RoadVitals

2002 Nissan Frontier Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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 Jan 10, 2022
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.
0
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 steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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 steering

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

Steering
Filed Jan 10, 2022

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
Steering
Filed Sep 14, 2019

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
Steering
Filed Jan 10, 2017

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
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
Steering
Filed Dec 15, 2014

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
Steering
Filed Oct 7, 2014

I GOT A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO ME FOR LABOR AND PARTS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $208 TO REMOVE SOME RUSTED BOLTS THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO RECALLED PART.. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN CORP. THEY REVIEWED THE INFORMATION AND SENT ME A LETTER STATING "IT FALLS OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY". MY COMPLAINT IS, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR A RECALLED PART. IF THE PART WAS NOT FAULTY I WOULDN'T BE REMOVING THOSE BOLTS ANYWAY. I THINK NISSAN CORP. SHOULD INCUR ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THE RECALL ON THE "COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN RECALL". *TR

NHTSA ID
10641983
Incident
Sep 29, 2014
Mileage
199,887 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND MADE A CRACKING SOUND. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10641063
Incident
Sep 23, 2014
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 13, 2011

2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER STATES STEERING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER IS 80 MILES AWAY AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS MECHANIC PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10412698
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING:COLUMN). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS POSITIONED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS POSITIONED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD STEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER AND AUTHORIZED DEALER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,898. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ALIGNMENT WAS PROBABLY OFF. UPDATED 10/03/11

NHTSA ID
10407676
Incident
May 18, 2011
Mileage
93,898 mi
Steering
Filed May 9, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY PULL TOWARDS THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO NOTIFY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10399657
Incident
Dec 22, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 2010

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V554000 THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY TO MY 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER....MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING. I ALMOST CRASHED TWICE AND BUT MANAGED TO LAND THE TRUCK SAFELY ON A FRIEND'S MOTHER'S FRONT LAWN. AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC ON SCENE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A STEERING COLUMN BREAK OFF LIKE THIS ONE DID. IT WAS TOWED BY A FLATBED FROM THERE AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE TO FIX IT. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE THIS WEEK, AND I DID BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, A 2009 FRONTIER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369995
Incident
Dec 4, 2010
Mileage
70,250 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, IT BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTRACT STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WOULD BE SERVICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. BY THAT TIME, THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,412.

NHTSA ID
10223286
Incident
Jul 27, 2007
Mileage
70,412 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringTires & wheels
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO FRONT TIRES CONTINUES TO FEATHER (WEAR OFF UNEVENLY) AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BY THE NISSAN DEALER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ACCORDING TO TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THE VEHICLE AS INDICATED BY THE LOW ODOMETER READING (LESS THE 7,000 MILES AFTER A YEAR).

NHTSA ID
10070429
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Mileage
3,756 mi

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .