1st generation (D22) · D22 · 964 complaints, 479 with mileage
Owners filed 964 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2004 Nissan Frontier, and 479 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 41,961 and 115,000 miles. The median is 75,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the tyres (9.8% of complaints, typically around 54,578 miles), the fuel system (9.3% of complaints, typically around 89,500 miles), the transmission and driveline (8.7% of complaints, typically around 89,759 miles).
1 recall campaign cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 94 | 9.8% | 54,578 | 40,000–100,300 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 90 | 9.3% | 89,500 | 64,000–110,000 |
| Power Train | 84 | 8.7% | 89,759 | 56,000–124,000 |
| Suspension | 80 | 8.3% | 70,000 | 15,000–100,000 |
| Electrical System | 75 | 7.8% | 70,000 | 38,700–115,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 71 | 7.4% | 51,250 | 22,000–85,000 |
| Air Bags | 68 | 7.1% | 105,000 | 68,000–142,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 | 7.0% | 32,986 | 15,546–45,000 |
| Structure | 44 | 4.6% | 102,500 | 64,000–130,000 |
| Steering | 41 | 4.3% | 70,250 | 50,113–120,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 146 | 35 |
| 1999 | 106 | 34 |
| 2000 | 224 | 94 |
| 2001 | 155 | 88 |
| 2002 | 152 | 91 |
| 2003 | 92 | 70 |
| 2004 | 89 | 67 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 75,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The tyres account for 9.8% of complaints (94 reports, 36 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,578 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 100,300 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 9.3% of complaints (90 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 64,000 and 110,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.7% of complaints (84 reports, 41 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,759 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 56,000 and 124,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 8.3% of complaints (80 reports, 31 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 100,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.8% of complaints (75 reports, 44 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,700 and 115,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.4% of complaints (71 reports, 38 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 85,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 224 complaints — while 2004 drew the fewest at 89. The median year sits at 146.
NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 964 complaints filed against this generation, 91 reported a crash; 24 reported a fire; 70 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 9.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 41,961 and 115,000 miles, with a median of 75,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the tyres and the fuel system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The tyres in particular shows a median failure mileage of 54,578, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
KA24DE timing chain guide and tensioner wear producing a cold-start rattle and, if ignored, chain slap and guide fragmentation.
Frame and rear structure corrosion in road-salt regions, a recurring theme in owner reports across Nissan compact trucks of this era.
Exhaust manifold cracking and pre-cat material ingestion reports on the four-cylinder trucks.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V554000 | 2010-12-13 | Steering:Column |