2003 NISSAN FRONTIER Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

BOUGHT TRUCK NEW IN 2003 ORIGINAL OWNER. AT 36433 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WAS TOLD FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED OUT NEEDED NEW TANK WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 91989 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN COMES ON. WAS TOLD FUEL TANK/EVAP CANISTER VALVE/EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACED AGAIN. AGAIN DONE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 120,608 MILES (28589 MILES LATER) CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND AM TOLD THAT THERE IS CORROSION AGAIN ON THE FUEL TANK AROUND SENDING UNIT. MAY NEED ANOTHER FUEL TANK, BUT NEED TO DROP TANK AND SEE HOW BAD IT IS. EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AT THIS POINT AND THE CHARGE WOULD BE UP TO ME. I WAS TRYING TO WORK WITH NISSAN TO REPLACE THIS TANK IF NEED BE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN OLDER TRUCK, BUT IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND NEVER OFF ROAD IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT AND HAVE THE TANK DROPPED AT MY EXPENSE. IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE TANK THEY WILL THEN DECIDE WHAT THEY MIGHT PAY IF ANY. THEY ARE CALLING IT A GOOD WILL DECISION. I NEED A DEFINITE ANSWER FROM THEM ON HOW MUCH THEY WILL PAY BEFORE I DO THIS AND THEY WON'T DO THAT. MY THEORY IS THAT IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE YET ANOTHER RUSTED FUEL TANK WHICH WILL MAKE THE FOURTH ONE THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WITH NISSAN FRONTIERS 2002, AND 2003 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM FOR I HAVE GOOGLED THIS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUSTED FUEL TANKS ON THESE YEARS AND MAKE OF NISSAN. I AM A 66 YEAR OLD MAN, AND HAVE NEVER IN ALL MY YEARS OF OWNING AN AUTOMOBILE EVER HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL TANK BECAUSE IT WAS RUSTED OUT, LET ALONE 4 OF THEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR

Mileage: 36,433

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED DUE TO ITS STRAPS RUSTING THROUGH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK SEAL ON THE FILER NECK ALSO RUSTED OUT. UPDATED 05/15/12

Mileage: 80,000

FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK CAUSED BY CORRODED TANK PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY - THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT BOLTS INTO THE TANK RUSTED/CORRODED CAUSING A VAPOR LEAK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THIS REQUIRED CLEANING/REMOVING RUST/CORROSION RESEALING ASSEMBLY TO RETURN VEHICLE TO USABLE CONDITION. *KB

Mileage: 94,000

MY VEHICLE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I HAVE LOCATED NHTSA # 04V230000 THAT NOTES A RECALL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE FAULTY PUMPS THAT WERE PLACED IN THE VEHICLES. I WANT TO ADD THAT THESE OTHER FUEL PUMPS ARE ALSO NO GOOD. I AM IN THE COAST GUARD AND MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEAR THE SALTY OCEAN AIR SINCE I'VE OWNED IT (THE SAME REASON FOR THE CORROSION ON THE OTHER PUMPS). THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL FOR THESE PUMPS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

