2003 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
65,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 77 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 16.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Steering: 8; Structure:Body: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Suspension:Rear: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 12; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10170207 · 2006-10-07 (October 7, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212846 · 2007-12-26 (December 26, 2007)
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND I BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE. GAS TANK ROTTED OUT AROUND FUEL SENDING UNIT GASKET. FUEL SENDING UNIT AND GAS TANK REPLACED. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD GAS TANK BUT I DID PHOTOGRAPH IT DIGITALLY. *TR I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NEARLY 500,000 OF THESE VEHICLES BUT DEALER REPORTED MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030109 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043172 · 2003-10-18 (October 18, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173283 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)
2003 NISSAN FRONTIER HAD INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX THEY REPLACED WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT NEEDED TO ORDER ANOTHER ONE. *KB THE STEERING BOX THE DEALER INSTALL BEGAN TO DRIP FLUID WITHIN 30 DAY OF INSTALLATION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A DEFECT EXIST IN THE STEERING BOXES NISSAN IS INSTALLING IN THEIR VEHICLE'S. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ORIGINAL GEAR BOX REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,271 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381937 · 2011-02-04 (February 4, 2011)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049422 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
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 RECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081561 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057861 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
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.[phone removed]. GENERAL MANAGER MARK JOHNSON. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090175 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042364 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264769 · 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)
I NOTICED A "TICKING" SOUND FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. MY OWN INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE "HOUSING" THAT THE REAR SPEED SENSOR IS MOUNTED IN IS CRACKED. THIS IS WHAT CONTROLS THE ABS SYSTEM FOR THE REAR WHEELS. THE "HOUSING" IS MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. I DID CHECK AND THERE IS/WAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCKS DURING THE 03 YEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE PART, WHICH I HAVE YET TO REPLACE, IS EXTREMELY CORRODED FOR BEING ONLY 6YEARS OLD WITH 45000 MILES. IT IS MADE OF ALUMINU…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264769 at NHTSA ↗