Faults:

My Nissan Hardbody pickup has been an excellent vehicle. The only thing I have had to replace is the starter motor at 128,000 miles, and front brake calipers at 130,000 miles.

General Comments:

My truck drives like a truck, the ride is rough, it handles well, and the four wheel drive system works flawlessly. I do wish it had a symmetrical four wheel drive setting however for the use of full time four wheel drive. My 1990 Jeep Cherokee had that option and it was a great feature.

The truck is very hard on gas, it is geared very low for towing and work use, causing it to get only 17 mpg. I do wish it had a little more get up and go, but it picks up speed just as quickly loaded as it does empty.

Faults:

Both door locks plus tailgate latch have been replaced.

AC compressor blew at 180,000 miles.

Heater blower motor about the same time.

Have replaced the alternator/voltage regulator twice.

Two sets of shocks.

Brakes lines rusted and replaced at about 230,000 miles.

Other than that, only basic maintenance - brake pads, tires, tune-up parts, belts, oil changes.

General Comments:

I have posted before here about this truck. I love it. Now, at 262,xxx miles the darn thing just keeps on going and going and going with most parts original. This truck has taken me deep into Mexico twice, up to Canada several times, it has hauled a kit car, snowmobiles and jet skis, in fact it has hauled just about everything from tools and ladders to dirt, gravel, countless dogs, Navy Seabees, paint, furniture, lumber, groceries, cats, kids...

The bed and wheel wells are starting to rust out because I'm in Michigan and don't garage it. I've not replaced a single front end or suspension component in 293,xxx miles except for shocks, and it needs some work in that regard. It's a second vehicle now, so putting money into it is not a priority... but this is the most unbelievably reliable vehicle I have ever owned (I've owned plenty!) and it will probably outlive me. It doesn't even burn oil in between oil changes (I am anal about 3-4,000 mile oil changes.) Dead of winter, middle of summer - we turn the key and it starts up and does the job.

Locks and latches appear to be a weak point - I just spent $140 on a drivers side door lock (part only) because every latch/lock on this truck went bad by 200,000 miles. Rubber seals around the windows and doors have never been replaced so it's windy-noisy at highway speeds now. Doesn't seem worth it to spend the money on fixing the AC. Also even in its heyday, this little 4-banger motor had a hard time with long grades and hills. You know it's bad when loaded semis are passing you on upgrades!

But overall, I have gotten my money's worth out of my little red truck ten times over, and it's still ready to fire up and go to work! Ten stars for reliability!

Faults:

Speedometer at 99000 needed to be replaced, $495.00.

Left lower ball joint at 210000.

Currently replacing headliner fabric.

Tape player stopped working 2 years ago.

One tail light and one parking light corroded badly, $200.00.

General Comments:

Absolutely the best mechanically sound vehicle I've owned in my 50 years.

Driving at least 70 miles per day for work, I still get 26 mpg on the original spark plugs!

Buy one, dress it for yourself and run it.