[patty]

My Nissan Frontier's tailgate hinge is totally screwed up. It has broken twice and NOW a third time!! What's up with this. I barely use the thing. My deal accused me of hitting something really hard from underneath the vehicle. NOT!! It was repaired - then it twisted and broke again. It was repaired and now AGAIN! Three times this fricking hinge has broken with barely any use. Something is definitely defective. Is it the wait of the actualy tailgate? Is it the distribution of the weight of the vehicle to the tailgate hinge? This is something I'm really burned out fixing and when FORD brings out their new F-100 this fall I'm going to trade in this crappy vehicle that won't even stand up to a simple tent camping trip or a trip to the garden center! Yes, I'm angry!!

Patty

 

[LoopOut]

AMEN. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and had it signed!
Im on my second pair of body side hinges, and second pair of tailgate side hinges. My conclusion is... Aside from the design sucking balls in the first place, once they bend I find it's pretty much all down hill from there. I've given up trying to fix these pieces of sh!t. Next time they break im gona look into fabbing up my own.

 

[dubie2003]

This is an awesome first post. This should go down in history.

If you spend any time on this forum you will notice that this tends to happen. They apparently revised the design in 08 or 09 or something but still, they tend to break.

Just putting this out there, you do know the limit is like 200 or 250 lbs on the tailgate and if you start to hit bumps, it will increase the load and that is what causes the "bending". Has this happened on any of your trips?

 

[patty]

Tailgate Hinge

I have read in this Forum about the 200 lb limit but never heard a peep about it before. This is definitely not a truck intended for work...even light work such as my gardening excursions.

The first time the hinge bent I was on a back road and hit a pot hole. That's when the autobody shop accussed me of backing into something. Grrrrr....

This is an awesome first post. This should go down in history.

If you spend any time on this forum you will notice that this tends to happen. They apparently revised the design in 08 or 09 or something but still, they tend to break.

Just putting this out there, you do know the limit is like 200 or 250 lbs on the tailgate and if you start to hit bumps, it will increase the load and that is what causes the "bending". Has this happened on any of your trips?

 

[Espo78]

The first time the hinge bent I was on a back road and hit a pot hole.

With the tailgate up or down?

 

[eglaisi]

For what it's worth, F150 hinges break as well:

 

[dubie2003]

With the tailgate up or down?

I am going to venture and say that he had it down or he had it up with a load resting on it like others have had happen, remember the plywood guy?

 

[devious1]

I just recently had a friend weld the crap out of mine. I've had two of these trucks and it broke on the passenger side on both. The problem is fixed now and the fact that Nissan didn't even weld them is a huge fail on their part. I love my truck but a lot of things that they have done with it pisses me off.

 

[patty]

Tailgate

With the tailgate up or down?

The tailgate was up.

For what it's worth, F150 hinges break as well:

Well - interesting photo. Thank you.

I am going to venture and say that he had it down or he had it up with a load resting on it like others have had happen, remember the plywood guy?

No, the tailgate was up. My husband has a 12 year old Ranger and has never had the first problem with the tailgate.

 

[frontire]

I agree the hinge is lacking in strength. However, I don't conclude that a bad hinge design equals a crappy vehicle, just a crappy hinge design. Now if the vehicle burst into flames when the tailgate hinge broke, then that would be a crappy vehicle.

I wouldn't waste my own time having Nissan replace a bad hinge with another equally bad hinge, just weld in a section of tube to a steel plate and weld that onto the body. If you still want to be able to remove the tailgate, then duplicate the tube/steel plate design on the driver's side, but cut out a section of the tube.

Or you can add to your frustration by having the hinge replaced over and over again until it is out of warranty.

 

[Fishy_Frontier]

I hear your frustration but it doesn't happen to everybody. I've had at least 500lbs sitting on my tailgate more than a few times and have 0 issues with my hinges. I'm not saying it couldn't happen to me but don't write off a vehicle for such a small issue.

 

[devious1]

Never say never...My 2006 went 120,xxx miles without a problem.

 

[zluke13]

I wouldn't waste my own time having Nissan replace a bad hinge with another equally bad hinge, just weld in a section of tube to a steel plate and weld that onto the body. If you still want to be able to remove the tailgate, then duplicate the tube/steel plate design on the driver's side, but cut out a section of the tube.

Since reading of the issue this has been my idea IF it happens to me. So far, no issue I just watch what I put on the tailgate.

 

[kimber45]

where did you guys get the hinges mine are bent? and how much were they?

 

[JGoodish]

where did you guys get the hinges mine are bent? and how much were they?

The hinges are available from the dealer, and from what I recall, they aren't too expensive. I believe that they come unpainted, though.

The hinges on the body size of my truck have been rock solid since new (2006). However, the hinges on the tailgate side loosened up over the first couple of years--the tubular part was coming loose in the bracket. My solution was to put them in a vice and use a cold chisel to "turn over" the lip on the backside of the tubular part of both hinges to tighten them up. So far, they've held up well and are still tight after a year or two.


JKG

 

[SMS1115]

Does anyone know which section of the service manual has the tailgate in it? Or even the part numbers for the hinges? Body side and gate side?

Stupid me forgot the gate was down and just backed into the side of the garage door and bent the crap out of the passenger side.

Thanks!

 

[Dana_15]

I downloaded a manual for an 09 and there is a part in section K (Body Ext Doors), under that there is a DLK (Door Lock) section and it's on the last page. This probabley means nothing to you or your truck though, lol.

 

[Rowdy_Canuck]

You guys are starting to scare me with all these tailgate hinge failures...

My 06 hinges are still doing fine. I've loaded the crap out of the gate on several occasions too!

Which part is failing? The side of the hinge that attaches to the gate? Or to the body?

Check out Courtesy parts:
940 Rear Gate & Fitting :: Body(Back Door & Rear Body) :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: Frontier Parts (D40) 2005-2011 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com

they're only showing 1 part number for all hinges 2005 to 2010, so not sure what in the design may have changed?

One other idea to consider - the Titan has a really nice counter balanced hinge system that makes lifting its gate a breeze! I wonder if those parts could be adapted to the smaller frontier gate? Or maybe their hinges are just stouter to begin with?

 

[Clint]

You guys are starting to scare me with all these tailgate hinge failures...

My 06 hinges are still doing fine. I've loaded the crap out of the gate on several occasions too!

Which part is failing? The side of the hinge that attaches to the gate? Or to the body?

Check out Courtesy parts:
940 Rear Gate & Fitting :: Body(Back Door & Rear Body) :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: Frontier Parts (D40) 2005-2011 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com

they're only showing 1 part number for all hinges 2005 to 2010, so not sure what in the design may have changed?

One other idea to consider - the Titan has a really nice counter balanced hinge system that makes lifting its gate a breeze! I wonder if those parts could be adapted to the smaller frontier gate? Or maybe their hinges are just stouter to begin with?

Don't waste your time worrying about anything that hasn't happened. If and when it does (doubtful) then you'll do what it takes. You're not going to sell the truck based on a potential hinge problem.

 

[LoopOut]

Rowdy: Thats exactly what I thought. Then one day goin down the road my tailgate opened like a swing gate to the passenger side. But if you keep an eye on them you will likely see the stressing occuring over time on the cup side of the hinge. As well as the pivot on the gate itself, starts to get really sloppy and wiggley.