2001 Nissan Frontier Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

ON ABOVE APPROXIMATE DATE I STARTED TO SMELL FUEL COMING OUT FROM MY TRUCK EVERY TIME THE TANK WAS AT FULL CAPACITY. SINCE THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL NEVER COME OFF. I TOOK FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. CHANGE OXYGEN SENSOR, GAS CAP, THERMOSTAT, CARBON CANISTER AND SOLENOID. I CONTACTED NISSAN BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678751

Incident

Jan 18, 2006

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA WHERE IT HIT THE BROADSIDE OF A MINIVAN (T-BONED) THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WAS GOING IN EXCESS OF 20MPH AT THE TIME, WHEN I CONTACTED THE MINI-VAN NO AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED HITS TO MY HEAD, WHIPLASH RELATED DAMAGES, DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG. THE IMPACT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, THE ENGINE AND BODY WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND ENGINE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653665

Incident

Jul 16, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN REVERSE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614902

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

149,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY NISSAN FRONTIER FROM A NISSAN DEALER "AS IS" WHICH WAS FINE TIL THE FIRST TIME I FILLED IT UP. THE SMELL OF GAS MADE ME PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. COULDN'T FIND OR SEE A LEAK BUT SURE COULD SMELL IT. SHORTLY AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TO FIND FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I'M ON S.S.D. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. TRIED TO LOCATE A NEW TANK FOR THE TRUCK. CAN'T FIND ONE. I CAN'T SEE PUTTING A RECYCLED DEFECT IN. ANYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDS TO CALL THE NHTSA SO WE CAN GET THE RECALL STARTED. NOW NISSAN CHANGED THE TANK AND ADDED ACCESS PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT ON NEWER MODELS. SO I DON'T FILL MY TRUCK AND IT STILL SMELLS OF GAS BUT NOT AS BAD. HOPEFULLY HELP IS AROUND THE CORNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550944

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

SEVERAL WEB SITES I HAVE READ INDICATE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE/EXHAUST ACCUMULATION OF WATER VIA THE LEAKAGE IN WATER LINES AND/OR FAULTY MANUFACTURING HEADS/ENGINE SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE ACCUMULATED WATER IN ONE OF THE PISTON (4-5), AND PERHAPS WARPED THE ALUM HEADS OR MAYBE BLOWN GASKET. IF REPAIRED WILL THIS PROBLEM PERSIST, AND WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE WITH EITHER MANUFACTURE OR USED CAR DEALER (BOUGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10524155

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY CAR WOULDN'T START. BATTERY WAS FINE..PASSENGERS HAD RECENTLY SAID THAT THEY NOTICED A FUEL SMELL, BUT I CAN'T SMELL (A PHYSICAL HANDICAP OF MINE).; CALLED AAA- IT WAS THEN THAT WE NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, THE FUEL PUMP WIRE THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BROKEN. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. CALLED NISSAN DEALER AND HE SAID 'YOUR CAR IS OLD, JUST REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. BUT, THE DESIGN OF THE GAS TANK IS SUCH THAT THERE IS A 'GULLY' WHERE WATER GETS TRAPPED ON THE DESIGN OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. NISSAN REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT IS CAUSING THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANKS TO CORRODE; AND THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE! AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WHO SPECIALIZES IN METALS, IT IS DEFINITELY A POOR DESIGN; I HAVE OWNED AND WORKED ON CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A FUEL TANK CORRODE THROUGH. ALL OF THE LOCAL MECHANICS/GARAGES IN MY AREA TELL ME "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN NISSAN FRONTIERS- WE FIX THEM ALL OF THE TIME." *TR

NHTSA ID

10495059

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 7/19/12 *CN UPDATED 07/23/12.

NHTSA ID

10459886

Incident

May 7, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEARE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10459191

Incident

May 18, 2011

Mileage

91,000 mi

ENGINE STOPPED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO RESTART. ON CHECKING VEHICLE, DISCOVERED WATER IN FUEL TANK. AFTER REMOVING FUEL TANK FROM VEHICLE, NOTICED, ACCESS TO FUEL TANK FROM TOP SEVERELY CORRODED. THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW SPACE BETWEEN CAB OF TRUCK AND BED. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE SPACE. THE ACCESS TO THE TANK HAS A RAISED RING AND A GROOVE THAT RUNS AROUND THE RING, WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO COLLECT. THE WHOLE RING IS CORRODED AND THEIR IS HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. I FEEL THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED TANK AND POOR LOCATION OF TANK. MY SON AND MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND THE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY SON JUNKED HIS TRUCK AND MY FRIEND USED J-WELD TO MAKE MAKESHIFT REPAIRS. I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WITH A POPULATION OF 2000 RESIDENCE, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT THIS CANNOT BE A ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10451575

Incident

Mar 11, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE HAD SINCE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STALLING FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ID

10447264

Incident

Jan 9, 2012

Mileage

121,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CLUNKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF THE STEERING COLUMN CRACKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V554000 (STEERING:COLUMN) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10412298

Incident

Jan 6, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING, HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SWAY BAR WAS DISCONNECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379611

Incident

Jan 29, 2011

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10368171

Incident

Nov 27, 2010

Mileage

138,000 mi

REF CASE: NTB03-048A MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE EXCEPT MY TRUCK IS 2001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361475

Incident

Jan 16, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

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

2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT AN INDIVIDUAL BALL JOINT WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE BOTH BALL JOINTS AND THE LINKAGE IN BETWEEN THE TWO JOINTS AT A COST OF $301.13 AS OPPOSED TO BUYING ONE BALL JOINT IN THE RANGE OF $50.00. *JB

NHTSA ID

10344396

Incident

Sep 27, 2010

WAS DRIVING IN TENNESSEE ON HIGHWAY 81.I FOUND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE SPEED UP GOING TO THE TOP OF THE HILLS, THE NEXT DAY WE FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS A LITTLE LOW AND GOT TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOW WE ARE HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. WE BROUGHT IT TO NISSAN TO HAVE IT TESTED, AND THEY GIVE US WELL WE'LL CHANGE THE FLUID AND MAY BE THAT WILL HELP. OR IT COULD BE THIS OR THAT OR SOMETHING ELSE. I'M AFRAID THEY ARE GOING TO NICKEL AND DIME ME TO DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343963

Incident

Jun 25, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi