RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Frontier Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Oct 10, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 134 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 10, 2010

CONNECTION FOR ABS(G SENSOR). LIGHT WILL COME ON AND BYPASS SOME OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS. HAS BEEN FIXED BEFORE AND IT RECURS . CAN FEEL DIFFERENCE IN BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359903
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Brakes
Filed Oct 29, 2009
Crash reported

2001 NISSAN FRONTIER XE ABS FAILURE. WHEN STOPPING ON SEMI WET LEVEL SURFACE ABS ENGAGED FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. NO BRAKE WARNING LAMP OR ABS WARNING LAMP WAS ON. COULD REPEAT THIS FAILURE MODE IN NEARBY PARKING LOT. ABS LAMP CAME ON AFTER SECOND FAILURE. NOW BRAKES WORK IN NON ABS MODE (CAN APPLY FULL BRAKING PRESSURE TO THE POINT OF LOCKING THE WHEELS WHEN ABS WARNING LAMP IS ON.) *TR

NHTSA ID
10290219
Incident
Oct 28, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COMPLETELY STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT COULD NOT ESTIMATE THE LENGTH OF TIME THE VEHICLE TOOK TO STOP. HE STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,800.

NHTSA ID
10203193
Incident
Sep 15, 2007
Mileage
107,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 31, 2007

CHECK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. BRAKE LINE CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT AND EMPTIED THE MASTER CYLINDER. COULD ONLY STOP IF THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CONSTANTLY REFILLED. MASTER CYLINDER WOULD EMPTY AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186647
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Mileage
33,472 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2005

WHILE DRIVING AT 4:30 AM ON JULY 9TH, 2005, MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY BRAKE FALUIRE WHILE EXITING A FREWWAY RAMP AT ANTHEM WAY IN ANTHEM, AZ WJILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE BRAKES RESTORED THEMSELVES PRIOR TO A STOPLIGHT AT THE OFF-RAMP OF ANTHEM WAY AND I-17. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON A FEW OCCAIONS, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY IMAGINATION. I HAVE NOT SOUGHT RECOURSE FROM THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AS I REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, WHICH DOES NOT MANIFEST ITSELF THAT OFTEN. I BELIEVE HAVING BEEN IN FLEET MANGEMENT FOR 25+ YEARS, THAT IT MAY BE A FAULTY BRAKE VALVE. ALSO I AM A MEMBER OF NAFA. THERE WAS NOT ANY ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10128234
Incident
Jul 9, 2005
Mileage
43,251 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2004

I BOUGHT A NEW 2001 PATHFINDER IN JULY AND I LEASE IT JUST THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR OUT OF NOWHERE THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND IT CAME ON AND THEN TURN OFF I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSE AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS NOT GOOD THEY TOLD ME THAT IN THE YEARS OF SERVICE THEY HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSE IT OR WHAT HAPPENED THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST 2,000.00 TO FIX AND I DECLINE BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS A DEFECT THAT THE CAR HAD AFTER COMMUNICATING THIS INFORMATION TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR THEY DENIED THE REPAIRS BECAUSE MY CAR HAS MORE THAN 36,000 MILES. I FEEL THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I FELT THEY SHOULD COVER IF THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT EVEN TELL ME WHAT CAUSE IT I FELT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AFTER ALL THIS IS NOT A CHEAP VEHICLE AND NOW I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10078568
Incident
Jan 30, 2004
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 2003

THE ABS SENSOR WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE AXLE, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO BE NON-RESPONSIVE. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE LEAKAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10048578
Incident
Nov 22, 2003
Mileage
44,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 15, 2003
Crash reported4 injuries reported

FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO DROP HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR (APPROXIMATELY LEVEL WITH GAS PEDAL) AND INABILITY TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. NONE OF MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE SERVICE BRAKES RESULTED IN ANY BRAKING EFFECT AND ENGINE SURGE WAS DETECTED IN AT LEAST ONE BRAKING ATTEMPT. DRIVER RESORTED TO EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT TOO LATE TO AVOID COLLISION IN INTERSECTION, TWO VEHICLES DESTROYED, FOUR PEOPLE WHERE INJURED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10042950
Incident
Jun 10, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 11, 2003

I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER THAT THE RIGHT INNER PAD IS WORN TO THE SENSOR. THE DISC PAD IS WEARING AT NOTICEABLE ANGLE FROM LEADING EDGE TO TRAILING EDGE. THE OTHER PADS ARE WEARING NORMALLY. THE TRUCK ALSO HAS A SEVERE BRAKE PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE PULL IS WORSE WHEN HOT. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS TIME. THE CAR WILL SWITH LANES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. AS AN ASE CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIAN I BELIEVE THE CAUSE IS THE USE OF PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTONS. PHENOLIC PISTONS ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE BRAKE PULLS, LOCKED UP BRAKES AND UNEVEN PAD WEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021391
Incident
Jun 5, 2003
Mileage
32,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 11, 2002

THIS IS ONE OF TWO 2001 FRONTIERS I OWN. BOTH HAVE HAD PREMATURE WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD. ALL OTHER PADS WERE FINE ON BOTH TRUCKS. IT SEMS THE PAD BCOMES LODGED IN THE CALIPER AND DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED.*AK

NHTSA ID
767016
Brakes
Filed Apr 16, 2002

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, THE PEDDLE BEGAN TO MOVE IN A TAPPING MOTION AGAINST CONSUMERS FOOT, MAKING A LOUD NOISE WITH EACH TAP, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ID
785947
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2002

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR MAKES DIFFICULT STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
760380
Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 2002
Crash reported

BEING A FORMER MECHANIC AND OWNING A 1995 NISSAN PREVIOUSLY I AM APPALLED AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM.NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN BRAKING I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL PULSATE AND THE SYSTEM ONLY HAD MINIMAL BRAKING FORCE ALTHOUGH I APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL.I AM CERTAIN THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW,FOR I WOULD NEVER HAD THIS ACCIDENT IN MY 1995 NISSAN PICK-UP AND I'M CERTAIN SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ID
757843
Incident
Aug 6, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 2002
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER MOTORIST COLLIDED WITH HER ON HIGHWAY. SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002841
Incident
Jan 13, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 2001

VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT HAVE THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A RESONABLE AMOUNT OF SPACE AND TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
751497

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .