Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–134 of 134

2001 Nissan Frontier complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Dec 14, 200260,000 milesMD

CONTINUAL & INTERMITTENT VERY LOUD NOISE IN AREA OF CLUTCH, THROWOUT BEARING AND/OR PILOT BEARING ON STARTUP. ONLY GOES AWAY AFTER RELEASING CLUTCH PEDAL.

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Oct 15, 2002IN

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARK AND NO WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Oct 11, 2002IN

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Sep 11, 2002TX

THIS IS ONE OF TWO 2001 FRONTIERS I OWN. BOTH HAVE HAD PREMATURE WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD. ALL OTHER PADS WERE FINE ON BOTH TRUCKS. IT SEMS THE PAD BCOMES LODGED IN THE CALIPER AND DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Sep 4, 2002KS

CATCH FOR FRONT DRIVERS SEATBELT FAILED. CATCH CRACKED AND WOULD NOT LOCK.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1 injured
Filed Aug 23, 2002FL

R134A FILLED CAB WHEN HOSE LEAKED, NEAR ASPHYXIA FOLLOWED, EMS CALLED, TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. RELEASED 1WEEK LATER.*AKI

Structure › Body › Tailgate
Filed Aug 14, 2002CA

ON JUNE 12TH,2002, THE LEFT-SIDE TAILGATE OF MY 2001 FRONTIER TRUCK SPONTANEOUSLY DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AND, FOR THE SAKE OF MY SAFETY AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HENCE, WHILE I DROVE, THIS "DANGLING" TAILGATE CONTINUALLY BANGED THE BUMPER AND VARIOUS AREAS OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING PAINT DAMAGE, INDENTATIONS, AND A GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES/PEOPLE. THANKFULLY, THE TAILGATE DID NOT COMPLETELY FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE FURTHER INJURY AND/OR FATALITY TO MYSELF NOR THE SURROUNDING VEHICLES/PEOPLE. TO THIS DATE (TWO MONTHS AFTER INFORMING THE MANUFACTURER), MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND NO ONE FROM NISSAN HAS CONTACTED ME REGARDING RESOLVING AND REMEDYING THIS DEFECT AND GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor1 injured
Filed Jul 15, 2002MN

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, AND AIRBAG LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON DASHBORD, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER MENTIONS THAT A CRASH OCCURRED WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND THERE WAS AN INJURY, HOWEVER DOES NOT GIVE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THIS ACCIDENT. *TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 7, 2002CO

ANY TIME THE SUV REACHES SPEEDS GREATER THAN 95 MPH IT BEGINS JUMPING DANGEROUSLY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineCrash
Filed Jun 6, 2002TX

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SITUATION WITH AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. CONSUMER SPED UP TO 95 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AFTER SLOWING DOWN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A SPEED LIMIT INSTALLED IN ENGINE WITHOUT NOTIFYING CONSUMER.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 4, 2002NC

THIS NISSAN PICKUP HAS HAD A RANDOM STALL PROBLEM SINCE NEW. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES (AT LEAST FOUR, PERHAPS FIVE?) BUT IS SIMPLY RETURNED EACH TIME WITH THE COMMENT ' COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM'. I HAVE PURSUED THROUGH NISSAN'S 'CUSTOMER HOTLINE' BUT THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY IN DIAGNOSING A RANDOM PROBLEM BUT I DON'T REALLY FEEL AS IF MUCH EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT FORTH BY THE DEALERSHIP EITHER. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AS IT INVARIABLY DECIDES TO SHOW UP WHEN I AM IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC AND I FIND MYSELF STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION UNABLE TO MOVE. IT WILL SOMETIMES RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT BUT AGAIN MAY REQUIRE NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET RESTARTED. MOST RECENTLY, I LEFT WITH THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON MAY 31, 2002, AND WHEN I CONTACTED THEM YESTERDAY, JUNE 3, 2002, I RECEIVED THE SAME OLD REPORT, 'CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM'.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed Apr 16, 2002TX

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE, THE PEDDLE BEGAN TO MOVE IN A TAPPING MOTION AGAINST CONSUMERS FOOT, MAKING A LOUD NOISE WITH EACH TAP, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JG

Air Bags1 killed
Filed Apr 9, 2002DC

NHTSA LETTER RESPONDING TO CONGRESSMAN KEN CALVERT REGARDING CONSUMER WHO WROTE CONCERNING THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH INVOLVING A 2001 NISSAN SUPERCHARGER TRUCK, CONSUMERS HUSBAND DIED ON THE SCENE AND BELIEVES HE MAY HAVE SURVIVED IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, NHTSA IS REQUESTING MORE INFORMATION FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 7, 2002FL

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR MAKES DIFFICULT STOP. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 21, 2002TN

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND JERKS OCCASIONALLY. HAD REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Feb 22, 2002TN

WHEN ON THE VENT SETTING THE SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCES HOT AIR INTO THE TRUCK. I HAVE MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THIS AIR AT 118F WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 70 F. AFTER TRIPS TO TWO DEALERS AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE AIR VENTS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM ABOVE, THE PROBLEM IS NO BETTER.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Feb 6, 2002FL

BEING A FORMER MECHANIC AND OWNING A 1995 NISSAN PREVIOUSLY I AM APPALLED AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM.NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN BRAKING I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL PULSATE AND THE SYSTEM ONLY HAD MINIMAL BRAKING FORCE ALTHOUGH I APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL.I AM CERTAIN THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW,FOR I WOULD NEVER HAD THIS ACCIDENT IN MY 1995 NISSAN PICK-UP AND I'M CERTAIN SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Feb 5, 2002IL

APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF THE PERFORATED HOLES IN THE AIR INTAKE COWL WERE NOT PROPERLY PERFORATED OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE AIR CONDITIONER MUST BE OPERATED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE COOL DURING ALL BUT VERY COLD OUTSIDE CONDITIONS. THIS IS COSTLY AT THE LEAST, BUT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF HAZARDOUS FUMES EVER GOT INTO THE PASSENGER CAB. MY FIRST TRIP TO THE DEALER GOT THE RESPONSE THAT "ALL FRONTIERS ARE THAT WAY". A CALL TO NISSAN NO. AMERICA, REFERRING TO YOUR COMPLAINT ODI ID: 897023 ADVISED THAT ALL THE PERFORATIONS ARE NOT PIERCED AS A DESIGN FEATURE THAT VARIES BETWEEN MODELS". EVEN IF ALL THE PERFORATIONS WERE PIERCED, THE TOTAL FREE AREA WOULD ONLY BE 1.5 SQUARE INCHES WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH IN MY OPINION O SUPPORT ADEQUATE FRESH AIR INTAKE. EVEN IF ALL THE PERFORATIONS WERE ELININATED AND JUST THE SMALL GRIDS WERE LEFT, THE FREE AREA WOULD BE 12.98 SQUARE INCHES WHICH IS PROBABLY "JUST RIGHT" FOR THE FAN. ALL THE FRONTIERS AND XTERRA HAVE THIS TYPE OF COWL GRILL. IT IS A GREAT MONEY SAVING IDEA SINCE AN OPEN MESH SCREEN IS USED IN SOME OF NISSAN'S MODELS AND THAT HAS THE COST OF THE SCREEN AND THE LABOR TO PLACE AS AN ADDED COST. WITH A SECOND TRIP TO THE DEALER, A SCRATCH AWL WAS INSERTED IN EACH GRID AT MY INSISTANCE TO AT LEAST OPEN UP THE GRIDS, BUT THE PLASTIC STILL COVERS THE OPEN AREAS. CAN NISSAN ADVISE IF THEIR DRAIN IS CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING SMALL DEBRIS THAT COULD GET THROUGH AN OPEN GRID? *SLC

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Jan 29, 2002TN

WHEN ON THE VENT SETTING HOT AIR FLOWS CONTINUOUSLY INTO THE TRUCK EVEN THOUGH THE TEMPERATURE IS SET ON THE COLDEST SETTING. TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN MEASURED AT 118F WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 70 F. AFTER TRIPS TO TWO DEALERS AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE AIR VENTS THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. EFFORTS TO REQUEST THAT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HAVE MET WITH STATEMENTS OF THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. THIS CONTINUOS INTRODUCTION OF HEAT INTO THE INTERIOR SERIOUSLY IMPACTS PASSENGER COMFORT AND THE OPERATION OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash
Filed Jan 24, 2002CA

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER MOTORIST COLLIDED WITH HER ON HIGHWAY. SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit BreakersFire
Filed Jan 22, 2002MO

THE FUSE PANEL OF THIS NEW TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES ON 12-17-01 , WHILE IT WAS UNDER FACTORY AND ADDITIONAL MANUFATURER WARANTY AND AS OF 1-22-01 THEY HAVE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 15, 2001FL

FELT AS THOUGH SEATBELT WAS JUST BEHAVING "DIFFERENT." LOOKED AT SEATBELT ANCHOR AND FOUND DRIVER'S SIDE BOLT WAS NEARLY COMPLETELY UNSCREWED. TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ANCHOR BOLTS WERE STRIPPED! HOLES WERE RE-BORED AND NEW BOLTS PUT IN. THIS DEFECT OCCURED WITH NO UNUSUAL STRAIN ON THE BELTS. FAILURE WAS JUST 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrashFire1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 2001VA

