2003 Nissan Frontier Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 Nissan Frontier most often describe corrosion-related problems: the top of the fuel tank rusting around the sending unit, which brings on a check-engine light and a fuel smell, plus rust in the frame and around the rear cab brake light. Suspension and rear-axle complaints follow, along with power-steering trouble and paint peeling. Many reports come in at higher mileage, and several owners say dealers told them their VIN was not covered by a related recall campaign.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank rusting around the sending unit

   • 13 complaints (17%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2017

   Owners describe rust forming on the top of the fuel tank around the fuel pump and sending unit, producing a vapor or fuel smell and turning on the check-engine light. Some report the tank leaking fuel when full, or rust holes and rotted tank straps. According to the complaints, dealers usually replace the tank and sending unit, and several owners say they were told their VIN was not included in the fuel pump campaign even though the symptoms matched. Mostly reported between roughly 49,000 and 135,000 miles, often on trucks several years old, with a few reports in the 36,000-80,000 mile range.

   Recall 04V230000

   What to check: Inspect the top of the fuel tank and the sending unit area for rust, seepage or fuel stains, and check whether the check-engine light is on. Ask whether the tank has been replaced and whether the fuel pump campaign was ever performed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. I understand there was a recall for nearly 500,000 of these vehicles but dealer reported mine was not covered under recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10212846, filed 2007-12, 74,000 miles

   “Several months ago the check engine light in my 2003 Nissan Frontier xe came on. I took the vehicle to a local repair shop and was informed that the fuel tank was rusting at the top. This caused air to enter the system making the check engine light go on. I had to have the tank replaced to pass state inspection.”

   NHTSA complaint #10394500, filed 2011-04, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Rear axle water intrusion and wheel bearing noise

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 73,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2013

   Owners describe a humming or grinding noise from the rear, an illuminated ABS light, and sometimes a smell of gear oil. Mechanics in the complaints attribute this to water entering the rear axle housing through an inadequately sealed ABS sensor area, and in some cases the rear wheel bearings fail. Several owners reference the rear suspension campaign but say their truck was not covered. Reported from about 63,000 to 135,000 miles, typically as a gradual noise that worsens over time.

   Recall 02V299000

   What to check: Listen for rear-end hum or grinding on a test drive and check whether the ABS light stays on. Ask whether the rear axle seals, bearings or the ABS sensor housing have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Water got into my rear end on a 2003 Frontier crew cab due to a faulty ABS seal and ruined the gears. Nissan had a recall on this but said my VIN# was not one of the vehicles recalled even though others of my year, make and model have been and mine had the exact same problem. Nissan said I was on my own and responsible for all repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #10248982, filed 2008-11, 70,000 miles

   “I heard a sudden thud and then a grinding noise coming from the rear end as if a brake had hung up,metal to metal.when I exited the vehicle there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and a very strong smell of overheating of the brakes or metal and fluid.upon pulling the wheels,our company mechanic found nothing of the sort to be wrong. I called a friend to have the vehicle trailer-ed to monro muffler and brake in mansfield pa,where it was determined the bearings had failed in the rears,both inner and outer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10548505, filed 2013-10, 61,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering loss and steering column looseness

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 45,556 mi at 8.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2014

   Complaints describe intermittent loss of power assist, instability at highway speed, and clunking or cranking noises while turning. Some owners report the steering column repair was performed under a campaign but the looseness or off-center condition remained, and others describe a tilt column that will not lock. Dealers in the reports variously replaced the steering box or shaft, or found no problem. Reported from very low mileage up to about 112,000 miles, with several reports in the 40,000-60,000 mile range.

   Recall 10V5540002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for play or noise when turning the wheel, confirm the steering wheel sits centered, and ask whether the steering column campaign was completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle has steering issues that I have complained about to both the dealer and the corporate headquarters since I have owned it. Both have essentially told me that I was imagining things . A call to their consumer complaints line came with the answer of I have to believe what my technicians tell me . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10399961, filed 2011-05, 41,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10381937, filed 2011-02, 5,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Frame and body rust, paint peeling

   • 11 complaints (14%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2024

   Owners report rust developing from the high-mount rear cab brake light area where the seal appears to let moisture in, and frame rust severe enough that one owner was advised the truck was structurally compromised. Others describe factory paint bubbling and flaking off down to the primer on doors, roof and body panels. A cause noted for the brake-light water entry is a compromised light assembly seal. Reported from around 30,000 miles upward, with most frame and paint reports above 80,000 miles on older trucks.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look underneath at the frame rails, cab mounts and rear axle area for heavy scale or holes, check the headliner and roof near the rear cab brake light for water stains, and inspect paint on lower panels and doors for bubbling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The high mounted brake light on my 2003 Nissan Frontier has seals that are compromised. The light assembly takes on water causing the brake light to fail. Nissan replaced the light once during the initial 36 months of the original warranty and refuses to replace the unit again. Since the brake light is a safety component, I would appreciate your investigation of this complaint. It is my position that Nissan is responsible for engineering and manufacturing a safety component that works properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10169949, filed 2006-10, 30,000 miles

   “A growing problem with our 2003 Nissan Frontier 4x2 purchased new from deland Nissan in florida. Over the past six months the factory original paint has begun to fail in numerous locations. It begins with a bubbling of the paint in a spot followed by flaking off of the outer color paint from the gray primer. The area of paint failure continues to expand with no end in sight. Attempts to work with our deland dealership have been unsuccessful since the vehicle was within the 3 year warranty but over the mileage allotment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10172676, filed 2006-11, 51,000 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.