2002 Nissan Frontier Owner Complaints

The main issue on the Nissan Frontier that I just bought a few months ago that I need to report that I think should be recalled item is the passenger side exhaust manifold is cracked and it makes ticking noises the exhaust is loud and I am definitely getting exhaust fumes drawn into the cab especially when I turn the heater on now that it's winter time and it's getting CO2 carbon and exhaust fumes inside cab which is very toxic also the rear window defogger does not work and the cruise control does not work at all so anyway you're asking for what date this first occurred well it was like that when I bought it and I bought it on approximately in July of the summer 2024 it was all these issues were already broke when I got it I looked online and I see that the exhaust manifold is a very common problem and it is also a health hazard and toxic and could cause injury or death to passengers so I believe it should be and maybe is recalled I see online where some dealerships a few years ago already started fixing the issue for free before it was even recalled so I did a recall check and it says that there's no unfixed recalls on my vehicle but that exhaust manifold needs to be recalled and warranted because it's happening on a majority of those that means it's a bad design and it is also health hazard safety hazard health risk of injury or death because of it

NHTSA ID

11631479

Incident

Dec 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove home safely. The contact performed an inspection and noticed that the fuel pump was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V230000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11466280

Incident

May 24, 2022

Mileage

200,000 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V554000 (Steering). The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the U-joint replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in an active recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11446902

Incident

Jan 10, 2022

SEAT BELT LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNED ON AND CONTINUED FLASHING. THE DIAGNOSIS READ ON IT WAS TENSIONER ON SYSTEM RESTRAINT. SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE SRS LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH AND NOW HAS LOCKED MY SEAT BELTS. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE SO I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. ALL WIRING ON SENSORS ON THE SEAT BELT AND UNDER THE SEAT HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE SO THERE MUST BE A FAULTY SENSOR SOMEPLACE OR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO LOCK IN PLACE.

NHTSA ID

11398532

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

142,000 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V230000 APPLIES TO MY 2002 FRONTIER BUT IT IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE ITS VIN IS A SC(SUPERCHARGED) MODEL IT HAS THE SAME GASTANK,SENDING UNIT, ORINGS AS TRUCKS IN THE RECALL BUT MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL

NHTSA ID

11317359

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

END PLAY WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND AT REST. A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING LOOSE. AFTER LIFTING THE VEHICLE'S HOOD, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED (3) LOOSE BOLTS LOCATED IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN AREA JUST AHEAD OF THE SPLINE. THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN THE (3) BOLTS BUT END PLAY DID NOT GO AWAY. IS THERE A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE BOLTS, A BUSHING OR SLEEVE BEARING LOCATED WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, OR A FAILED SNAP RING WHICH PREVENTS A BUSHING OR SLEEVE BEARING FROM MOVING ALONG THE STEERING COLUMN? PLEASE REFER TO FIGURE 6 OF THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID

11255455

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

SIRS, WHEN I STOP MY PICK UP YOU CAN FEEL A STRONG GAS ODOR, I LOOK AROUND AND FOUND NO LEAKS, PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID

11209463

Incident

May 2, 2019

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

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING,AFFECTING BRAKE LIGHTS,RADIO,CRUISE CONTROL AND WARNING LIGHTS.THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE ,WHEN DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT ENGAGING,THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK ARE COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ID

11094161

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

1,693,371 mi

I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN FAIRFIELD CALIFORNIA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL, BUT THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. THEY NEVER GOT BACK TO ME AND IT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. IT WAS SO LONG AGO, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE DATE. I LIVE OUT OF STATE NOW, BUT STILL HAVE MY TRUCK AND WOULD LIKE IT FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

NHTSA ID

11019868

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO FAULT CODE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTED RECORDS FOR BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE ON SIMILAR VEHICLES REPORTED TO NISSAN CORPORATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID

10994194

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

76,000 mi

RADIATOR COOLANT MIXED WITH TRANSMISSON FLUID AND CAUSED $5595.00 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WILL NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10991208

Incident

May 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE THERE WAS CORROSION AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10968287

Incident

Mar 25, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT WILL FLASH REPEATEDLY ON AND OFF UNTIL ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCE. BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND REGULATOR HAVE BEEN TESTED. DURING USE AT NIGHT VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER AND DIM AS WELL AS DASHBOARD LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10955687

Incident

Feb 3, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL SHAFT SNAPPED AND THEN I FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944146

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

BRAKES FAILED ON PUBLIC ROADWAY, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO WALL TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

10919808

Incident

Jun 2, 2016

Mileage

152,280 mi

IN JUST UNDER 14 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, I NOW HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK A THIRD TIME DUE TO LEAKAGE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER, DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THIS HAPPENING. I BELIEVE THESE TANKS ARE A BAD DESIGN AND WITH POOR MATERIAL TO RUST OUT AND LEAK IN SUCH SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. I JUST CAN;T BELIEVE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN NUMEROUS INJURIES OR ANY DEATHS DUE TO THESE GAS TANKS. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE SECOND GAS TANK THAT WAS REPLACES ABOUT 6-7 YEARS AGO. AND YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN LEAKING. BY THE WAY. MY TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND I HAVE YET TO FIND SOMEONE THAT BELIEVES MY TRUCK IS THAT OLD DUE TO HOW NICE THAT IT STILL LOOKS INSIDE AND OUT.

NHTSA ID

10807967

Incident

Nov 27, 2015

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10794633

Incident

Nov 4, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10789552

Incident

Sep 11, 2015

Mileage

133,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE THEN DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. SEVERAL MILES INTO THE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10760765

Incident

Aug 16, 2015

Mileage

58,000 mi

WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN S.C., WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MOTOR STARTED TO RACE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON, AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10703705

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

192,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING) IN FEBRUARY OF 2013, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ID

10664317

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

225,000 mi

IN 2014 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK HAD A 3-4 INCH GAP. EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL (HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FIRE HAZARD). A SIMILAR REPORT WAS MADE IN: RECEIPT DATE: MAY 24, 2004 > NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V230000 > COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE THESE INCIDENTS MAY BE CONNECTED AND STILL OCCURRING I HAVE PHOTOS AND DOCUMENTATION FROM THE REPAIR MADE BY A NISSAN DEALER AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE GAP AND IF IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSE A FIRE, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND CASE # [XXX] WAS GENERATED. NO FURTHER ACTION ON THEIR PART HAS BEEN MADE TO INVESTIGATE THIS INCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10650003

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

49,121 mi