IllustrationA/C FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASON, WAS A WARRANTY RECALL FOR SAME ISSUE IN FIRST 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
2003 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
100–25K
1225–50K
1150–75K
975–100K
17100–150K
1150K+
60 reports with mileage · 17 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
4 reportsWHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY IN RAIN STORMS, VEHICLE STALLED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT WATER WAS BEING SUCKED INTO THE AIR FILTER FROM THE WHEEL WELL. *AK VEHICLE WOULD KNOCK AND SPUTTER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. AIR FILTER SUCKS WATER FROM AROUND THE WHEEL AREA. *TC
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURE FOR STALLING. DEALER DID NOT PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. SCOTTSDALE NISSAN, 7000 EAST MCDOWELL ROAD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85257.408-994-0301. GENERAL MANAGER MARK JOHNSON. *AK
VEH HAD 2400 MI AT DATE OF INCIDENT. THE CLAMP TO RADIATOR HOSE BROKE CUASING TO LEAK RADIATOR FLUID. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY REQUESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. I WAS OUT OF STATE, BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUNGH TO PLACE AN AFTERMARKET HOSE CLAMP ON THE HOSE (SOMETHING A BIT MORE STURDY) ALSO THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MA…
Read full complaint
VEH HAD 2400 MI AT DATE OF INCIDENT. THE CLAMP TO RADIATOR HOSE BROKE CUASING TO LEAK RADIATOR FLUID. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY REQUESTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. I WAS OUT OF STATE, BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUNGH TO PLACE AN AFTERMARKET HOSE CLAMP ON THE HOSE (SOMETHING A BIT MORE STURDY) ALSO THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN MAKING A VERY NOISEY SQWEEK WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS. I WILL HAVE THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT THAT AS WELL.*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.
02V316000 · Wheels:rim
Nov 26, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V6 ENGINE, AN INCORRECT SIZE WHEEL RIM FOR THE SPARE TIRE WAS PROVIDED IN THESE VEHICLES. THE WHEEL RIM DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY AS A REPLACEMENT FOR A FRONT WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEN INSTALLED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE WHEEL RIM WILL CONTACT THE BRAKE CALIPER CAUSING A LOUD RUBBING NOISE AND COULD RESULT IN WEAR ON THE CALIPER AND/OR WHEEL RIM IF DRIVING CONTINUES. CONTINUED USAGE OF THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL AT THE FRONT LOCATION CAN ALSO RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE LUG NUTS AND DETERIORATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FORM THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL RIM WITH A NEW ONE, AND REMOUNT THE SPARE TIRE ON IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 13, 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.