IllustrationCONTINUAL & INTERMITTENT VERY LOUD NOISE IN AREA OF CLUTCH, THROWOUT BEARING AND/OR PILOT BEARING ON STARTUP. ONLY GOES AWAY AFTER RELEASING CLUTCH PEDAL.
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
What owners actually said
134 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARK AND NO WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
THIS IS ONE OF TWO 2001 FRONTIERS I OWN. BOTH HAVE HAD PREMATURE WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD. ALL OTHER PADS WERE FINE ON BOTH TRUCKS. IT SEMS THE PAD BCOMES LODGED IN THE CALIPER AND DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED.*AK
CATCH FOR FRONT DRIVERS SEATBELT FAILED. CATCH CRACKED AND WOULD NOT LOCK.*AK
R134A FILLED CAB WHEN HOSE LEAKED, NEAR ASPHYXIA FOLLOWED, EMS CALLED, TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. RELEASED 1WEEK LATER.*AKI
ON JUNE 12TH,2002, THE LEFT-SIDE TAILGATE OF MY 2001 FRONTIER TRUCK SPONTANEOUSLY DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AND, FOR THE SAKE OF MY SAFETY AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HENCE, WHILE I DROVE, THIS "DANGLING" TAILGATE CONTINUALLY BANGED THE BUMPER AND VARI…
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ON JUNE 12TH,2002, THE LEFT-SIDE TAILGATE OF MY 2001 FRONTIER TRUCK SPONTANEOUSLY DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AND, FOR THE SAKE OF MY SAFETY AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HENCE, WHILE I DROVE, THIS "DANGLING" TAILGATE CONTINUALLY BANGED THE BUMPER AND VARIOUS AREAS OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING PAINT DAMAGE, INDENTATIONS, AND A GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES/PEOPLE. THANKFULLY, THE TAILGATE DID NOT COMPLETELY FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE FURTHER INJURY AND/OR FATALITY TO MYSELF NOR THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES/PEOPLE. TO THIS DATE (TWO MONTHS AFTER INFORMING THE MANUFACTURER), MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND NO ONE FROM NISSAN HAS CONTACTED ME REGARDING RESOLVING AND REMEDYING THIS DEFECT AND GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON DASHBORD, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER MENTIONS THAT A CRASH OCCURRED WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND THERE WAS AN INJURY, HOWEVER DOES NOT GIVE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *TT
ANY TIME THE SUV REACHES SPEEDS GREATER THAN 95 MPH IT BEGINS JUMPING DANGEROUSLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SITUATION WITH AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. CONSUMER SPED UP TO 95 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AFTER SLOWING DOWN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A SPEED LIMIT…
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WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SITUATION WITH AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. CONSUMER SPED UP TO 95 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AFTER SLOWING DOWN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A SPEED LIMIT INSTALLED IN ENGINE WITHOUT NOTIFYING CONSUMER.*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.