IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING "PARTS" FELL OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DLR WHO ALSO STATED THEY PERFORMED A FULL INSPECTION OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM. 1 WEEK LATER "PARTS" FELL OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION. *MR
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 →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
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 reportsWHEN AIR CONTROLS ARE LEFT AT COOL AND THE BUTTON IS SET FOR FRESH AIR, THERE IS A LOT OF WARM AIR COMING INTO THE TRUCK THE FRESH AIR COOLING IS MOLDED POORLY NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH COOL AIR TO RUN INTO THE TRUCK.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT IN PARK WITH NO WARNING GEARS SWITCHED TO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER SEAT AREA OF CAB SOURCE IS PROBABLY CENTER CARRIER BEARING OF DRIVE SHAFT. DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AT 156MILES AFTER CONFIRMING PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVE. BUT STILL HAS VIBRATION DEALER MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT REPAIR THEN ON THIRD TIME IN SHOP SAID IT WAS NORM…
Read full complaint
ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER SEAT AREA OF CAB SOURCE IS PROBABLY CENTER CARRIER BEARING OF DRIVE SHAFT. DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT AT 156MILES AFTER CONFIRMING PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVE. BUT STILL HAS VIBRATION DEALER MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT REPAIR THEN ON THIRD TIME IN SHOP SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I FILED UNDER FL LEMON LAW AND MANUFACTURER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. BUT TRUCK STILL HAS VIBRATION, IT IS NOW MUCH MORE SEVERE AT 13000 MILES AND I AAM STILL PURSUING REPURCHASE UNDER FL LEMON LAW. I THINK YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT AS I HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF ANOTHER TRUCK WHERE THE CARRIER FAILED SUCH THAT THE REPAIRING DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT HE SHOULDNT DRIVE HIS TRUCK UNTIL THE BEARING WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HIS TRUCK WAS REPURCHASED BY NISSAN.*AK
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THEY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OVER AN ENBANKMENT. DRIVER INJURED ANKLE WHILE TRYING TO APPLY FAILED BRAKES.*AK
FUSE FOR AT CONTROLLER BLEW CAUSING A NO START SITUATION AND RESULTED IN VEHICLE HAVING TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE SAME FUSE HAS BLOWN SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN END OF MARCH, 2002. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 2 TIMES WITH PROBLEM ALREADY AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED OR RESOLVED. VEHICLE IS NOW BACK IN …
Read full complaint
FUSE FOR AT CONTROLLER BLEW CAUSING A NO START SITUATION AND RESULTED IN VEHICLE HAVING TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE SAME FUSE HAS BLOWN SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN END OF MARCH, 2002. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 2 TIMES WITH PROBLEM ALREADY AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED OR RESOLVED. VEHICLE IS NOW BACK IN DEALERSHIP FOR 3RD TIME WITH SAME PROBLEM.
ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON DASHBOARD. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ABOUT 5 TIMES.*AK *JG
WHILE TRAVELING 80MPH ON INTERSTATE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ACCELERATOR WENT TO 30MPH FROM 80MPH. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
THE NISSAN SPEED LIMITER ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 80MPH CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THE SPEED LIMITER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START BUCKING BACK AND FORTH IS NORMAL AND HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THERE IS NO INFORMATION ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WARNING THEM THAT THERE IS A SPEE…
Read full complaint
THE NISSAN SPEED LIMITER ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 80MPH CAUSING ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THE SPEED LIMITER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START BUCKING BACK AND FORTH IS NORMAL AND HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THERE IS NO INFORMATION ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WARNING THEM THAT THERE IS A SPEED LIMITER ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT MIGHT POSSIBLY ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE SPEED LIMITER ON MY VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS THEY CLAIM, THEN ALL NISSAN MAKES AND MODELS WOULD BE AFFECTED. *AK
WHEN PUSHING IN CLUTCH, WHEN A/C OR DEFROST IS ENGUAGED ENGINE IDLES HIGH BETWEEN 1500-2000 RPMS IDLE SEEMS TO FLUCTUATE WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR IN NEUTRAL IDLE IS NORMAL*AK
Official recalls
410V554000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.