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A BRICK WALL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING CONSUMER. ALSO, CUT CONSUMER ON ARM,AND FROM CHIN TO CENTER OF NECK. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SO HARD THEY KNOCKED CONSUMER'S HEAD OUT OF WINDOW. CONTACTED DEALER AND HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED.*AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Sep 28, 2001NC

CONSUMER TURNED ON VENT AND WARM AIR WAS COMING OUT. DEALER CHECKED, AND FOUND COWL VENT, BENEATH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WAS PLUGGED WITH PLASTIC. PLASTIC BLOCKED FRESH AIR FROM COMING INSIDE VEHICLE. INSTEAD IT FILLED VEHICLE WITH WARM AIR. NISSAN SAID IT WAAS NORMAL, AND AT THIS WAS WORKING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Child Seat
Filed Sep 19, 2001FL

CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS VERBALLY IMPLIED THAT CAR SEATS WERE APPLICABLE AND USEABLE IN REAR CAB OF VEHICLE. OWNER'S MANUEL BOLDLY STATES DON'T USE CAR SEATS. EXISTING SYMBOL IN REAR OF CAB SHOWS CAR SEAT USAGE. ALSO, WHEN TALKING TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED CHILD SEATS CAN BE USED IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER CALLED NISSAN , MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED CHILD SEATS CAN'T BE USED IN REAR OF VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WILL NOT FIT.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 10, 2001PA

WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. *AK CONSUMER LISTS TWO FAILURES, HOWEVER ONLY GIVES INFORMATION FOR THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 06-SEP-2001. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 1, 2001CA

VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT HAVE THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A RESONABLE AMOUNT OF SPACE AND TIME. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 15, 2001CT

CLIP ON SEAT BELT THAT KEEPS SEAT FROM RETRACTING DOWN IN HOLDER FELL OFF. CONSUMER IS USING A SAFETY PIN IN PLACE OF THE BUTTON CLIP. DEALER HAS BEEN TYRING TO ORDER THE SEAT BELT FROM APRIL TO AUGUST. DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN SEAT BELT WILL BE OFF BACK ORDER. BY LAW WHOLE SEAT BELT HAS TO BE ORDERED. DEALER IS UNABLE TO USE ANY REPLACEMENT PIECES AND PART WHEN IT COMES TO A SAFETY ITEM. PLEASE THE VIN# AND MILEAGE TO FORM.*AK

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Jul 6, 2001OK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Jul 6, 2001NC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 19, 2001IN

WHEN FILLING MY 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB SC WITH FUEL, IT CONSISTENTLY OVERFLOWS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS, SO I KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I SET THE AUTOMATIC PUMP ON FULL FLOW, THE SHUTOFF IS NOT IN TIME TO PREVENT GASOLINE FROM OVERFLOWING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ON THE GROUND. THE INTERMEDIATE SETTING ALSO RESULTS IN A FUEL SPILL. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE NOT HAD A FUEL SPILL IS TO SLOW THE PUMP'S SETTING TO THE SLOWEST LEVEL. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT ED MARTIN NISSAN IN INDIANAPOLIS, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WAS REVIEWING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY SORT OF MEANINGFUL RESPONSE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Apr 11, 2001TX

FUEL OVERFLOWS FROM FILLER NECK AT END OF REFUELING PROCEDURE, WHEN FUELING WITH NOZZLE ON "AUTOMATIC" AND AT NORMAL/FULL PRESSURE. HAPPENS ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND ARE AWARE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. ONLY RECOMMENDATION WAS "REFUEL AT LOWER PRESSURE".

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jan 23, 2001NE

IDLE SURGE WHEN COASTING TO A STOP WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AND IN GEAR. SAFTY PROBLEM WITH HIGH IDLE AT LOW SPEEDS WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED.*AK

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Nov 27, 2000CA

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT COULD NOT BE PULLED OUT FOR USAGE. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE NOTIFYING NISSAN AND NISSAN HAS YET TO CONTACT ME TO STATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE PART--- NISSAN HAS MENTIONED THAT THIS PART IS ON "BACK-ORDER BECAUSE THERE ARE 'MANY' OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES OUT THERE THAT ARE REQUESTING FOR THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART." NISSAN FURTHER STATED THAT ORDERING THE PART "MAKE TAKE MONTHS." NISSAN IS, THEREFORE, AWARE OF THIS SEATBELT DEFECT BUT HAS REFUSED TO OFFER THEIR CONSUMERS A RENTAL FOR THEIR SAFETY WHILE THEY(NISSAN) 'LOCATE' A REPLACEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE SEATBELT. FOR THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY, PLEASE NOTIFY THE PUBLIC REGARDING THIS DEFECT IN THE SEATBELT AND CONTACT NISSAN TO ASK THEM TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING THE PART. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND KIND CONSIDERATION. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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