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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.

About this comparison →

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

Fuel System, Other complaints

2 reports
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85,000 miles · Jul 24, 2008
Fuel System, Other

ON JUNE 30 MY NISSAN FRONTIER BROKE DOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE WEBSTER NISSAN OFFICE. I SPOKE WITH BRIAN AT NISSAN ON JULY 1ST AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK WOULD EITHER BE FIXED ON JULY 7/3 OR 7/8. THE PART THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE IS SAFETY RECALL FROM 2003 THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH FUEL SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK. I CONTACTED 1-800…

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ON JUNE 30 MY NISSAN FRONTIER BROKE DOWN. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE WEBSTER NISSAN OFFICE. I SPOKE WITH BRIAN AT NISSAN ON JULY 1ST AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK WOULD EITHER BE FIXED ON JULY 7/3 OR 7/8. THE PART THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE IS SAFETY RECALL FROM 2003 THAT IS AN ISSUE WITH FUEL SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK. I CONTACTED 1-800-NISSAN1 ON 7/3 IN SEARCH OF A LOANER CAR UNTIL THEY COULD GET MY TRUCK FIXED. GINGER AT 1-800-NISSAN1 OPENED A TICKET AND TOLD ME SOME ONE WOULD CONTACT AFTER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. I SPOKE CATHERINE THE REGION REPRESENTATIVE FOR NISSAN ON 7/7 AND SHE SAID THAT NISSAN WILL NOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR BECAUSE MY IS OFF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED TO HER THE REASON MY TRUCK BROKE DOWN WAS BECAUSE SAFETY RECALL PART THAT NISSAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. SHE SAID AGAIN NISSAN WILL NOT PROVIDE ME CAR. AFTER I SPOKE WITH CATHERINE : ON 7/7 BRIAN INFORMED ME THE PARTS THEY NEEDED ARE ON BACK ORDER AND IT COULD TAKE NINETY DAYS TO GET THE PART. I CONTACTED 1-800-NISSAN1 AGAIN AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE BACK ORDER ON THE PARTS. THEY HAD CATHERINE CONTACT ME 7/8 AND SHE MESSAGE AT HOME THAT THEY WILL TRY TO GET THE PART SOON. I CALLED CATHERINE BACK ON 7/8 AND ASK TO CALL ME BACK. CATHERINE CALLED ME 7/9/08 AND TOLD ME NISSAN STILL WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME A LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH IT'S NISSAN'S FAULT. SHE SAID IF OBTAIN A LAWYER SHE MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PART TO FIX MY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235699

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2003
Fuel System, Other

MY 2002 NISSAN PICKUP TRUCK HAS SOME SERIOUS GAS PEDAL ISSUES..... THE GAS PEDAL IS TO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE AND FREQUENTLY WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE YOU INADVERNTLY ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAMETIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10002951

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.