Total Complaints
155 filings
NISSAN FRONTIER · model year
155 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001NISSANFRONTIER carries 155 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 8 fires, 14 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 FRONTIER is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 9 filings, followed by air bags (7) and electrical system (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 7 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2001 FRONTIER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
155 filings
Crashes Reported
13 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 9 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 7 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 3 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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 CONDIT
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.
SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
I am the original owner of the vehicle which has just 66,000 original miles. I have smelled fuel and had a service engine soon light on for years. I have taken the vehicle into various shops and dealerships who failed to find a fuel tank leak that now turns out to have been from corrosion of the tank flange as early as 5 years after manufacturing. A check of various online owners forums suggests this is a known defect on Nissan Frontier and XTerra trucks. Once gas began physically leaking out of my tank, I contacted the dealer who said my VIN was not part of any fuel tank recall and I would have to pay for any repairs myself. This is a dangerous and irresponsible situation for Nissan Frontier and XTerra drivers which Nissan needs to fix. Other examples of rusted fuel tank flanges. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN PROPERLY AND WAS STIFF. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT RETURN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Mileage: 132,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN PROPERLY AND WAS STIFF. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT RETURN BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Mileage: 132,000
TRANSMISSION BURNING FLUID SMELL, WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED SEAT BELTS DON'T RECOIL SEATS TOO LOW
Mileage: 280,000
TRANSMISSION BURNING FLUID SMELL, WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED SEAT BELTS DON'T RECOIL SEATS TOO LOW
Mileage: 280,000
TRANSMISSION BURNING FLUID SMELL, WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED SEAT BELTS DON'T RECOIL SEATS TOO LOW
Mileage: 280,000
THE MOMENT I TURN THE SWITCH ON, THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP WITHOUT CONTROL, NOT EVEN THE BRAKES RESPONDING. I STOPPED IT BY TURNING SWITCH OFF.
Mileage: 9
HAD PROBLEM KEEPING TRUCK RUNNING SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID A TUNEUP ON 10/02/15 AND SAID IT WAS FIXED 7 DAYS LATER TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN WENT BACK TO TRUCK SERVICE ON 10/09/15 RECHECKED AND SAID I HAD WATER IN GAS DRAINED GAS PUT IN NEW GAS RAN GOOD UNTIL IT RAINED TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN WENT BACK TO TRUCK SERVICE ON 11/30/15 DID A SMOKE TEST ON GAS TANK FOUND TOP OF GAS TANK RUSTED OUT AROUND TOP SAID I NEED NEW GAS TANK MY TRUCK WAS KEPT IN GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME THAT I OWNED IT, LOOKED ON COMPUTER AND FOUND NISSAN TRUCKS BETWEEN 2000 AND 2005 OR 2006 HAVE BAD GAS TANKS WHY DO THEY NOT RECALL OR REPLACE GAS TANKS
Mileage: 98,903
FUEL TANK TOP RUSTED AND WATER ENTERED THE FUEL , TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START TRUCK SERVICE DID TUNE UP DID NOT HELP AFTER A $1,200 DOLLARS THEY FOUND THE WATER IN TANK DID NOT FIND THE RUSTED TANK UNTILL THE THIRD TIME BACK,PUT A SEALER ON WHAT THEY COULD REACH AND NOW I DO NOT TAKE MY TRUCK OUT IN BAD WEATHER HELP!!!!
Mileage: 10
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Mileage: 88,000
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BLINKED ON AND OFF. PRIVATE GARAGE AND DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED FAULTY PART AS A CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER DID NOT MAKE ENOUGH PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT. NOT AVAILABLE NEW OR USED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. NO RESPONSE. SO VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS WORKING AIRBAGS. IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT RESPONSIBLE TO BACK UP THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLE AIRBAGS?
Mileage: 128,353
ON ABOVE APPROXIMATE DATE I STARTED TO SMELL FUEL COMING OUT FROM MY TRUCK EVERY TIME THE TANK WAS AT FULL CAPACITY. SINCE THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL NEVER COME OFF. I TOOK FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. CHANGE OXYGEN SENSOR, GAS CAP, THERMOSTAT, CARBON CANISTER AND SOLENOID. I CONTACTED NISSAN BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA WHERE IT HIT THE BROADSIDE OF A MINIVAN (T-BONED) THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WAS GOING IN EXCESS OF 20MPH AT THE TIME, WHEN I CONTACTED THE MINI-VAN NO AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED HITS TO MY HEAD, WHIPLASH RELATED DAMAGES, DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG. THE IMPACT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, THE ENGINE AND BODY WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND ENGINE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA WHERE IT HIT THE BROADSIDE OF A MINIVAN (T-BONED) THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WAS GOING IN EXCESS OF 20MPH AT THE TIME, WHEN I CONTACTED THE MINI-VAN NO AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED HITS TO MY HEAD, WHIPLASH RELATED DAMAGES, DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG. THE IMPACT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, THE ENGINE AND BODY WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND ENGINE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA WHERE IT HIT THE BROADSIDE OF A MINIVAN (T-BONED) THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WAS GOING IN EXCESS OF 20MPH AT THE TIME, WHEN I CONTACTED THE MINI-VAN NO AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED HITS TO MY HEAD, WHIPLASH RELATED DAMAGES, DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG. THE IMPACT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, THE ENGINE AND BODY WERE DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND ENGINE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
WHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN REVERSE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. *TR
Mileage: 149,000
WHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN REVERSE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. *TR
Mileage: 149,000
WHILE DRIVING, FELT A "SHUDDER" .. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WENT OFF. ONCE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED HOME. STARTED CHECKING FUSES. CHECK FLUIDS, REALIZED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS IN RADIATOR AND RADIATOR FLUID WAS IN TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IN DRIVE, ONLY IN REVERSE. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN. *TR
Mileage: 149,000
I PURCHASED MY NISSAN FRONTIER FROM A NISSAN DEALER "AS IS" WHICH WAS FINE TIL THE FIRST TIME I FILLED IT UP. THE SMELL OF GAS MADE ME PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. COULDN'T FIND OR SEE A LEAK BUT SURE COULD SMELL IT. SHORTLY AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TO FIND FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I'M ON S.S.D. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. TRIED TO LOCATE A NEW TANK FOR THE TRUCK. CAN'T FIND ONE. I CAN'T SEE PUTTING A RECYCLED DEFECT IN. ANYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDS TO CALL THE NHTSA SO WE CAN GET THE RECALL STARTED. NOW NISSAN CHANGED THE TANK AND ADDED ACCESS PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT ON NEWER MODELS. SO I DON'T FILL MY TRUCK AND IT STILL SMELLS OF GAS BUT NOT AS BAD. HOPEFULLY HELP IS AROUND THE CORNER. *TR
Mileage: 110,000
SEVERAL WEB SITES I HAVE READ INDICATE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE/EXHAUST ACCUMULATION OF WATER VIA THE LEAKAGE IN WATER LINES AND/OR FAULTY MANUFACTURING HEADS/ENGINE SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE ACCUMULATED WATER IN ONE OF THE PISTON (4-5), AND PERHAPS WARPED THE ALUM HEADS OR MAYBE BLOWN GASKET. IF REPAIRED WILL THIS PROBLEM PERSIST, AND WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE WITH EITHER MANUFACTURE OR USED CAR DEALER (BOUGHT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS). *TR
Mileage: 130,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.