Problems · by component

2001 Nissan Frontier fuel system, gasoline problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Frontier cite fuel system, gasoline, 17% of all 143 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
25
17% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I PURCHASED MY NISSAN FRONTIER FROM A NISSAN DEALER "AS IS" WHICH WAS FINE TIL THE FIRST TIME I FILLED IT UP. THE SMELL OF GAS MADE ME PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY. COULDN'T FIND OR SEE A LEAK BUT SURE COULD SMELL IT. SHORTLY AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TO FIND FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I'M ON S.S.D. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. TRIED TO LOCATE A NEW TANK FOR THE TRUCK. CAN'T FIND ONE. I CAN'T SEE PUTTING A RECYCLED DEFECT IN. ANYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NEEDS TO CALL THE NHTSA SO WE CAN GET THE RECALL STARTED. NOW NISSAN CHANGED THE TANK AND ADDED ACCESS PANEL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT ON NEWER MODELS. SO I DON'T FILL MY TRUCK AND IT STILL SMELLS OF GAS BUT NOT AS BAD. HOPEFULLY HELP IS AROUND THE CORNER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2013Fuel system, gasolineODI 10550944
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL TANK, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF UPDATED 06/22/12 UPDATED 7/19/12 *CN UPDATED 07/23/12.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10459886
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEARE WAS 116,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10459191
“ENGINE STOPPED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO RESTART. ON CHECKING VEHICLE, DISCOVERED WATER IN FUEL TANK. AFTER REMOVING FUEL TANK FROM VEHICLE, NOTICED, ACCESS TO FUEL TANK FROM TOP SEVERELY CORRODED. THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW SPACE BETWEEN CAB OF TRUCK AND BED. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE SPACE. THE ACCESS TO THE TANK HAS A RAISED RING AND A GROOVE THAT RUNS AROUND THE RING, WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO COLLECT. THE WHOLE RING IS CORRODED AND THEIR IS HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. I FEEL THIS IS A POORLY DESIGNED TANK AND POOR LOCATION OF TANK. MY SON AND MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND THE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MY SON JUNKED HIS TRUCK AND MY FRIEND USED J-WELD TO MAKE MAKESHIFT REPAIRS. I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WITH A POPULATION OF 2000 RESIDENCE, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT THIS CANNOT BE A ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10451575
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE VEHICLE HAD SINCE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STALLING FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2012Fuel system, gasolineODI 10447264
“1. MY 2001 NISSAN FRONTIER SE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED WITH NO WARNING. IT WOULD NOT START AND I VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS IN FACT GAS IN THE TANK. I EXPECTED IT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP THAT FAILED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO A GARAGE OF MY CHOICE. 2. I DECIDED TO CHECK ONLINE TO SEE WHAT RECALLS MIGHT BE DUE ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE A FEW RECALLS, BUT RECALL ID # 5971 WHICH IS A RECALL OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS THE ONE THAT SEEMED TO BE AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD(ENGINE CAN STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN A CRASH). I CALLED THE NISSAN'S HEAD OFFICE TO SEE IF THE RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT ALL RECALLS ON MY VIN # HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. SO KNOWING THIS I BELIEVED THAT THE SENDING UNIT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. 3. MY MECHANIC REMOVED AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT RUN. I MENTIONED THE RECALL TO HIM AND HE THEN CAREFULLY CHECKED THE SENDING UNIT FOR CORROSION AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ON THE ONE CONNECTORS ON TOP OF THE UNIT THAT HE FOUND DUE TO THE PLASTIC ON UNDER THE CONNECTOR BEING CRACKED. THIS WAS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10320185

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported May 24, 2004NHTSA 04V230000

Fuel system

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK INLET SHUTTER VALVE DOES NOT MEET THE SEALING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Nov 12, 2002NHTSA 02V300000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.