There are 7 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Nissan Frontierin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING RUST ISSUES ALL OVER THE RIG FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I WASH AND CLEAN MY TRUCK EACH WEEK AND POLISH TWICE A YEAR. I DO LIVE NEAR THE BEACH, BUT I UNDERSTAND THIS, AND BEING A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC BY TRADE, WORKING WITH AIRCRAFT ON SHIPS AT SEA, KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY SERVICE MY EQUIPMENT. THE RUST COMES OUT UNDER THE PAINT, ALONG THE REAR CAB BRAKE LIGHT, AND ALONG THE FRONT WIND SHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE. THE RIG HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SINCE I'M RETIRED AND I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. NISSAN REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE, AND I BELIEVE THE PAINT SYSTEM THEY USE NEEDS SERIOUS UP GRADING. *TR
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PEEL ALL THE WAY DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THERE WERE ALSO VISIBLE RUST SPOTS AND HOLES IN THE PAINT. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT A SMALL CHILD COULD EAT THE PAINT AND THAT THE PAINT JOB SEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 105,000.
OUT. 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
I HAVE AN 03 NISSAN FRONTIER SE 4 DR. IT IS BLUE AND THE PAINT IS COMING OFF, ALL THE WAY TO THE PRIMER. YOU CAN SEE IT RAISED AND THEN IT JUST FLAKES OFF. IT FIRST STARTED IN 06 WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY ON THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR AND NISSAN REPAINTED IT AND NOW IT IS FLAKING OFF EVERYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT ON THE ROOF AND BOTH PASSENGER DOORS. I KNOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR PAINT AND IT BEGAN WHEN IT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. BECAUSE OF THIS IF I WERE TO TRY AND RESALE IT AT THIS POINT I WOULD TAKE A BIG HIT ON PRICE BECAUSE OF THE PAINT JOB AND THEN THERE IS A HEALTH ISSUE WITH CHILDREN, SUPPOSE A FLAKE AS BIG AS A QUARTER IS SPOTTED BY A SMALL CHILD AND THEY INSERT IN THERE MOUTH AND GET SICK OR WORSE, THERE'S NO WAY I CAN BE LIABLE FOR THAT SO THEREFORE IF I'M NOT LIABLE THEN SOMEONE ELSE IS AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD BE NISSAN, SO IF NISSAN IS LIABLE THEN THEY NEED TO REPAINT IT NOW. *TR
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
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026