2003 Nissan Frontier Suspension Problems

I was driving and my truck started drifting and I felt like I was losing control. Could of caused a very serious and dangerous accident - scared me to death, had just bought this Nissan, and love the brand. Had great tires and brakes just completely done. Brought it to my mechanic and he put it up on the hoist. Frame almost completely rusted out and through in many spots. They were surprised it did not completely come apart! Extremely dangerous and they suspect like Toyota that maybe part of a NHTSA recall. I just checked and did not find one, but there should be, how many other un-safe Frontiers are out there be driven every day by the public. I can send pictures if needed, just need to ask mechanic to put back up on hoist, as he would not let me drive the car and it is still there. Horrific danger!

NHTSA ID

11577054

Incident

Mar 13, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED ALL THE TIRES WERE NORMAL. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LEAF SPRING FRACTURED, PULLING ALL CABLES AND CAUSED THE REAR END TO DETACH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10861752

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

I HEARD A SUDDEN THUD AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END AS IF A BRAKE HAD HUNG UP,METAL TO METAL.WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND A VERY STRONG SMELL OF OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES OR METAL AND FLUID.UPON PULLING THE WHEELS,OUR COMPANY MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING OF THE SORT TO BE WRONG. I CALLED A FRIEND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TRAILER-ED TO MONRO MUFFLER AND BRAKE IN MANSFIELD PA,WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BEARINGS HAD FAILED IN THE REARS,BOTH INNER AND OUTER. NISSAN USA DETERMINED THAT MY VIN # DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN EVEN THOUGH IT FELL WITHIN THE SAME MAKE,MODEL AND YEAR WITHIN RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V299000! NISSAN ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO WILLIAMS NISSAN IN SAYRE PA AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED THERE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CALLED THEM BEFORE CONTACTING NISSAN USA WHERE THEY HAD ALREADY ADVISED ME OF THE VIN # NOT BEING WITHIN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF NOT A FIRE OR BOTH! THIS CAME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING IN THE VERY EARLY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE WHO OWNS THESE MAKE,MODEL AND YEARS TO HAVE THIS CHECKED AND REPAIRED. I CANNOT BELIEVE NISSAN WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN SUCH AN EXACT CASE AS THIS PARTICULAR RECALL STATES. IN ESSENCE THIS DOES START WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND SEALS AS MONRO TOLD ME THE SEALS HAD FAILED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10548505

Incident

Oct 11, 2013

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BEARINGS ARE DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10421477

Incident

Aug 6, 2011

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN OCTOBER 2010, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC; THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10368350

Incident

Nov 29, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

2003 NISSAN FRONTIER WAS MAKING NOISES BECAUSE THE LEAF SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES HAD SNAPPED. *DT

NHTSA ID

10313174

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER XE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE ISSUE WAS FIRST EXPERIENCED AT 63,000 MILES AND THE CONTACT HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. CURRENTLY, AT 70,000 MILES, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. NISSAN HAS PROVIDED TO PAY FOR THE PART, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURES SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE FAILURES COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10258273

Incident

Jan 6, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER XE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO SMELLED OLD OIL. HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BREATHER TUBE WAS MISSING. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V299000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE ON THE FRONT END, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE REAR END. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10227593

Incident

Nov 16, 2007

Mileage

125,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS WATER IN THE REAR AXLE DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 02V299000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: REAR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10157736

Incident

May 17, 2006

Mileage

79,435 mi

VEH HAD 2400 MI AT DATE OF INCIDENT. THE CLAMP TO RADIATOR HOSE BROKE CUASING TO LEAK RADIATOR FLUID. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY REQUESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. I WAS OUT OF STATE, BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUNGH TO PLACE AN AFTERMARKET HOSE CLAMP ON THE HOSE (SOMETHING A BIT MORE STURDY) ALSO THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING A VERY NOISEY SQWEEK WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS. I WILL HAVE THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT THAT AS WELL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025174

Incident

Jun 27, 2003

Mileage

2,400 mi