RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Frontier Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
11
Latest Nov 5, 2018
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.
9%
of 124 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 body or structure

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

Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE SERVICED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11149469
Incident
Jul 11, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureFuel systemSuspension
Filed Jul 19, 2017

TAKATA INFLATORS: UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A SUPERCHARGER AND IT WILL NOT GET THE FUEL MILEAGE AS A FOUR-CYLINDER VEHICLE I SHOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH THIS MUCH GAS AND I DO NOT HAVE MY FOOT IN IT ALL THE TIME ALSO MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT IS ABOUT TO DISMANTLE FROM THE FLOOR THERE IS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHICH I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS WHAT IS CAUSING SENSOR PROBLEMS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW ON AGAIN. I HAVE HAD OVER $3000 OF MY OWN MONEY PUT INTO THIS TRUCK ALONG WITH ANOTHER USED MOTOR AND SUPERCHARGER PUT IN RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THIS TRUCK USED I WOULD NOT HAVE PREFERRED THEM BUYING USED I WANTED REMANUFACTURED BUT IT WAS NOT MY CHOICE THEY SAID. THE BED OF THE TRUCK IS ALSO RIDING OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM I ALSO HAVE TO REDO AGAIN WHICH I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES. AND FOR A SUPERCHARGER IT SHOULD HAVE A LOT MORE POWER THAN IT DOES. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT I HAVE SPENT SO FAR RECEIPTS AND I DO NOT EVEN LIKE TAKING THE HIGHWAY AT TIMES BECAUSE I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT SAFE ENOUGH TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AND I SHOULD NOT FEEL THAT WAY WHEN I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NOT EVEN A YEAR AGO. THIS IS THE FIRST USED TRUCK I HAVE EVER PURCHASED WHERE I HAVE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER NOT TO BLAME MYSELF TO USE DEALERSHIP OR THE TRUCK ITSELF I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE TRUCK AT FIRST SIGHT BUT I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. WHEN IT RAINS AND I'M ON THE HIGHWAY I WILL LOSE POWER ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WELL ALMOST SHUT OFF I WILL HAVE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN PROCEED IF I STILL IN LOSING POWER I WILL HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AGAIN AND THEN WAIT UNTIL THE TRUCK IS READY IN ORDER FOR IT TO HAVE ITS POWER BACK I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I'M NOT SURE IF TOO MUCH RAIN IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE AND I'M NOT SURE WHY

NHTSA ID
11006306
Incident
Feb 10, 2017
Mileage
65 mi
Body & structureFuel systemSteering
Filed Oct 12, 2015

THE FRAME ON THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE DUE TO PERSISTENT CORROSION WHICH ALSO CARRIES THROUGHOUT OTHER PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE LIKE THEIR STEERING. IN MY CASE, THE RUST IS SETTLING IN AND CAUSING THE FRAME TO DETERIORATE DESPITE IT ONLY HAVE 69K MILES. THE CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY HAVING THE VEHICLE CRUMBLE DURING USE. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET BY OTHER OWNERS. HTTP://WWW.NISSANFORUMS.COM/PATHFINDER/117181-RUSTED-FRAME.HTML HTTP://NISSANPROBLEM.COM/2002-NISSAN-FRONTIER-STRUCTURE-FRAME-AND-MEMBERS-UNDERBODY-SHIELDS-PROBLEMS-DEFECTS/ HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_FRONTIER.HTML

NHTSA ID
10781378
Incident
Oct 12, 2015
Mileage
69,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2012

WHILE HAVING MINOR COSMETIC REPAIRS DONE, OUR [REPUTABLE] BODY SHOP REPAIRMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FRONT RADIATOR SUPPORT FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS TRUCK IS SOLID. I AM METICULOUS ABOUT IT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF DEFECT ON THIS AREA FOR IT TO BE 90% DETERIORATED! THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH CAUSES IT TO CRUMBLE...IN THE PAST, EVEN TOYOTA HAS STOOD BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES WITH CORROSION ISSUES...I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE NISSAN COULD LOOK INTO THIS THE SAME WAY...ITS A REAL SHAME THAT I CAN ONLY SEE ANOTHER YEAR MAYBE BEFORE MY RADIATOR FALLS OUT AND CAUSES SOMETHING MUCH WORSE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10465425
Incident
Jul 12, 2012
Mileage
144,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 1, 2011

2002 NISSAN FRONTIER PICK UP. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A SERIOUS CORROSION PROBLEM IN THE UNDER BODY; ESPECIALLY THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TGW AN INSPECTION REVEALED MAJOR RUST IN THE UNDER BODY. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, A METAL GUARD COVERING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUSTED OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10433378
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Body & structure
Filed May 14, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER DOUBLE CABIN SUPER-CHARGE. THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AT 2 MPH AND WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FLIPPED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT FEET IN THE AIR AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT WAS SEVERELY INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

NHTSA ID
10227796
Incident
Dec 3, 2006
Mileage
63,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Nov 7, 2007

WATER GETS IN THE SEAL OF THE UPPER REAR TAIL LIGHT/CARGO LIGHT. THE WATER LEAKS THROUGH DAMAGING THE HEADLINER AND CARPET. ALSO BLEW MY FUSE AND NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK IN IT, AS WELL AS BLOWING OUT THE FUSE EVERY TIME I REPLACE IT. THERE IS STILL NO UPDATED VERSION OR RECALL FOR IT ALL YOU CAN DO IS GET A NEW ONE AND HOPE IT LASTS A LITTLE LONGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208158
Incident
Oct 30, 2006
Mileage
64,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 25, 2007

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS "ALL" MY DOOR SEALS HAVE LOST THEIR BONDING! I'VE HAD TO USE TWO-SIDED TAPE, AND A VARIETY OF GLUES, OF WHICH LAST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THEY TOO EVENTUALLY FAIL. DOES NISSAN HAVE ANY RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS TYPE OF ISSUE? *JB

NHTSA ID
10180739
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2006
1 injury reported

2002 FRONTIER DOOR CLOSED ON CONSUMERS HAND. *TS THE DOOR SMASHED THE CONSUMER RIGHT INDEX FINGER BREAKING THE BONE. THE RF/LF DOOR STAY BRACKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10165802
Incident
Mar 7, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Jul 25, 2006
1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING SIDE DOOR CLOSED WITHOUT WARNING, BREAKING THE FINGERS OF THE CONTACT. THE DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON OTHER OCCASIONS NO MATTER HOW FAR OPEN IT WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT STAY BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10163420
Incident
Mar 7, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2003
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE FRAME WAS BENT IN THE FRONT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FRAME, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY SUPPORT FOR THE FRAME, CAUSING THE FRAME TO BEND ONCE AGAIN AFTER REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040043

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 .