2002 NISSAN FRONTIER Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V554000 (Steering). The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the U-joint replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in an active recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.

END PLAY WAS DISCOVERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND AT REST. A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING LOOSE. AFTER LIFTING THE VEHICLE'S HOOD, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED (3) LOOSE BOLTS LOCATED IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN AREA JUST AHEAD OF THE SPLINE. THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN THE (3) BOLTS BUT END PLAY DID NOT GO AWAY. IS THERE A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE BOLTS, A BUSHING OR SLEEVE BEARING LOCATED WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, OR A FAILED SNAP RING WHICH PREVENTS A BUSHING OR SLEEVE BEARING FROM MOVING ALONG THE STEERING COLUMN? PLEASE REFER TO FIGURE 6 OF THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL NOTICE.

WHILE DRIVING MY STEERING WHEEL SHAFT SNAPPED AND THEN I FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT. *TR

THE FRAME ON THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE DUE TO PERSISTENT CORROSION WHICH ALSO CARRIES THROUGHOUT OTHER PARTS UNDER THE VEHICLE LIKE THEIR STEERING. IN MY CASE, THE RUST IS SETTLING IN AND CAUSING THE FRAME TO DETERIORATE DESPITE IT ONLY HAVE 69K MILES. THE CONCERN IS OBVIOUSLY HAVING THE VEHICLE CRUMBLE DURING USE. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET BY OTHER OWNERS. HTTP://WWW.NISSANFORUMS.COM/PATHFINDER/117181-RUSTED-FRAME.HTML HTTP://NISSANPROBLEM.COM/2002-NISSAN-FRONTIER-STRUCTURE-FRAME-AND-MEMBERS-UNDERBODY-SHIELDS-PROBLEMS-DEFECTS/ HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/NISSAN_FRONTIER.HTML

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING) IN FEBRUARY OF 2013, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

I GOT A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO ME FOR LABOR AND PARTS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $208 TO REMOVE SOME RUSTED BOLTS THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED TO GET TO RECALLED PART.. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN CORP. THEY REVIEWED THE INFORMATION AND SENT ME A LETTER STATING "IT FALLS OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY". MY COMPLAINT IS, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR A RECALLED PART. IF THE PART WAS NOT FAULTY I WOULDN'T BE REMOVING THOSE BOLTS ANYWAY. I THINK NISSAN CORP. SHOULD INCUR ANY COST ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THE RECALL ON THE "COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN RECALL". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY PULL TOWARDS THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO NOTIFY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V554000 THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY TO MY 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER....MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING. I ALMOST CRASHED TWICE AND BUT MANAGED TO LAND THE TRUCK SAFELY ON A FRIEND'S MOTHER'S FRONT LAWN. AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC ON SCENE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A STEERING COLUMN BREAK OFF LIKE THIS ONE DID. IT WAS TOWED BY A FLATBED FROM THERE AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, BUT THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE TO FIX IT. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE THIS WEEK, AND I DID BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, A 2009 FRONTIER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, IT BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTRACT STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WOULD BE SERVICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. BY THAT TIME, THE ALIGNMENT FAILURE BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO WORSEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,412.

THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO FRONT TIRES CONTINUES TO FEATHER (WEAR OFF UNEVENLY) AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT BY THE NISSAN DEALER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD ACCORDING TO TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THE VEHICLE AS INDICATED BY THE LOW ODOMETER READING (LESS THE 7,000 MILES AFTER A YEAR).