Worst 2002 Nissan Frontier Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Fuel System
Unintended Acceleration
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Nissan Frontier.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System | 11 | — | — | 103,118 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | 3 | — | 56,342 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 10 | — | 1 | 260,546 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 10 | — | 1 | 110,588 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 10 | — | — | 347,589 mi | |
| Body Structure | 5 | 1 | — | 81,213 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Nissan Frontier. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2002 Nissan Frontier
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~500,552 vehicles.
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. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Other Nissan Frontier Years
2002 Nissan Frontier — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Nissan Frontier reliable?
What are common problems with the 2002 Nissan Frontier?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Nissan Frontier?
How safe is the 2002 Nissan Frontier?
Does the 2002 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2002 Nissan Frontier?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Frontier reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Nissan Frontier
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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