Most common 2002 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of the 124 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Frontier complaints by model year
Best Frontier years: 2015, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007, 2005. Compare all years →
2002 Nissan Frontier recalls (4)
Steering › Column
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.
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.
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 conditions.
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…
Vehicle speed control
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.
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…
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.
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.
What 2002 Nissan Frontier owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 25 →
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove home safely. The contact performed an inspection and noticed that the fuel pump was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V230000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
In just under 14 years of owning this vehicle, I now have had to replace the gas tank a third time due to leakage. I do not feel that this should be the responsibility of the owner, due to the frequency of this happening. I believe these tanks are a bad design and with poor material to rust out and leak in such short periods of time. I just can;t believe there have not been numerous injuries or any deaths due to these gas tanks. I have attached pictures of the second gas tank that was replaces about 6-7 years ago. And you can definitely see that it has been leaking. By the way. My truck has always been garage kept and I have yet to find someone that believes my truck is that old due to how nice that it still looks inside and out.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Nissan Frontier. While driving 25-30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the brakes failed to stop the vehicle in a timely manner. The contact also heard an abnormal noise emitting from the braking system. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was no fault code and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that there was no documented records for braking system failure on similar vehicles reported to Nissan corporation. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
Dealer is denying responsibility for the problems I am having. I brought the truck 4 times for ABS, 3 for A/C not working & engine light remains on. I just finished arbitration and bbb auto line decided that ABS is not a safety issue despite the fact that the Nissan manual shows the importance of it in braking. I think the arbitrator is not fair and influence directly by the dealership. ***dimssii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis***770777
Engine & cooling
The main issue on the Nissan Frontier that I just bought a few months ago that I need to report that I think should be recalled item is the passenger side exhaust manifold is cracked and it makes ticking noises the exhaust is loud and I am definitely getting exhaust fumes drawn into the cab especially when I turn the heater on now that it's winter time and it's getting CO2 carbon and exhaust fumes inside cab which is very toxic also the rear window defogger does not work and the cruise control does not work at all so anyway you're asking for what date this first occurred well it was like that when I bought it and I bought it on approximately in July of the summer 2024 it was all these issues were already broke when I got it I looked online and I see that the exhaust manifold is a very common problem and it is also a health hazard and toxic and could cause injury or death to passengers …
General grabber aw 225-70-15 stock on 2002 Nissan Frontier have belt separation in the sidewalls. I have filed a complaint with general tire (#55041). Have also contacted Nissan to have a specialist check it out. Complaint number [req:195685] <::2gd6lyfjiwv6ovjy:: > with jane national direct marketing e-mail address: nnaconsumeraffairs [[email]].
2002 Nissan Frontier engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 17 / 16 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 17 / 16 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl supercharged | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl supercharged | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Frontier a good car?
Based on 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Frontier rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Frontier at the same age. It is one of the Frontier years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Nissan Frontier?
The fuel & propulsion system — 25 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the brakes (15) and engine & cooling (13).
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Frontier have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2002 Nissan Frontier, the most recent from November 11, 2010 (column). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Frontier?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2018 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007 and 2005. See the full Nissan Frontier years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Nissan Frontier problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 38% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.