2003 Nissan Frontier Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE SHIFTER WAS NOT CATCHING. THE DEVICE ASSEMBLY/TRANSMISSION CONTROL WAS REPLACED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH 1507 MILES DUMPED ALL IT'S TRANSMISSION FLUID, EMITTING SMOKE FROM ALL SIDES AND UNDERNEATH, STOPPED VEHICLE DEAD IN ITS TRACKS. REPAIRING DEALER GAVE ME ONE OF THE "WEDGES" LEFT IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE AT THE FACTORY WHICH CAUSED COOLER HOSE TO DETACH AND PRECIPITATED MAJOR VEHICLE FAILURE. IT WAS JUST PLAIN LUCK THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO CLIMB DONNER PASS (CA) WITH CHAINS ON DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM. REPORTED TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I SUGGEST NHTSA INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR AT LEAST INSPECTION AS THIS FACTORY DEFECT CAUSE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ANY TIME, WITH RESULTANT RISK OF INJURY AND OR DEATH.*AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2003 Nissan Frontier has 4 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.