I am the original owner of the vehicle which has just 66,000 original miles. I have smelled fuel and had a service engine soon light on for years. I have taken the vehicle into various shops and dealerships who failed to find a fuel tank leak that now turns out to have been from corrosion of the tank flange as early as 5 years after manufacturing. A check of various online owners forums suggests this is a known defect on Nissan Frontier and XTerra trucks. Once gas began physically leaking out of my tank, I contacted the dealer who said my VIN was not part of any fuel tank recall and I would have to pay for any repairs myself. This is a dangerous and irresponsible situation for Nissan Frontier and XTerra drivers which Nissan needs to fix. Other examples of rusted fuel tank flanges. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2001 Nissan Frontier problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Fuel system33
- Engine25
- Brakes15
- Electrical11
- Airbags10
- Seat belts8
- Suspension8
- Transmission8
- Visibility6
- Steering5
- Tires4
- Acceleration3
- Body3
- Locks2
- Driver assistance1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 Nissan Frontier
Check engine light 10ABS 7Fire or smoke 6Fuel leak 6Fuel pump 6Seat belt 5
Recalls 3
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks equipped with six cylinder engines and sport utility vehicles equipped with four or six cylinder engines, the fuel pump terminal on the fuel-sending unit can develop a crack in the plastic molding. This can cause the terminal strip to corrode under some environmental conditions.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- In the following states, dealers will replace the fuel-sending unit. These states are connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In the other states, the dealer will inspect the fuel pump terminal on the sending unit for corrosion. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the unit. If there is not corrosion, the dealer will apply sealant to the terminal housing to help prevent corrosion in the future. Owner notification began on june 28, 2004. Owners should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 04V230000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, water may enter the rear axle housing due to inadequate sealing of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensor.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rear axle for water intrusion and any affected components will be replaced. The ABS sensor will be resealed to prevent water intrusion. Owner notification began december 10, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 02V299000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the fuel tank inlet shutter valve does not meet the sealing performance specification.
- Risk
- Under certain conditions such as high ambient temperature and when winter grade gasoline is being sold, fuel could spill from the filler inlet as the tank is being filled. In the presence of an ignition source, fuel leakage could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank inlet shutter valve. Owner notification is expected to begin december 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 02V300000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2001 Nissan Frontier
Defect investigations
Fuel spill during refueling
PE02052
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Nissan Frontier 81
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
- Window glass warranty information
- Diagnosis of vehicle pull (drift) and/or steering wheel off-center
- 12 volt battery testing for in-service vehicles service information
- Silicone-based lubricant or grease CAN damage electrical components service information
- Intelligent key replacement or swapping between vehicles
- Wheel bearing collision damage
- Strut and shock absorber replacement guidelines
2001 Nissan Frontier fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | RWD | 17-20 | 22-24 | 19-21 |
| 3.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 14-15 | 17-18 | 15-16 |
| 3.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 13-15 | 16-18 | 15-16 |
What 2001 Nissan Frontier owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan frontier. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel would not turn properly and was stiff. When turning the steering wheel, it would not return back. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the tie rod and ball joints, but the failure continued. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 132,000.
Transmission burning fluid smell, when driving at normal speed seat belts don't recoil seats too low
The moment I turn the switch on, the vehicle speeds up without control, not even the brakes responding. I stopped it by turning switch off.
Had problem keeping truck running service department did a tuneup on 10/02/15 and said it was fixed 7 days later truck stopped running again went back to truck service on 10/09/15 rechecked and said I had water in gas drained gas put in new gas ran good until it rained truck stopped running again went back to truck service on 11/30/15 did a smoke test on gas tank found top of gas tank rusted out around top said I need new gas tank my truck was kept in garage most of the time that I owned it, looked on computer and found nissan trucks between 2000 and 2005 or 2006 have bad gas tanks why do they not recall or replace gas tanks
Fuel tank top rusted and water entered the fuel , truck stopped running and would not start truck service did tune up did not help after a $1,200 dollars they found the water in tank did not find the rusted tank untill the third time back,put a sealer on what they could reach and now I do not take my truck out in bad weather help!!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 nissan frontier. While the vehicle was being refueled, fuel leaked from the filler neck. The dealer diagnosed that the part needed to repair the vehicle was no longer in production. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Airbag warning light on the dash blinked on and off. Private garage and dealership identified faulty part as a clock spring in the steering column. Was told part is no longer available. Manufacturer did not make enough parts for replacement. Not available new or used. I asked the dealer to contact the manufacturer to see if they have a fix for the problem. No response. So vehicle no longer has working airbags. Is the manufacturer not responsible to back up the safety of their vehicle airbags?
On above approximate date I started to smell fuel coming out from my truck every time the tank was at full capacity. Since then engine light will never come off. I took for repair several times. Change oxygen sensor, gas cap, thermostat, carbon canister and solenoid. I contacted nissan but I was told that there were no recalls for my vehicle.
This vehicle was involved in a mva where it hit the broadside of a minivan (t-boned) that ran a red light through an intersection. The truck was going in excess of 20mph at the time, when I contacted the mini-van no airbag was deployed. I suffered hits to my head, whiplash related damages, damage to my shoulder and right leg. The impact caused significant front end damage to the truck, the engine and body were damaged to the point where I was not able to drive the truck and engine was inoperative. No airbag deployment.
Compare the 2001 Nissan Frontier
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2001 Nissan Frontier
Is the 2001 Nissan Frontier reliable?
Owners have filed 134 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Frontier, 2.1 times a typical Frontier model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2001 Nissan Frontier year score?
The 2001 Nissan Frontier scores 38 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Nissan Frontier: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Nissan Frontier?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 33 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles. Next is engine (25).
How many recalls does the 2001 Nissan Frontier have?
3 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline and suspension.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Nissan Frontier fuel system?
Yes, 2 recalls: 04V230000, 02V300000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Nissan Frontier have the most fuel system problems?
The Nissan Frontier model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2006 (251 complaints), 2007 (200 complaints) and 2005 (160 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2001 Nissan Frontier get?
Official estimates for the 2001 Nissan Frontier range from 15 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 17-20 city and 22-24 highway.
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