NEVER Tow a Caravan With These 5 Engines (And the Diesels That'll Pull to 500,000km)

📕 The Aussie Car Buyer's Bible — the engines I'd walk away from + my 10-minute inspection 👉 https://aussiemechanicgreg.com Eighty thousand kilometres. That is where a mainstream Australian outlet says the Navara's 2.5-litre turbo-diesel became susceptible to timing chain problems, and no warning light tells you it is due. One of five engines I would not hook a three-tonne caravan to in this country. Worst first, a straight buy-or-avoid verdict on each, then the four diesels I would genuinely tow with — each with its own recall named, because I am not loyal to a badge. Every fault here is documented: a recall notice, a Federal Court finding, a published tow test. What I cover: - All five named, with the build dates and the documented fault — the dates are usually the whole story - The 264,170-vehicle Federal Court finding, what the judge found, and what the appeal changed - The four diesels that will pull a van to 500,000km, and the one I'd put my own caravan behind (not the V8) - The towing number that strands more vans than any engine here, and the brand that told the truth in 2015 FACT-CHECK: ZD30 — reported failure pattern is melted, cracked or holed pistons, most likely a piston oiling and cooling problem, with reporting saying no consistent fix emerged; the $16,000 quote and the over-boost failure towing a 2.5t van are published owner accounts, not manufacturer statements. Ford 2.0 bi-turbo — recall 3 June 2020, 20,925 Ranger/Everest built 30 May 2018 to 16 Oct 2019 with the 10-speed auto, for transmission fluid pump gear failure causing loss of hydraulic pressure and possible loss of drive; since re-notified and extended over 2,572 more vehicles for a software issue that could cause pump failure and loss of power. Toyota — the Federal Court identified 264,170 HiLux, Prado and Fortuner with 2.4/2.8 turbo-diesels built 1 Oct 2015 to 23 Apr 2020, found the clogged DPF caused foul-smelling white smoke, excessive notifications, repeated service and higher fuel use, that the vehicles failed the Australian Consumer Law acceptable-quality guarantee and that Toyota engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct; Justice Michael Lee set the reduction in value at 17.5%, the Full Court upheld liability but found 10% and remitted damages, Toyota said it was reviewing the decision, and the claims process is ongoing (notice 21 Feb 2025, NSD1210/2019). YD25DDTi — CarsGuide reports timing chain susceptibility from about 80,000km, traced to a single-row primary chain, with no dash warning; 4x4 Australia's 2016 tow test measured 100mm of rear drop with an 800kg pallet, more than any ute in that test bar the Triton. Lion V6 — recall 30 April 2025 on 13,490 MY2022-2025 Ranger/Everest for a left-hand camshaft sprocket defect that could fracture, stall the engine and cause sudden loss of motive power (3.0 V6 only, free repair); separately Ford confirmed to carsales that a Dagenham assembly process could stress the turbo oil return line O-ring groove, that about 130,000 V6 Ranger/Everest have sold here with the vast majority having the defect built in, that the leak is not terminal, and that it is repaired under warranty rather than by recall; the Bruce Dooley account is as reported by carsales. Good ones — Toyota recalled about 22,971 MY2016-2018 VDJ76/78/79 with DPF for a modified exhaust heat shield, because a hot burn-off can ignite dry grass under the vehicle; Isuzu recalled 149,048 2020-2024 D-MAX/MU-X over an ECM fault that could reduce engine speed and stall it (free software fix), plus 36,966 for fuel hose wear and 15,542 for steering bolt torque, and specialist guides call the 4JJ3 one of the most reliable diesels in a new 4WD; the 3.2 P5AT turbo-vane note is overseas data, indicative only; Ford recalled about 59,000 Rangers in 2017 over grass against the hot DPF. Weights — in May 2015 Mitsubishi publicly criticised rivals over tow-weight figure fudging and published its own: 3,100kg tow, 2,900kg GVM, 5,885kg GCM, 640kg left; the current Triton tows 3,500kg on a 6,250kg GCM, which reviewers calculate leaves about 625kg. DISCLAIMER: General information and my honest opinion — NOT purchasing, financial, legal or safety advice. Faults are described by engine type and build era with documented, attributed patterns, never as a claim that a brand is poorly made, and no manufacturer or dealer is accused of anything beyond the public record cited above. Every engine named has large numbers of examples doing this job without trouble: a documented pattern is not a prediction about your vehicle. Court findings are as reported and the damages question has been remitted; recall details, counts and warranty positions are as published and may have changed, and owner accounts are reported accounts rather than verified engineering findings. Prices are indicative — check your own vehicle's recall status by VIN and get any outstanding work in writing.