RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Frontier

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
134
Latest May 5, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
19
11 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 134 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Nissan Frontier, most frequently naming the fuel system, engine and brakes categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 81 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
DOPE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 7, 2009
16,270 units potentially affected
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
SABERSPORTView on NHTSA.gov
06E064000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Jul 17, 2006
4,029 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
TRADESONICView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE02052ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL SPILL DURING REFUELING

Opened Jun 20, 2002
Closed Dec 3, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGESLed to recall 02V300000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 134
Fuel system
Filed May 5, 2024

I am the original owner of the vehicle which has just 66,000 original miles. I have smelled fuel and had a service engine soon light on for years. I have taken the vehicle into various shops and dealerships who failed to find a fuel tank leak that now turns out to have been from corrosion of the tank flange as early as 5 years after manufacturing. A check of various online owners forums suggests this is a known defect on Nissan Frontier and XTerra trucks. Once gas began physically leaking out of my tank, I contacted the dealer who said my VIN was not part of any fuel tank recall and I would have to pay for any repairs myself. This is a dangerous and irresponsible situation for Nissan Frontier and XTerra drivers which Nissan needs to fix. Other examples of rusted fuel tank flanges. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11587013
Incident
Apr 1, 2024
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN PROPERLY AND WAS STIFF. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT RETURN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID
11292026
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
132,000 mi
Interior & seatsPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 6, 2018

TRANSMISSION BURNING FLUID SMELL, WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED SEAT BELTS DON'T RECOIL SEATS TOO LOW

NHTSA ID
11109775
Incident
Jul 2, 2018
Mileage
280,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 16, 2017

THE MOMENT I TURN THE SWITCH ON, THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WITHOUT CONTROL, NOT EVEN THE BRAKES RESPONDING. I STOPPED IT BY TURNING SWITCH OFF.

NHTSA ID
11015802
Incident
Aug 14, 2017
Mileage
9 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 22, 2017

HAD PROBLEM KEEPING TRUCK RUNNING SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID A TUNEUP ON 10/02/15 AND SAID IT WAS FIXED 7 DAYS LATER TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN WENT BACK TO TRUCK SERVICE ON 10/09/15 RECHECKED AND SAID I HAD WATER IN GAS DRAINED GAS PUT IN NEW GAS RAN GOOD UNTIL IT RAINED TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN WENT BACK TO TRUCK SERVICE ON 11/30/15 DID A SMOKE TEST ON GAS TANK FOUND TOP OF GAS TANK RUSTED OUT AROUND TOP SAID I NEED NEW GAS TANK MY TRUCK WAS KEPT IN GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME THAT I OWNED IT, LOOKED ON COMPUTER AND FOUND NISSAN TRUCKS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2005 OR 2006 HAVE BAD GAS TANKS WHY DO THEY NOT RECALL OR REPLACE GAS TANKS

NHTSA ID
10956413
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
98,903 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 24, 2017

FUEL TANK TOP RUSTED AND WATER ENTERED THE FUEL , TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START TRUCK SERVICE DID TUNE UP DID NOT HELP AFTER A $1,200 DOLLARS THEY FOUND THE WATER IN TANK DID NOT FIND THE RUSTED TANK UNTILL THE THIRD TIME BACK,PUT A SEALER ON WHAT THEY COULD REACH AND NOW I DO NOT TAKE MY TRUCK OUT IN BAD WEATHER HELP!!!!

NHTSA ID
10947429
Incident
Oct 12, 2015
Mileage
10 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10919104
Incident
Sep 3, 2013
Mileage
88,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2015

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BLINKED ON AND OFF. PRIVATE GARAGE AND DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED FAULTY PART AS A CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT. NOT AVAILABLE NEW OR USED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. NO RESPONSE. SO VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS WORKING AIRBAGS. IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT RESPONSIBLE TO BACK UP THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLE AIRBAGS?

NHTSA ID
10762313
Incident
Feb 16, 2015
Mileage
128,353 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

NTB13-107G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB17-019H

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB09-081K

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB13-028I

VISIBILITY/WIPER

REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB08-097L

STEERING

DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

NTB23-049

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are expected to promote uniformity during the connection process, therefore reducing the number of incorrect “Test with DCA” and “Replace” results. HINT: If 12 volt batteries are allowed to discharge for a prolonged period of time, battery life may be drastically reduced. This condition may lead to premature battery replacement and customer dissatisfaction. IMPORTANT:  CPX-900 is now an accepted testing tool to use along with or in place of the DSS-5000  CPX-900 operating instructions are found at: https://nissancpx900.midtronics.com/  DSS-5000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandss5000.midtronics.com/  DCA-8000 is now a required testing tool to be used for all warranty replacement decisions. The DCA-8000 is also a more efficient charger than previously available, and will charge any available 12 volt lead acid battery safely and accurately as long as all precautions and inputs are made correctly. The DCA-8000 operating instructions are found at: https://nissandca8000.midtronics.com/

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Nissan Frontier by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026610—
2025730—
2024193053.3
2023641052.1
20221106057.8
2021172045.2
2020232057.3
2019291046.3
2018252045.2
2017381049.1
2016431044.7
2015330038.4
2014422051.0
2013481047.2
2012783047.6
2011641041.8
2010596151.8
2009375150.8
20081366151.1
20075202147.2
20066167255.0
20055326152.5
2004664052.4
2003777053.9
20021248054.3
2001Viewing1347159.8
20001896056.4
1999785052.3
19981295053.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.