RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
13
Latest Dec 18, 2024
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.
10%
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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 13 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 engine

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

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 18, 2024

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
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 4, 2015

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WITH A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE KNOCK SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND FOUR OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS EXHIBITED CORROSION AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING WEATHERPROOF DURING PRODUCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE SPENT CLOSE TO $2000 REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, AFTER REPLACING THE O2 SENSORS FOUR TIMES. ALSO, THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IT WAS NOT WEATHER PROOF WHICH CAUSED CORROSION IN THE WIRES, WHICH SENT INCORRECT SIGNALS TO THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/31/12

NHTSA ID
10438840
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND SENDING CO2 THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE MANIFOLD TO FRACTURE IN THE PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT DID NOT REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10425736
Incident
Sep 8, 2009
Mileage
15,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2011

SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES IN MY PICKUP CAB. I HAD A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM INSTALLED AND CHECK BY A MECHANIC. IT WAS OK. HE SAID I HAVE A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I CHECKED ON THE WWW AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS A NISSAN FRONTIER YEAR 2002. *TR

NHTSA ID
10378173
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 28, 2007

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES. FOR A LONG TIME, I'VE HEARD KINDA ABNORMAL NOISE. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE EXHAUST PIPES ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. ONE SIDE COSTS OVER $450 FROM DEALER. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND MANY PATHFINDER OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10201012
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 30, 2005

2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. ELECTRICAL COMPONENT; ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR. EXPERIENCING EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #05V319000. 1) NORMAL OPERATION LEADING TO FAILURE. 2) CONSEQUENCE; BATTERY AND BRAKE WARNING LAMPS COME ON AND BATTERY BEGINS TO DISCHARGE. ENGINE GOES INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, ENGINE WILL STOP AND COULD RESULT IN CRASH. 3) DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT PAYMENT BECAUSE THE FRONTIER DOES NOT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR RECALL AND THE DEALER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED THE 3YR WARRANTY LIMIT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 26 MONTHS AGO. *NM

NHTSA ID
10141235
Incident
Oct 28, 2005
Mileage
28,730 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
10053339
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2003
Crash reported

GENERAL GRABBER AW 225-70-15 STOCK ON 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER HAVE BELT SEPARATION IN THE SIDEWALLS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL TIRE (#55041). HAVE ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN TO HAVE A SPECIALIST CHECK IT OUT. COMPLAINT NUMBER [REQ:195685] <::2GD6LYFJIWV6OVJY:: > WITH JANE NATIONAL DIRECT MARKETING E-MAIL ADDRESS: NNACONSUMERAFFAIRS [[email protected]].*AK

NHTSA ID
10032958
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
42,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2003

ENGINE RATTLE DURING COLD STARTS. SEVERITY AND DURATION CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY. SOME DAYS MORE PRONOUNCED AND LASTS AS LONG A 10-12 SEC, OTHERS NOT TO NOTICABLE AND LASTS3-5- SECS.

NHTSA ID
10019836
Incident
May 20, 2002
Mileage
200 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2002

ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 5 TIMES.*AK *JG

NHTSA ID
8006291
Incident
Jan 21, 2002
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 29, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE ERRATICALLY, AND THEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION*AK.

NHTSA ID
8003129
Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 70 TO 75, UNDER ACCELERATION, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE'S RPMS DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 500 AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD NO GAS. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE TRUCK OFF I MADE SURE THAT THERE WAS GAS, AND STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT SEEMED TO RUN AT ABOUT THE CORRECT RPM SO I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK, AND ULTIMATELY SAID THAT IT WAS A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR (THE VEHICLE IS SUPERCHARGED) THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT TOO CONFIDENT IN THAT EXPLANATION. GOD WILLING, THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE TRUCK WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
756551
Incident
Dec 29, 2001

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 .