MY VEHICLE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I HAVE LOCATED NHTSA # 04V230000 THAT NOTES A RECALL. THE DEALER SAYS THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE FAULTY PUMPS THAT WERE PLACED IN THE VEHICLES. I WANT TO ADD THAT THESE OTHER FUEL PUMPS ARE ALSO NO GOOD. I AM IN THE COAST GUARD AND MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEAR THE SALTY OCEAN AIR SINCE I'VE OWNED IT (THE SAME REASON FOR THE CORROSION ON THE OTHER PUMPS). THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A RECALL FOR THESE PUMPS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CHECKED OUT BY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP . I WAS TOLD THAT A SMALL EVO LEAK ON GASKET OF FUEL SENDING UNIT. HAD CHECKED BY OWN MECHANIC HE CONFIRMED WHAT NISSAN HAD SAID. I NOTICED MORE COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2003 FRONTIER I THINK THIS ISSUED SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED OVER $600 TO FIX IF THE GAS TANK IS STILL USABLE. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I PURCHASED NISSAN 2003 FRONTIER NEW IN 2003. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE 2 PARTS -FUEL SENDER AND GAS TANK THAT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. THEY BOTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL -AFTER RESEARCHING FOUND THESE 2 PARTS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM AND A CAUSE FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO DEFECT AND LACK OF PROPER COATINGS AND SEALANTS FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE SOUGHT RESOLUTION FROM NISSAN USA AND WAS DENIED WITHOUT REVIEWU=ING ANY SUPPORTING INFO I HAD - THEY REFUSED ANY PICTURES, DOCUMENTATION OR TESTIMONY FROM DEALER OR MECHANIC, STATING THE PARTS WERE "OUT OF WARRANTY" THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE IT IS A DEFECTIVE PARTS ISSUE. I CONSULTED THE ATTY GENERAL OFFICE AND AFTER THEY CONTACTED NISSAN GOT THE SAME RESULT AS I DID. THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING VAPORS INTO THE ENGINE WHICH COULD HAVE EVENTUALLY POSED A SAFETY ISSUE - I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST AND DIAGNOSTIC OF THIS PROBLEM AND PARTS AND NISSAN SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH UNAWARE I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM THE FACTORY WITH DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE PARTS IN IT. *TR

Mileage: 80,708

2003 NISSAN FRONTIER GAS TANK ROTTED OUT AROUND FUEL SENDING UNIT. SMELLED GAS AND FUMES AND REMOVED THE TANK AND FOUND WATER GETS BETWEEN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND TANK CAUSING ROT HOLES TO FORM IN THE TANK. FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM HOLES WHEN TANK WAS FULL. *TR

Mileage: 49,000

I HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS IT LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THE SUPPLIER OF THESE TANKS NO LONGER MAKES THEM AS THEY ARE ALL COMING BACK AS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER XE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED A NEW FUEL TANK, FUEL SENDING UNIT, AND FUEL FILTER. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V230000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) FOR THE REGULAR 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE, HIS VEHICLE SHOULD ALSO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 98,000

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND I BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE. GAS TANK ROTTED OUT AROUND FUEL SENDING UNIT GASKET. FUEL SENDING UNIT AND GAS TANK REPLACED. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD GAS TANK BUT I DID PHOTOGRAPH IT DIGITALLY. *TR I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NEARLY 500,000 OF THESE VEHICLES BUT DEALER REPORTED MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL.

Mileage: 74,000

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND I BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE. GAS TANK ROTTED OUT AROUND FUEL SENDING UNIT GASKET. FUEL SENDING UNIT AND GAS TANK REPLACED. I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD GAS TANK BUT I DID PHOTOGRAPH IT DIGITALLY. *TR I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NEARLY 500,000 OF THESE VEHICLES BUT DEALER REPORTED MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL.

Mileage: 74,000

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING AN INSTALLATION OF A FUEL TANK PROTECTOR. I SPOKE WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE ABOUT A REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST TO REPLACE THE TANK (AS NOTED IN THE RECALL LETTER). I FAXED ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION TO NISSAN, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN FRONTIER SC, THE SUPER CHARGED MODEL, WITH 43,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVE ON THE NYS THRUWAY LAST SATURDAY. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS EXTREMELY LOW -10F. THE TRUCK WAS INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER. IT FINALLY WENT INTO A SLOW IDLE AND LOST ALL POWER. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO CALL FOR HELP. I HAD MY WIFE AND 14 MONTH OLD CHILD IN THE TRUCK WITH ME. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE HAD NO POWER, IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND IT HAD BEEN SNOWING AT NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILD. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF MAKING CALLS, I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT THE TRUCK STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY. THAT EVENING, AFTER THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS TIME, I WAS IN 4WD AND TRYING TO DRIVE THROUGH SNOW AT HIGHER RPMS WHEN THE TRUCK LOST POWER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BURDICK NISSAN, A DEALERSHIP IN CICERO, NY. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW AIR FLOW METER. I SEE THAT THE 2002 MODELS WERE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE RECALLED (R2013) AND THE FIX IS TO REPROGRAM THE EXISTING METER. THE COST OF THE PART (AIR FLOW METER) IS $600.00! *NM

Mileage: 42,900