2001 Nissan Frontier Problems

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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

I OWN A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB AND BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOWS HAVE BECOME DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE AT FAULT CAN YOU INFORM ME IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WINDOW REGULATORS FOR MY VEHICLE ? *TW

I OWN '01 NISSAN XTERRA. IN '03 I HAD TO REPLACE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR. FEB. '05 REMAINING 3 REGULATORS FAILED, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. ONE OF THE WINDOWS WAS IN "DOWN POSITION" DURING HEAVY SNOW STORM.*AK IT CREATED SIGNIFFICANT DISTRACTION TO A DRIVER. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR NISSAN TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND RECAL.

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.

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.

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

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH LOST POWER AND VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT WOULD OPERATE IN SECOND GEAR (AUTO TRANSMISSION). *JB

NOW I HAVE WORKED IN THE TIRE BUSINESS IN THE PAST AND I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT EVERY BRAND HAS ITS FAULTS. I HAVE SEEN SEPARATIONS OF ALL KINDS IN EVERY BRAND. MY UNCLE ALWAYS BOUGHT A BRAND ( CHEAP ) BRAND THAT HE JUST CONSTANTLY HAD REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND HE LOVES IT. I GUESS GETTING NEW TIRES BEFORE THEY WEAR OUT IS OKAY BUT I DO WANT THEM TO LAST A LITTLE LONGER THAN 3 MONTHS AND THEN THERE IS THE RELIABILITY/ SAFETY FACTOR. I WAS LOOKING AT THE OTHER THREE TIRES ON MY TRUCK THAT HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED AND I NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDE WALL. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO STATE I AM NOT AN IDIOT I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORDS BEING WRAPPED TOO TIGHT AND A BULGE. SO FIRST I NOTICED THE LR THEN THE LF SO I CHECKED THE RR (THERE WAS NO PROBLEM) THAT WAS THE ONE REPLACED ABOUT 3 WEEK AGO THEN I WENT TO THE RF AND THE SAME THING WAS GOING ON. SO AS I CONTINUED TO INSPECT THE TIRES I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT WAS ODD. ALL OF THE BULGES WERE IN OR NEAR THE SAME PLACE ON THE TIRE. YOU SEE THEY HAVE A FLAG EMBLEM ON THEM AND I FOUND THAT OUT AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF WHERE EVERY BULGE WAS. I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO STATE THIS IS A NEW TRUCK SO I KNOW EVERY INCH VERY WELL. SO THE LR RIGHT THROUGH THE FLAG. THE LF 1 INCH TO THE LEFT OF THE FLAG AND THE RF AROUND THE SAME. I THINK THIS IS WEIRD AND AM SURE THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME FORTH AND SAY THE SAME. SO TOMORROW I WILL GO DOWN AND HAVE THEM INSPECTED HOPEFULLY REPLACED AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. IT IS PROBABLY JUST ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND THEY WILL REPLACE AND SEEING HOW I HAVE THE TIRE INSURANCE I GUESS I CAN CONSIDER MY SELF LUCKY IT IS ONLY GOING TO COST ME $16.00 FOR LABOR AND DISPOSAL, BUT FOR THOSE WHO THOUGHT OH I DON'T NEED IT AS I DID MANY TIMES BEFORE I WORKED AT A TIRE STORE IT SUCKS !! THE TIRES WEREN'T CHEAP AT AROUND $600.00+. SO IF YOU ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LET ME AND OTHER PEOPLE KNOW BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER 235/75/15 FIRESTONE PROBLEM. [email protected] *JB

DT: 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONSUMER STATES THE TREAD ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON I17 AT 55 MPH. THE TREAD WENT AROUND THE AXLE AND CAUSED DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK, AND THE CONSUMER HEARD A BUMP. SHE PULLED OVER. THE SPARE TIRE WAS PUT ON, AND THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED SHE NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE STATED SHE HAD TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THE TIRE SIZE IS P225/70R15.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE, THAT UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARED THE TIRE WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER AN OVER-DEFLATED STATE. *JB

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.

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

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

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HINGES UNDER THE HOOD. MANUFACTURER OR DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK

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

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

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

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE JUST BROKE NO LOAD ON TAILGATE. TAILGATE WAS DOWN TO SAVE FUEL. CABLE BROKE IN THE MIDDLE APPEARS TO BE RUSTED.(THE WIRE). *AK

INCORRECT WHEEL BASE, NO APPARENT PHYSICAL DAMAGE, PROBLEM HAS BEEN SINCE PURCHASE. IT CAUSE BRAKES TO GRAB/CHATTER, STEERING TO LOCK ON BRAKING AND EXTREME PULLING IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION TO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. NEARLY HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON WHEN STEERING LOCKED ON BRAKING AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION NEARLY AVOIDED HITTING A CAR AS BRAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T STOP VEHICLE CORRECTLY (NOT ABS RELATED-BRAKES GRAB/RELEASE/GRAB UNEVENLY ALLOWING VEHICLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD)*JB

DURING HIGH WINDS IN THE RIVERSIDE,CALIFORNIA AREA THE BED LINER OF MY 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER WAS SUCKED FROM THE BED OF THE TRUCK. INSIDE OF THE BED AT THE TIME WERE PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE ALSO EJECTED WITH THE BED LINER. THIS TRUCK WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW ONLY 9 MONTHS EARLIER AND THE BED LINER WAS FACTORY INSTALLED AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE TRUCK ACCESSORY PACKAGE. THE BED LINER WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE PERSONAL ITEMS. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO CONFIRMATION IT APPEARS THERE COULD BE ONE FATALITY AND DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING MY OWN ALTHOUGH MINOR, INCLUDE, SCRATCHES. *JB

A/C FAN SWITCH GONE BAD. REPLACED PART. I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF TRUCK AND SIMILAR YEAR THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK