Used 2003 Nissan Frontier Consumer Reviews
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Ole Miss Update Last one
I just wanted to update my post of my Frontier Crew Cab long bed with 3.3 engine. I had to replace the A/C compressor around 75,000 miles, replaced a headlight last week, and a battery at the seven year point. I chose to put new shocks all around and replace the brake pads at 85,000 miles. I will have new hoses and belts put on when I have the timing belt replaced at 100,000 miles. Not bad for a ten year old truck with 90,000 miles. I take very good care of this truck and I plan to drive it daily for a few more years. Update 2016: My wife and I have a job that allows us to commute together, so I haven't put too many miles on the truck as of late. This truck was perfect for coaching soccer and throwing all the gear in the back and still have enough room for a few players. Recently, I hauled a 6-12 U-Haul trailer, loaded to the max, about 400 miles. The truck got about 10 miles to the gallon, but handled it just fine. I still get 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway unloaded. My 2003 truck is now 13 years old with 98,000 miles. I had to replace the knock sensor, so I went ahead and had the timing belt replaced and a full tune-up done while the mechanic had it. The spark wires and plugs were the original, so I replaced them, along with all the belts, hoses, and transmission flush. It was about $2,200 dollars, but it's maintenance that needed to be done, and was much cheaper then the dealership. I keep the truck in the garage and it's very clean inside and out. My mechanic offered me $7,000 for it and told me don't sell it without talking to him. I don't really need a truck and was tempted, but, as I told him, it's like an old friend. After owning this truck since new, I can only think of two things I would do differently. First, I would have gotten power windows and door locks. Having said that, the deal was on "this" truck and another truck would have cost me more money that I couldn't afford at the time. Secondly, avoid Nissan dealerships. I do all the easy maintenance myself. Things like oil changes, disk brakes pads, coolant flushes etc, but I avoid the Nissan dealership here because they are very expensive, and I don't think they are competent. I have had three, what I consider, minor recalls on the truck. Even when I bring them the notice that I was sent by Nissan, they seem to be clueless as to what to do. To this date none of the recalls have been accomplished. I notified Nissan USA and the dealership still was clueless and failed to act. Find yourself a good local mechanic and avoid the dealership. One last update on my faithful old Frontier. I sold ole Frank the Frontier. The truck was in great shape when I sold it. It was December 2016. I went to Nissan to look at their Frontiers. I could have gotten a nicely equipped Frontier cheaper than the Colorado, but the style just seemed so old and outdated. The gas mileage was worse than my 2003 Frontier, and I remembered my previous Nissan dealership dealings, so I said no. They offered me $4,000, for my 2003 Frontier. That was $2,000 less than the Chevy dealership. I bought a new Chevy Colorado. Whoever got my Frontier got a good old truck because there was nothing wrong with it. I went a dealership on December 31st 2016 and they offered me a good deal, so I upgraded. It's now May 2017, and if I could do it all over again, I would take back my Frontier and give them this Colorado. The Colorado is a very nice pickup with some great features, but at $30,000 it's much more than I need. If anyone showed up at my door with my old pickup, I would take back my Frontier and let them take over payments on my Chevy Colorado.
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Great little truck in general
When I was looking for a truck I needed something that I could get into relatively cheap that I could haul my motorcycle around with, and last a long time. After doing lots of research I decided on the Frontier. I bought the truck with 75k on it 2 years ago, and it currently has just under 100k. The previous owner took good care of it and gave me a bunch of maintenance receipts and so far it's been trouble free except for a bad knock sensor, but that doesn't really effect anything. That said, it's not very powerful and it drinks gas like a V8. It should have had a 6 speed but with this truck you trade power and efficiency for reliability. If your Ok with that, then it's great.
- XE-V6 Crew CabMSRP: $17,999155 mi away
- SVE-V6 Crew CabMSRP: $11,204376 mi away
- XE-V6 Crew CabMSRP: $7,995388 mi away
Love My Truck - Great Truck - Won't let it go
Bought my 03 Frontier new in 1/03, haven't had any complaints, now has 191k miles on it, having some issues but that's expected I guess. Speed sensors on both side needed replaced, now having to replace rear seal. Might be bandaging it but really don't want to let the truck go. Only complaint was local Nissan dealership for service or lack there of, but found local shop just as good and less expensive.
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Too many issues
My previous truck was a 95 Nissan Hardbody XE V6 ext Cab. I traded it in on my current truck and only had to replace the fan belt when it broke at about 100k. Loved that Truck. I have had numerous issues with this one however. I have had to replace the clutch and the AC compressor at 62k. The speed sensor had been on its way out since before then, and finally quit outright at about 85k. Now at 95k and need to replace AC comp again. Nissan dealer installed it.
Great Light Duty Pickup
I test drove all the light duty trucks before I bought this in 2007. Tacoma was small, lower to the ground, and more bouncy. Mazda felt loose, Ranger couldn't touch the interior space. The Nissan is stable, feels larger than others, has great towing capacity (3000#), and I get 27 mpg. For the size, it has power you wouldn't expect. Best of all, it has had no major problems, and that's at 175,000 miles.
Buy It
I bought my Nissain Frontier new in November 2003. I've owned Toyota, Chevy (Luv), Mazda, Ford small pickups. I like to have a small truck. If you need a heavy hauler, get a full size truck. I've put 65,000 miles on the truck and have not had a single problem. It tows a trailer with ease and goes from city to highway driving with ease. It's quieter on the Highway than my Honda Odyssey. I get 20 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway which is better gas mileage than most get. Only bad I can say the A/C compresser has always had a bone chilling "clang" when it kicks in.
2003 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
I've owned this truck for 2 years and I've had NO problems. Traded my Tacoma in on this with no regrets. It has a better ride, more comfort and much better looks. I'm now a Nissan guy.
who needs a better truck ?!
Bought it used -it had 40k,I've driven it another 50 thou' and not even the slightest issue. All right,the interior could look a little better (98 Pathfinder) but that ain't a biggie. All I've had to do is change the oil in it. Sprayed long box is great. I've towed bobcats, trailers and motorboat with it - like a breeze. Bridgestone tires are perfect and I've never regretted that it's "only" a 4x2...just need to know how to drive it(with a litlle feel on ice&snow). 5spd Manual tranny is wonderful as well. I just simply love it all and keep it forever.My wife and 2 kids like it too, awesome value. still almost like new ...
Great Truck
Starts up nice. Drives like a full size truck. Step on the gas and she goes nice for a v6. Shifts smooth and stops on a dime. Turning radius is great. Has a little bit of wind noise around door somewhere. I will figure it out sooner or later. Had to trade a manual transmission vehicle for this cause I could not use right shoulder to well and this truck has everthing easy to reach. Pulls a 2 place quad trailer very well. I forget it's back there. That is how well it pulls and rides back there. Hope I dont have to get rid of this truck for any health reasons. This truck could last me forever. Bought it with 54 thousand miles, clean as a whistle. Got a full 60k service done at dealer. Top shape!
One Tough Truck
Bought mine new. I now have over 140,000 on it. All I've ever had to do is change oil. I've only had to replace the brake pads once. The tires average over 60,000 before I replace them. It's never even had to be aligned. Toughest vehicle I've ever owned. It still looks brand new. It's worked hard and now my son drives it. Liked it so well I bought a 2008 Frontier to keep it company. Nissan builds the most reliable truck out there.
You had me at supercharged!
I have owned many different makes & models, this truck made me a fan of Nissan. I wish it had better gas mileage but with a super charged V6 I can't complain to much. I am sort of a shade tree mech. & the ease of changing brakes, oil, filters, etc. was actually surprising. Thank you Nissan for a truck with great style & performance. The next time I buy a vehicle it will be another Nissan.
Great truck
I've had this truck now for over a year. And with 90,000 on the odom. Ive given it 1 full engine and tranny tune- up. It cruises on the hiway at 2500 rpm's doing 70 mph. And Idle's Smooth as glass. I give it 4 out of 5 Starz
My next truck....
I drove a '99 Frontier XE 4cyl King Cab until it had 207,000 miles in it when I worked for a Nissan dealer as a parts driver, and I can tell you this is the most durable truck I've ever been in. The updates are mostly cosmetic between '99 and '03, so I feel this experience relevent. I'm planning on buying a 2003 Frontier sometime next year.
Nissan doesn't care about gas mileage!
This is a good little truck for people who don't need a full size. The ride is very good, better than an '07 Tacoma IMO. Very close to my '00 Pathfinder. Decent power. Terrible gas mileage, city or highway. In the 16-13 MPG range. For a small truck it should be better. 4 doors are convenient but leg room in rear is very tight. Ok for short rides, but anyone near 6' will be uncomfortable. The tires have held up very well. I have almost 90,000 miles and they are just getting to the point that I should replace them.
Nissan king cab 2wd
Much higher up than the comparable 2 wheel drive Toyota. Very solid and fun to drive. The stick shift shifts great. And less expensive that the Toyota. I think it is more truck for the money...Would purchase another and my other car is a 1998 Toyota T100!
Fun economical compact pickup
There is a fair amount of power in this 4 cylinder.
Hurts so good . . .
Nice rig. I had a 1994, same setup, 4cyl 5spd. Very dependable. Had a problem with the seats on long commutes. The seats would cut off circulation to my legs. I wound up retro-fitting some 280Z seats. I thought they had this solved in the newer rigs. No way! This is not the car for a 6' tall man.
2003 Nissan Frontier
I've had no problems with my Frontier so far. My truck already has over 30,000 miles in less than one year. I tow a Mastercraft ski boat as well as a 16ft. enclosed motorcycle trailer and find that the Frontier has more than enough power. The gas milage suffers when towing. I find that I'm averaging 18 mpg around town and will drop to 12 to 14 mpg when towing heavy trailers.
First Nissan
I LOVE this truck! I initially wanted this vehicle because of the aggressive styling, but ultimately bought it for the value and practicality. Even for a small V6, it can move if it needs to. I don't have the same mileage issue as most people (I get about 20 per gal) and I have a bit of a lead foot. No mechanical troubles, except that the check engine light went on when I put on a locking gas cap. With the birth of my second child, I found that the backseat can't handle an infant carseat without squishing the front passenger. Still I only paid $17,500 including the optional power and sport packages, so this is truly the best vehicle I have ever had for the money.
Not all it cracks up to be
i got the truck on a friday, by the following tuesday i didn't want it anymore. at 200 miles the transmission started shifting real hard and iratic, to the point of when you get on the hwy it literally slams you around. another problem is after running the truck for a while when you stop at a stop light it runs rough and shakes. Another thing when fueling the pump doesnt sense the tank is full and keeps pumping and gets gas all over(bad valve in tank). Lastly occasionally when cornering the right side speakers cut out.
are ya kidding
I just bought a new tundra, (let my wife take it over). Took over her frontier for work. It's a tuff little truck that can take a beating and gets great gas mileage. 4 cyl bear basics does the job, been getting 24 mpg driving across New Orleans. Pot holes, railroad tracks, ya name it, handles it all. Be my work horse till she wears out, gets wrecked, flooded or stolen. 29k on it.
Nice but could be even better
I bought my Frontier as a dual-purpose vehicle; a tow rig for my 240SX race car, and off-road toy for mountian trips. As a tow rig the truck is just adequate; the long wheel base (CC/LB) makes it very stable, but the engine is a little underpowered. If I had known they were coming out with a 4L 265-HP version I might have waited to buy my truck. As noted, the gas mileage is pretty poor, but part of that surely stems from the low gearing (4.63:1 rear) needed to compensate for the underpowered engine. OTOH, as an off-road truck it shines. With just a change of tires (M/Ts) the truck turns into a 4-wheeling beast; I can go everywhere my buddy's Jeep Rubicon goes-until the beds starts to drag :)
Another trustworthy truck!
For 16 years I've driven two NISSAN Trucks ('84 bought used in '89) & ('95 bought new), this is my third. Not one problem that wasn't normal wear & tear (brakes/tires/clutch)! Extremely low maintenance costs! This truck has many more creature comforts & storage options than my past trucks!
Getting What you Paid For
It is what is is ... a small truck, as opposed to full sized trucks. A great truck all around. Sound design and feel.
Great times and good fun!
It was between the frontier and the tacoma and when it came down to money, power, and interior room there was no comparison. The extended bed liner and the 4wd drive makes it unstopable. It has gotten me out of many sticky situations. Test drive and you will see too....
great truck
had to downsize rom dodge ram..miss the horsepower but overall very happy with truck...fells bigger than it is
Frontier's Amazing
I have always had Toyotas, I thought I'd try Nissan. The Nissan feels heavier, but has better center of gravity feelilng. Has outstanding noise supression cab. In WV, running 70 up hills in 5th gear feels good! I had to drive 3 hours in 4WD in near white-out snow, the vehicle was very stable and reliable, rarely broke traction and handled well. My only disappointment is the consistent 15-17 mpg. However, considering all the other pluses I have no regrets. Frontier delivers on demand every time.
Under the Radar Value
I've always been aware of the Froniter but I never realized what a value it really is. Quality Japanese craftsmanship, the right features (Alloys, A/C, CD), slightly larger motor and you get a super-cab for the price of a similarly equipped, regular cab Ranger.
You get what you pay for...
I wanted something simple with a low overall cost of ownership. So far so good with 9000 miles on the odometer. 4 cylinder is peppy and 5 speed transmission is nicely matched. Mileage is 23 MPG in mixed driving. A/C really sucks the power-I turn it off when I need some speed. Interior is nice. Exterioe styling is great. Made in the USA-I like the idea of keeping those 5800 Americans working hard in Smyrna, TN.
One Owner 16 Years of Satisfaction!
After 16 years of ownership, I can honestly say I'd buy another without hesitation. Extremely dependable and had only let me down once but it was only because the battery went dead after 10 years!
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VERY GOOD TRUCK!
The 2003 Nissan Frontier my wife and I purchased is quite a value. It is very solidly built, quiet inside, and has the feeling of a much larger truck while driving it. I have been a Toyota fanatic for years, but the Frontier is by far a much improved truck than before and is a greater value than the Tacoma.
What a TRUCK!!
This is one truck that you don't want to skip. It has a decent 143 hp 4cyl engine that gets great economy, especially with today's gas prices. Between my first 2 tanks of gas, I've gotten 25.2 mpg in mixed driving. That's BETTER than EPA highway, and the engine isn't even totally broken in yet! The seating is really comfortable, and you feel as though you're driving a larger vehicle, only it's very easy to park. The HVAC controls are clean and intuitively laid out. In fact, the cleanliness of the whole dashboard is great. If you want a real truck, but don't want to get something unreliable (American made), or expensive, check out the Frontier!
Love My Nissan
Great truck. Bought 1 year old with 9800 miles. Better styling and performance than the Toyota costing about $3K more. 3 years and 64K miles later, still enjoy this truck. Some minor problems encountered, including A/C high pressure hose replaced twice, power steering pump leak and some unexplained rattling underneath the driver. Dealer has been generally cooperative. The supercharged engine delivers great torque but at a cost of barely 14 mpg around town. I now drive my wife's car during the week due to having to fill up every 4-5 days. All in all, a great truck and very reliable and still looks great for a 4 year old.
First nissan truck
Bought it last year with 139,000 miles and I could say, it’s been a good reliable car,just the regular maintenance, my only complaint is about gas,have no idea if someone has the same issues as me. Problems with the distributor twice.
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Kick Butt Nissan
This truck is great. You get the best parts of an SUV, but you still have the convenience of a truck bed. Great towing capacity and the long bed makes it very stable. Back seat is a little cramped, but fine for younger kids, dogs or just storage. I only average about 19 MPG which I think could be a little higher. Funny thing is that it never seems to differ between hwy and city, or even towing my boat.The 3.3 liter is tough and strong, but not quite the pick I was looking for. I wish Nissan offered the 3.5 liter V-6 in the Frontier. I think that would be the icing on top and make this truck absolutely perfect.
Great little big truck
Bought it with 54K and have fell in love with it. It took a few months to get use to it since I had had a 95 S-10. But now since I have driven it for several months its great. Mileage is around 19 since I put a K&N air filter in it. It is a little under powered but not bad. I would probably like the super charged model better but the gas mileage is probably less. Overall fun driving truck. It feels like a big truck.
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Nissan Frontier
I really enjoy the Nissan Frontier so far. The style of the exterior is what sold me. I also like the extend a bed feature. The interior controls are not easy to see with the shift lever in the way. But so far, that is the only minor concern I would have with the vehicle.
Best of The Compacts... By Far
I bought this truck after looking and test driving all the others except the Chevy. The others just did not measure up to the Frontier in most areas, especially in the 4WD ride quality. The XE Crew Cab, by far, was smoothest riding and the quietest running down the highway. The Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma sounded "Tinny" when shutting the doors , where as the Frontiers doors shut with a solid "thud". The 3.3 V6 engine is a very close second to the Toyota 3.4 V6. (Only because I like DOHC engines) The transmission is one of the best shifting out there.
Best truck ever!
228 thousand miles and rides like new Amazing on the snow. highly recommended
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Great little truck
I have a 2003 frontier V6. I bought in 2005 with 28,000 miles. It’s now 2021 and the truck has about 200,000 miles and is still going. The truck is a workhorse. I have hauled trailers here and there and the V6 helps a bunch. The gas mileage is ok and if your hauling a trailer it’s not that great on mpg. Did the timing belts and water pump around 100,000 miles. Then again around 170,000. Small repairs here and there. The valve seals were leaking around 170,000 so had those redone. Now at 200,000 the catalytic converters are going bad but it still runs. I would give this truck 4-5 stars. The V-6 gives you some horsepower when needed on the highway ect. I ended up getting a dodge 3500 dually but I still have the Nissan for zipping around town and taking the kayaks to the river. I have the desert runner v6. It doesn’t have 4x4.
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AWSOME TRUCK
This truck is all and more than I hoped it would be. It's fast when I want, has awsome 4wd capability, and drives like a 2wd.I drove a long way to get it [ 4wd sc not available in my area] and have been happy that I did. Only flaws, kind of flashy for my taste, and I only wonder what the guy was thinking when he made the instrument panel the way he did...awful,but I can live with it!
Performance at it's best
This truck is a must have for young consumers with a lot of cash. I love the beauty and comfort of the fronty when travelling on those gravel roads. And when I mean gravel I mean gravel. The interior design is quite to eye popper. I love the sound system. Nothing comes close to my fronty with the loud supercharger, giving me the power.
Can't live w/o a truck
stop by to pick up my tags for the 03 Altima I just bought last week. My 94 Ford Ranger 4x4 ( 170k miles) was killing me on gas. They had just got in this Sand Dune color Frontier. After a quick test drive I couldn't stand it anymore I had driven a truck for 8 yrs and had to have another. The ride is awesome and the long bed absorbs most of the road bounce. My wife loves the truck more than me I think. Anyway I was able to use my companies VPP (vehicle purchase program) agreement with Nissan to knock off $3800.
No thanks, I'd rather have my GMC back
Comfort is lacking. Front seats are lousy. Rear seat needs more room. Sound system sounds cheap. At first I liked the ride, but once you inflate the tires to an appropriate level the ride goes all jiggly on you due to chassis flimsiness. Replaced shocks with decent ones which helped but still sucks. Nissan can't fix driveshaft issue after 3 tries, common problem I'm told. Runs out of breath on the frreway.
EXCELLENT VEHICLE
I LOVE MY NISSAN. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN.
S/C all the way!
The only problem with this truck is the crappy gas mileage... nissan rules!
Enjoy the Ride!
I LOVE this truck! I have almost 45000 miles on it now and not a single problem. The interior does not have the cheap look and feel that the Toyota has. The interior is also extremely user friendly. Once you get rid of those horrible BFG rugged trail tires for a real All Terrain tire, I suggest the Yokohama Geolander A/T+II's, the off-road ability is amazing. I had NO wet road traction with the BFG's and the Yoko's solved that problem. I ordered mine with the 5spd manual which has a 4LO crawl ratio of nearly 40:1. Gas mielage is good for a 4x4... I average 20mpg on the highway and 15-16 in town, also while towing my '72 240Z on the hwy (3300lbs w/trailer) I averaged 16mpg @ 65-70mph.
Gas guzzler
i am extremely disappointed on how thirsty this truck is. right now i average around 13.5mpg. i previously owned a V8 4wd tundra that had a better fuel mileage than this truck. on trips i would be averaging 15mpg and that is driving conservatively. i am surprised that a truck this small would eat more gas than a bigger v8 truck. (it took me 3 fillups to get back from san francisco to los angeles.) the rockford fosgate sound system is not impressive either. i ended up adding another amp, and replaced the weak subwoofer with better aftermarket items.
AMAZING
Much better, and cheaper than the Tacoma.
valuable exposure
overall, vehicle provides a continual high value performance. this is based on constant positive responses to all handling manuever attempts.