2003 Nissan Frontier Complaint Log

2003 NISSAN FRONTIER PAINT IS CHIPPING IN 3 PLACES WITH A 4TH AREA BUBBLING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END AND THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS WATER IN THE REAR AXLE DUE TO INADEQUATE SEALING OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 02V299000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: REAR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND LINES BROKE. *NM

BOUGHT TRUCK NEW IN 2003 ORIGINAL OWNER. AT 36433 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS TOLD FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED OUT NEEDED NEW TANK WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 91989 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN COMES ON. WAS TOLD FUEL TANK/EVAP CANISTER VALVE/EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACED AGAIN. AGAIN DONE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 120,608 MILES (28589 MILES LATER) CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND AM TOLD THAT THERE IS CORROSION AGAIN ON THE FUEL TANK AROUND SENDING UNIT. MAY NEED ANOTHER FUEL TANK, BUT NEED TO DROP TANK AND SEE HOW BAD IT IS. EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AT THIS POINT AND THE CHARGE WOULD BE UP TO ME. I WAS TRYING TO WORK WITH NISSAN TO REPLACE THIS TANK IF NEED BE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN OLDER TRUCK, BUT IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND NEVER OFF ROAD IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT AND HAVE THE TANK DROPPED AT MY EXPENSE. IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE TANK THEY WILL THEN DECIDE WHAT THEY MIGHT PAY IF ANY. THEY ARE CALLING IT A GOOD WILL DECISION. I NEED A DEFINITE ANSWER FROM THEM ON HOW MUCH THEY WILL PAY BEFORE I DO THIS AND THEY WON'T DO THAT. MY THEORY IS THAT IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE YET ANOTHER RUSTED FUEL TANK WHICH WILL MAKE THE FOURTH ONE THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WITH NISSAN FRONTIERS 2002, AND 2003 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM FOR I HAVE GOOGLED THIS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUSTED FUEL TANKS ON THESE YEARS AND MAKE OF NISSAN. I AM A 66 YEAR OLD MAN, AND HAVE NEVER IN ALL MY YEARS OF OWNING AN AUTOMOBILE EVER HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL TANK BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTED OUT, LET ALONE 4 OF THEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE SHIFTER WAS NOT CATCHING. THE DEVICE ASSEMBLY/TRANSMISSION CONTROL WAS REPLACED.*AK

I OWN A FRONTIER 2003 XE CREW CAB MODEL, AND ONE DAY RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 90+ MPH,SUDDENLY IT LOOSE THE TRACTION THAT KEEP THE VEHICLE IN MOTION FOR A MOMENT AND BACK AGAIN. I THINK THAT TRUCK CHASSIS SUDDENLY LOST THE WEIGHT THAT KEEP THE TRUCK ASIDE TO THE GROUND CAUSED BY THE AIR FLOW UNDER THE TRUCK (AERODYNAMIC EFFECT) SO I GOT VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE TO LOOSE CONTROL ON THE TRUCK WITH CAUSING POTENTIAL INJURES TO MYSELF FURTHERMORE THE INCIDENT CAME UP WITH OUT NOTICE. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT PROBABLY THERE WERE SOME PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL ENGINE SYSTEM BUT NO LIGHT AT THE PANEL CAME ON. *NM

VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST CORROSION FROM THE BACK CAB BREAK LIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEAL AROUND THE LIGHT WAS COMPROMISED AND CAUSES MOISTURE TO SEEP IN AND LEAK THROUGH THE ROOF. IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AND HER NISSAN, 2003 DISINTEGRATED. THE WHOLE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE FRONT SEAT. SHE WAS GOING 55 MPH, AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING 20 MPH.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER SC, THE SUPER CHARGED MODEL, WITH 43,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVE ON THE NYS THRUWAY LAST SATURDAY. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS EXTREMELY LOW -10F. THE TRUCK WAS INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER. IT FINALLY WENT INTO A SLOW IDLE AND LOST ALL POWER. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO CALL FOR HELP. I HAD MY WIFE AND 14 MONTH OLD CHILD IN THE TRUCK WITH ME. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE HAD NO POWER, IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND IT HAD BEEN SNOWING AT NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILD. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF MAKING CALLS, I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT THE TRUCK STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THAT EVENING, AFTER THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS TIME, I WAS IN 4WD AND TRYING TO DRIVE THROUGH SNOW AT HIGHER RPMS WHEN THE TRUCK LOST POWER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BURDICK NISSAN, A DEALERSHIP IN CICERO, NY. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW AIR FLOW METER. I SEE THAT THE 2002 MODELS WERE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE RECALLED (R2013) AND THE FIX IS TO REPROGRAM THE EXISTING METER. THE COST OF THE PART (AIR FLOW METER) IS $600.00! *NM

