 | ID: 2184
Bob Stanley, England
Nissan Cabstar 130bhp dropside 2008
New Nissan Cabstar 35.13 dropside 2008 model - really good truck, so far so good. Very bumpy on b roads when empty but stick some weight on the back and its like riding on a airbed. Very quick with lots and lots of power but engine has only done 60 miles. The computer reading is 28mpg running around with about 700kg on the back around town on short trips. It needs running in and I am expecting at least 30mpg....
Submitted: 11/07/2008 11:38:20 | ID: 1661
Mark Penford, Denbighshire
Nissan Cabstar 34.10 SWB Dropside 2005
I drive this van for a local garden centre that I work for and find it a very reliable van. It certainly drives well and can shift when it needs to, even with a full load. I would say that it actually drives better when loaded as the front suspension can be a bit lively when unloaded. The cabin is basic but comfortable and overall it’s a good work van.
Submitted: 19/11/2007 11:21:34 | ID: 624
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