2003 Nissan Frontier problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel System, Gasoline (9) · Structure:body (6) · Steering (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Frontier model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
60 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:column 2010-11-11 · campaign 10V554000 · 500,552 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Service bulletins (47)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB13-028I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB09-081K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-03-13 · Suspension“i was driving and my truck started drifting and i felt like i was losing control. could of caused a very serious and dangerous accident - scared me to death, had just bought this nissan, and love the brand. had great tires and brakes just completely done. brought it to my mechanic and he put it up on the hoist. frame almost completely rusted ou…”
2022-04-08 · Unknown Or Other“the transmission is not working …”
2020-09-10 · Wheels · 56,000 mi“wheel bearings keep backing off spoke with other people who own a frontier and they have same problem this is a saftey issue have to tighten them regularly…”
2020-05-03 · Structure:body · 130,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was recently involved in a frontend collision in my 2003 nissan frontier and neither airbag deployed. i was accelerating from a stop sign on a farm to market road. denison tx.…”
2020-01-02 · Air Bags · 124,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was in an accident on 12/28/19 and both of my airbags deployed. the drivers side however did not blow up enough to help me or even contact me at all and i suffered a concussion. i was traveling about 20 mph on a city street when a driver pulled out right in front of me and we collided.…”
2018-12-08 · Structure:body“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…”
2018-06-11 · Unknown Or Other“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.…”
2018-05-02 · Air Bags · 149,000 mi · 💥 crash“takata recall: my son was involved in a moving highway accident where the airbag deployed, sending shrapnel to his face and causing numerous deep lacerations. he required hours of plastic surgery and still suffers the effects of the injury. please do something. the airbag should not have caused this much damage to his face!…”
2018-05-02 · Air Bags · 149,000 mi · 💥 crash“in 2014 my son was involved in an accident on a highway in which the airbag deployed and the shrapnel from the airbag cut his face terribly. he required hours of plastic surgery and still suffers the effects of it. please help. the airbag should not have done this to his face!…”
2017-07-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 140,000 mi“the top of the gas tank is completely rusty and is emitting gas fumes. if you look at the gas tank under the truck you can see gas stains. had my truck in the shop at my local mechanic and he did a smoke test and shows the smoking coming from the top of the tank where all the rust is. there's a recall on the truck for the previous year but min…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.