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2002 Nissan Frontier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Nissan Frontier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

74 reports with mileage · 50 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
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142,000 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

SEAT 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 …

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SEAT 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 ODI #11398532

105,208 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Air BagsCrash

THE CAR HIT FROM FRONT WHERE THE SENSOR OF THE AIRBAGS ARE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EXPLODE WHEN THEY WHERE SUPPOSED TO. SO WE WANT TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE WHAT ABOUT IF THE DRIVER WOULD OF GOTTEN HURT OR HAVE HAD HEAD INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324787

50,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Air BagsEquipment

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH KEEP BLINKING IN THE OFF/ON POSITION. TURN THE AIRBAG OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT STARTED BLINKING AND KEEPS BLINKING WHILE TRUCK IS RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254782

22,000 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN AN AMBULANCE HIT THE CONTACT HEAD ON AT 30-40 MPH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND OPERATED CORRECTLY HOWEVER, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WERE NOT ANY AIR BAG…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN AN AMBULANCE HIT THE CONTACT HEAD ON AT 30-40 MPH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND OPERATED CORRECTLY HOWEVER, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WERE NOT ANY AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED. UPDATED 7/5/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159833

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 TO 65 MPH, CONSUMER STATES LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004210

Official recalls

4

10V554000 · Steering:column

Nov 11, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

04V230000 · 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.

02V298000 · Vehicle Speed Control

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 THE ENGINE IS NOT FULLY WARMED UP AND AT COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, THE AMOUNT OF INTAKE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE AIR FLOW METER MAY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM PRESET DIAGNOSIS LIMIT VALUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM TO GO INTO THE FAILSAFE MODE. UNDER THIS CONDITION, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT EXCEED 2400 RPM REGARDLESS OF THE THROTTLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 15, 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.

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.