Posted: Sep 27 2006 at 12:07pm | IP Logged

2002 Frontier. Bought October 2002 with 60,000 kilometre/ 3 year warranty.

Shortly after 60,000 kilometres (about 36,000 miles) but after 4 years of use, there was a rattle from the exhaust sytem. And almost immediately after that the covers of one of the catalytic converters came loose and fell off.

Now at 62,800 kM and there is another rattle; apparently there are two convertes on this V6 3.5 litre truck?

Sounds like the covers are loose on the second one also; no warranty remaining anyway! Converters seem to be designed to last exactly more than 60,000?

Overall this truck; assembled in the US does not have the same quality as our first 1991 plain-jane basic four cylinder Nissan pickup from Japan which got us, previously Toyota users, buying Nissans.

This frontier has way too many unnecessary features/options and had poor original tyres that wore down quickly. Therefore not sure I'd buy another Frontier unless I could get a basic (absolutely stripped down, very little to go wrong version). Although so far with low mileage it's been reliable.  

Posted: Sep 27 2006 at 12:18pm | IP Logged

2002 Nissan Frontier.

At 62,000 kMs. (4 years use)

High mounted (LEDs) brake light was found partly full of water, cleared water and dried unit. Worked OK.

Has now (after another few thousand kilometres) stopped working; the manually switched (bulb) cargo light works OK.

Any comments on the reliability or otherwise of these LED units. I'm tempted to take it apart take out the LEDs and convert it to using regular lamps/bulbs.

Advice welcome. 

PS. In fact the small things that are going wrong now seem to be happening just past 60,000 kilometres which coincidentally was the original (but 3 year) warranty period! Hope this isn't an indication. Our 1991 four cylinder Nissan pickup was fourth ownership 11 years old and almost 300,000 kilometres before it expired. 

Posted: Sep 27 2006 at 1:10pm | IP Logged

Serveral things are known Issues

1 Exhaust manifolds crack

2 Rear main seal leaks

3 There also have been some issues with lower intale manifolds leaking antifreeze

4 If its 4x4 the lower shock mounts have been known to crack at the welds but thats if you do a lot of off roading its a simple fix. also Keep an eye on the lower ball joints

I am not an expert mechanic but these are issues I have had and a couple of other people I know have also had.