SINCE PURCHASE IN 2004 THE TILT STEERING DOES LOCK INTO PLACE. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN DURING DRIVING WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN CRASH. THE TILT MECHANISM HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH THE SAME FAILURE TO LOCK AND HOLD AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN ERROR SINCE AFTER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT THERE IS NO POSITIVE LOCK FOR THE TILT CONTROL.

WHILE 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

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES ON THE VEHICLE BECUASE OF LACK OF ILLUMINATION. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAUGES WERE COLORED WITH BLACK AND GRAY.*AK

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

BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH 1507 MILES DUMPED ALL IT'S TRANSMISSION FLUID, EMITTING SMOKE FROM ALL SIDES AND UNDERNEATH, STOPPED VEHICLE DEAD IN ITS TRACKS. REPAIRING DEALER GAVE ME ONE OF THE "WEDGES" LEFT IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE AT THE FACTORY WHICH CAUSED COOLER HOSE TO DETACH AND PRECIPITATED MAJOR VEHICLE FAILURE. IT WAS JUST PLAIN LUCK THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO CLIMB DONNER PASS (CA) WITH CHAINS ON DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM. REPORTED TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I SUGGEST NHTSA INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR AT LEAST INSPECTION AS THIS FACTORY DEFECT CAUSE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ANY TIME, WITH RESULTANT RISK OF INJURY AND OR DEATH.*AK

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING AN INSTALLATION OF A FUEL TANK PROTECTOR. I SPOKE WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST TO REPLACE THE TANK (AS NOTED IN THE RECALL LETTER). I FAXED ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION TO NISSAN, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES WHEN STOPPING. HAVE NEARLY CAUSED 2 WRECKS. DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 3000 MILES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, INDICATING AN ENGINE FIRE. *AK THE FIREMAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FIRE WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD. *LA *JB

AIR CONDITIONER A/C WORKS PROPERLY UNTIL THE DEFROSTER IS ENGAGED. ONCE THE DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON THE AC REMAINS ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SHUT IT OFF.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS HIGH BEAMS WERE TOO BRIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS *JB

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

I PURCHASED A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP TRUCK. WHEN I USE THE DEFROSTER THE AIR CONDITIONER COMES ON WHICH IS NORMAL. I CANNOT TURN OFF THE DEFROSTER AND AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL I TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR STAYS ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. IF I AM ON A HIGHWAY I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THEN MERGE BACK ON THE HIGHWAY. AT ONE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THIS IS NORMAL AND IT IS WRITTEN UP THAT WAY IN THE MANUAL. YET THEY TELL ME THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR A PART. ANOTHER NISSAN DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WITHOUT TEARING EVERYTHING APART.

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. AND WILL STAY ON INTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING A REAR ENDING ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED OFF POWER DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY LOCK VEHICLE BY THEMSELVES, LOCKING OUT DRIVER. HAPPENS ONCE EVERY ONE OR TWO WEEKS.*AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WILL SHIMMY. THE REAR END SHIMMIES MORE SEVERELY WHEN BRAKE ARE DEPRESSED AT HIGH SPEEDS. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK *TS

THE VEHICLE HAS A GOVERNOR THAT DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO EXCEED THE SPEED OF 89 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 120 MPH. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, NOR TOLD UPON PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STOPS ACCELERATING WHEN THE SPEED REACHES 89 MPH. *AK