IllustrationTRANSMISSION BURNING FLUID SMELL, WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED SEAT BELTS DON'T RECOIL SEATS TOO LOW
2001 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Frontier years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Frontier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1325–50K
1450–75K
1375–100K
20100–150K
5150K+
77 reports with mileage · 57 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
8 reportsWHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN R…
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WHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN REVERSE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. *TR
WAS DRIVING IN TENNESSEE ON HIGHWAY 81.I FOUND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE SPEED UP GOING TO THE TOP OF THE HILLS, THE NEXT DAY WE FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS A LITTLE LOW AND GOT TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOW WE ARE HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. WE BROUGHT IT TO NISSAN TO HAVE IT TESTED, AND THEY GIVE US WELL WE'LL CHANGE THE FLUID AN…
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WAS DRIVING IN TENNESSEE ON HIGHWAY 81.I FOUND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE SPEED UP GOING TO THE TOP OF THE HILLS, THE NEXT DAY WE FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS A LITTLE LOW AND GOT TRANSMISSION FLUID. NOW WE ARE HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. WE BROUGHT IT TO NISSAN TO HAVE IT TESTED, AND THEY GIVE US WELL WE'LL CHANGE THE FLUID AND MAY BE THAT WILL HELP. OR IT COULD BE THIS OR THAT OR SOMETHING ELSE. I'M AFRAID THEY ARE GOING TO NICKEL AND DIME ME TO DEATH. *TR
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH LOST POWER AND VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT WOULD OPERATE IN SECOND GEAR (AUTO TRANSMISSION). *JB
THE TRUCK HAS BEEN GIVING ME TOO MANY PROBLEMS THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT THEY SAID IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM THAT IT WAS MINE FROM THE MOMENT I TOOK IT OUT OF THE DEALER. *JB
MANUAL TRANSMISSION BEARINGS HAVE WORN OUT EARLY.*AK
CONTINUAL & INTERMITTENT VERY LOUD NOISE IN AREA OF CLUTCH, THROWOUT BEARING AND/OR PILOT BEARING ON STARTUP. ONLY GOES AWAY AFTER RELEASING CLUTCH PEDAL.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
304V230000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
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 TERMINAL ON THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT CAN DEVELOP A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC MOLDING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TERMINAL STRIP TO CORRODE UNDER SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: IN THE FOLLOWING STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT. THESE STATES ARE CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THE OTHER STATES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP TERMINAL ON THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE UNIT. IF THERE IS NOT CORROSION, THE DEALER WILL APPLY SEALANT TO THE TERMINAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION IN THE FUTURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
02V299000 · Suspension:rear
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 SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE FOR WATER INTRUSION AND ANY AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. THE ABS SENSOR WILL BE RESEALED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
02V300000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Nov 12, 2002
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND WHEN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE IS BEING SOLD, FUEL COULD SPILL FROM THE FILLER INLET AS THE TANK IS BEING FILLED. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02052 · Fuel Spill During Refueling
Opened Jun 20, 2002 · Closed Dec 3, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.