Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Nissan Frontier Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Elevated complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control — runs 1.7× the fleet median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.
124Complaints
8Recalls
12Crashes
2Fires
9Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (8.9% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 1.7× the median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 · 8.9% | Recalled | Recall 02V298000 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 · 8.9% | Recalled | Recall 04V230000 |
| Electrical System | 10 · 8.1% | No official action | — |
| Steering | 10 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 10V554000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 04V230000 |
| Structure:body | 5 · 4% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 124 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 8 campaigns
Steering:column
NHTSA campaign 10V554000 · 2010 · reported 11/11/2010
THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
NHTSA campaign 04V230000 · 2004 · reported 05/24/2004
IF CORROSION OCCURS, THE TERMINAL STRIP COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP OPERATION. THIS WILL RESULT IN NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:rear
NHTSA campaign 02V299000 · 2002 · reported 11/12/2002
THIS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 02V298000 · 2002 · reported 11/12/2002
THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM TO GO INTO THE FAILSAFE MODE. UNDER THIS CONDITION, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT EXCEED 2400 RPM REGARDLESS OF THE THROTTLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE…”NHTSA complaint 10474235 — filed 09/07/2012 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES HAD A DELAY IN RESPONSE. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NECESSARY BASED ON POOR…”NHTSA complaint 10044357 — filed 10/21/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE RACING WHEN CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PREVENTED CONSUMER FROM STOPPING, REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10001498 — filed 01/08/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Frontier?
Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 11 of 124 NHTSA complaints (8.9%), followed by fuel/propulsion system (11), electrical system (10), steering (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Nissan Frontier have?
124 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 9 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Yes — 8 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Nissan Frontier's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
