Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
170–25K
1025–50K
1550–75K
875–100K
16100–150K
8150K+
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
What owners actually said
124 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2003
Exterior Lighting
2002 NISSAN FONTIER CREWCAB. THE 3RD TAILIGHT/STOPLIGHT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE ROOF HAS A DESIGN FLAW. FIRST WATER FILLS THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY THEN IT LEAKS INTO THE CAB. THE CARPET IN THE TRUCK IS NOW RUINED, ALONG WITH THE HEADLINER. A HEAVY DOWNPOUR WILL FORCE CUPS OF WATER INTO THE CAB - NOT JUST A FEW DROPS. SEE ODI#10025…
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2002 NISSAN FONTIER CREWCAB. THE 3RD TAILIGHT/STOPLIGHT THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE ROOF HAS A DESIGN FLAW. FIRST WATER FILLS THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY THEN IT LEAKS INTO THE CAB. THE CARPET IN THE TRUCK IS NOW RUINED, ALONG WITH THE HEADLINER. A HEAVY DOWNPOUR WILL FORCE CUPS OF WATER INTO THE CAB - NOT JUST A FEW DROPS. SEE ODI#10025784 - AS MINE IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A NISSAN SERVICE BULLITIN OR A RECALL.
GENERAL GRABBER AW (225-75-15). I ALMOST HAD THREE ROLLOVERS WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON IN THE TRUCK. ENTERING I-24 W EXIT 78 HEADING FROM MURFREESBORO TO NASHVILLE. I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS NOT OVER 35MPH. I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER. THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. YOU CAN TELL BY VI…
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GENERAL GRABBER AW (225-75-15). I ALMOST HAD THREE ROLLOVERS WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON IN THE TRUCK. ENTERING I-24 W EXIT 78 HEADING FROM MURFREESBORO TO NASHVILLE. I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS NOT OVER 35MPH. I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER. THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. YOU CAN TELL BY VISUAL INSPECTIONS. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10030552
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Exterior Lighting
3RD STOP/TAILLIGHT ON MY 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER FILLS WITH WATEREVERY 1500 MILE REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHOUT CORRECTION. THIS LIGHT IS INSTALLED FOR A SAFETY REASON SO I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10025784
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2003
Electrical System
VEHICLE SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALL ELECTRIC FAILS AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 20-25 MINUTES. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 17, 2003. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON MAY 29, 2003 VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. ALL ELECTRIC FAILED AGAIN. VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER …
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VEHICLE SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALL ELECTRIC FAILS AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 20-25 MINUTES. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 17, 2003. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ON MAY 29, 2003 VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. ALL ELECTRIC FAILED AGAIN. VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 20-25 MINUTES AND DRIVEN TO DEALER. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR FOUR DAYS AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HARNESS. ON JUNE 11, 2003 VEHICLE SHUT OFF AGAIN. VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 20-25 MINUTES. WILL CALL DEALER TO STATE THAT SHUT DOWN PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10021445
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022439
200 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE RATTLE DURING COLD STARTS. SEVERITY AND DURATION CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY. SOME DAYS MORE PRONOUNCED AND LASTS AS LONG A 10-12 SEC, OTHERS NOT TO NOTICABLE AND LASTS3-5- SECS.
NHTSA ODI #10019836
5,000 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING, SEVERE VEHICLE VIBRATION/JERKING AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 80 MPH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATE WHEN FIRST OCCURED. NO WHERE IN OWNERS MANUAL IS THIS LIMITER STATED, NOR WHY IT IS SO SEVERE.
NHTSA ODI #10007609
200 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE VIBRATION WHIL EDRIVING IN RAIN OR OVER BUMPS/SPEED BUMPS OR STEEP GUTTER DRAINS.
NHTSA ODI #10007606
4,500 miles · Feb 16, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE FAILURE, 1ST REPAIR-NOTHING FOUND. 2ND (DIFF DEALER)-BRAKE CONTROL SWITCH ADJUST. 3RD-REFUSE TO REPAIRFAILURE. 4TH (DIFF DEALER) REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM EXCPET COMPUTER CONTROL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2002 Nissan Frontier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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