Complaints about the 2002 Nissan Frontier peaked in 2003, with 24 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Pickup, gasoline, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Nov 6, 2001 to Dec 18, 2024.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10V-554 | Nov 11, 2010 | Over time corrosion may form in the lower steering column joint and limit movement of the joint | Steering | 500,552 | Part replacement |
| 09E-025 | May 11, 2009 | These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated… | Lighting | 42,540 | Refund or buyback |
| 09E-012 | Apr 7, 2009 | These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated… | Lighting | 16,270 | Refund or buyback |
| 06E-064 | Jul 17, 2006 | Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles | Lighting | 4,029 | Part replacement |
| 06E-023 | Mar 13, 2006 | Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles | Lighting | 292,000 | Part replacement |
| 04V-230 | May 24, 2004 | On certain pickup trucks equipped with six cylinder engines and sport utility vehicles equipped with four or six cylinder engines, the fuel pump… | Fuel system | 586,196 | Part replacement |
| 02V-299 | Nov 12, 2002 | On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, water may enter the rear axle housing due to inadequate sealing of the anti-lock braking… | Suspension | 143,000 | Part replacement |
| 02V-298 | Nov 12, 2002 | On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with a supercharger, under certain conditions, such as full throttle in low gear when… | Speed control | 5,000 | Software update |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
124 complaints on file, page 1 of 7.
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 complaint 11631479The 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 complaint 11466280The 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 complaint 11446902SEAT 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 complaint 11398532NHTSA 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 complaint 11317359END 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 complaint 11255455SIRS, WHEN I STOP MY PICK UP YOU CAN FEEL A STRONG GAS ODOR, I LOOK AROUND AND FOUND NO LEAKS, PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint 11209463TL* 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 complaint 11149469ELECTRICAL 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 complaint 11094161I 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 complaint 11019868TAKATA 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 complaint 11006306TL* 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 complaint 10994194RADIATOR 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 complaint 10991208TL* 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 complaint 10968287DURING 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 complaint 10955687WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL SHAFT SNAPPED AND THEN I FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10944146BRAKES FAILED ON PUBLIC ROADWAY, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO WALL TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint 10919808IN 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 complaint 10807967TL* 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 complaint 10794633TL* 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 complaint 10789552Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.