2001 Nissan Frontier: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 134 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, gasoline (19% of complaints); the 1999 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Steering · Dec 2019
“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.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2017
“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!!!!”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2015
“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?”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2015
“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”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jul 2014
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2013
“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”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2013
“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”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan frontier crew cab. The contact stated that after refueling, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. The mechanic confirmed a fracture in the fuel tank, which would require replacement. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 105,000. ....updated 06/18/12 *bf updated 06/22/12 updated 7/19/12 *cn updated 07/23/12.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · May 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 11 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 10, 2002. 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.
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. 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.
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, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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 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.
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 EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
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 EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
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, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact Frontier by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Nissan Frontier reliable?
NHTSA has 134 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Nissan Frontier. The most complained-about area is fuel system, gasoline (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Nissan Frontier problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 76,000 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Nissan Frontier have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.