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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 →
124Owner complaints

Model-year median: 64

4Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
78
1999189
2000134
2001124
200277
200366
2004532
2005
Compare all Frontier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Steering
13Vehicle Speed Control
13Fuel System, Gasoline
12
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
11Fuel/propulsion System
11Structure
11Suspension
9Exterior Lighting
7Power Train
7Air Bags
5Tires
5Equipment
3Unknown Or Other
3Engine
2Fuel System, Other
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes
2Visibility
2Child Seat
1Forward Collision Avoidance
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Steering complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
70,250 miles · Dec 11, 2010
Steering

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V554000 THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY TO MY 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER....MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING. I ALMOST CRASHED TWICE AND BUT MANAGED TO LAND THE TRUCK SAFELY ON A FRIEND'S MOTHER'S FRONT LAWN. AN EXPERIEN…

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NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V554000 THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY TO MY 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER....MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING. I ALMOST CRASHED TWICE AND BUT MANAGED TO LAND THE TRUCK SAFELY ON A FRIEND'S MOTHER'S FRONT LAWN. AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC ON SCENE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A STEERING COLUMN BREAK OFF LIKE THIS ONE DID. IT WAS TOWED BY A FLATBED FROM THERE AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE TO FIX IT. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE THIS WEEK, AND I DID BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, A 2009 FRONTIER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369995

70,412 miles · Apr 3, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, IT BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTRACT STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WOULD BE SERVICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. BY THAT TIME, THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, IT BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTRACT STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WOULD BE SERVICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. BY THAT TIME, THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,412.

NHTSA ODI #10223286

3,756 miles · Jan 15, 2004
SteeringTiresWheels

THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO FRONT TIRES CONTINUES TO FEATHER (WEAR OFF UNEVENLY) AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BY THE NISSAN DEALER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ACCORDING TO TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THE VEHICLE AS …

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THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO FRONT TIRES CONTINUES TO FEATHER (WEAR OFF UNEVENLY) AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BY THE NISSAN DEALER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ACCORDING TO TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THE VEHICLE AS INDICATED BY THE LOW ODOMETER READING (LESS THE 7,000 MILES AFTER A YEAR).

NHTSA ODI #10070429

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.