RADIATOR COOLANT MIXED WITH TRANSMISSON FLUID AND CAUSED $5595.00 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WILL NOT COVER IT.
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
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.
Power Train complaints
7 reportsWAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN S.C., WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MOTOR STARTED TO RACE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON, AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE FAILUREWAS RELATED TO RECALL #02V299000 REGARDING REAR AXLE. THE RECALL STATES THAT: 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. THIS COULD RESULT IN CORROSIO…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE FAILUREWAS RELATED TO RECALL #02V299000 REGARDING REAR AXLE. THE RECALL STATES THAT: 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. THIS COULD RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURRED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. HE STATED THAT ONE OF THE SEALS WAS BLOWN AND IT NOW HAS WATER IN IT. HE CALLED NISSAN, AND THEY SAID THAT THEREWAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. HE ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FOREIGN DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE PROBLEMWAS A DEFINITE ISSUE RELATING TO THE RECALL, AND THAT HE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT HE DRIVE ANYWHERE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE THE PROBLEM TO WORSEN. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE DROVE THE CAR THE WHEELS BECAME TO ROTATE, AND WHEN HE WENT TO PULL THE CAP OFF THERE WAS A MILKY SUBSTANCE, WHICH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE AXLE. FAILURE MILEAGE: DS
I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO BROWNS FAIRFAX NISSAN DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE OVERDRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING ON/OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SPOKE WITH A FEW MECHANICS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NISSANS WARRANTY, I WAS ADVISED TO CHECK T…
Read full complaint
I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO BROWNS FAIRFAX NISSAN DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE OVERDRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING ON/OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SPOKE WITH A FEW MECHANICS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NISSANS WARRANTY, I WAS ADVISED TO CHECK THE INTERNET. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, I LOCATED THE RECALLS AND FOUND MY CAR ON THEIR LISTINGS. I CALLED NISSANS RECALL DEPARTMENT, SPOKE WITH SOLOMON KIRK ABOUT THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY TRUCK. MR. KIRK WENT OVER NISSANS WARRANTY COVERAGE (COVERAGE LISTED BELOW) WITH ME, HE TOLD ME TO GO TO ANY DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD CALL THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I WAS BRINGING MY TRUCK IN REGARDING THE ISSUE WE COVERED. I TOLD MR. KIRK THAT IN THE PAST I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO BROWS FAIRFAX NISSAN. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO BROWNS FAIRFAX NISSAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 AND PICKED UP A RENTAL CAR. I RECEIVED A CALL THAT EVENING FROM CHARTER WELLS, THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD HAVE TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT. ON SEPTEMBER 26 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CHARTER WELLS, HE SAID THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED (RECALL ISSUE), I ASK HIM DID THAT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HE SAID NO BUT I WOULD NEED MY TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BECAUSE IT IS DIRTY. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT BEING REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE, I THOUGHT TO GO BACK TO MY MECHANIC FOR HIS ADVICE. I DID NOT HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 I WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND INFORMED HIM OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON MY TRUCK FROM BROWNS FAIRFAX NISSAN AND THE ISSUE WITH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT. OIL CHANGED AND TIRES BALANCED/ROTATED ISSUE HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE NISSANS WARRANTY. HE ALSO CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO SEE IF IT WAS DIRTY AND IT WASN'T. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVE LINE FAILED WHEN VEHICLE HAD APPROX 15K-18K MILES. *MR
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
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.
Illustration