Nissan Frontier 2005–2021 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation (D40)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,342 complaints, 1,960 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200590kmedian
- 200680kmedian
- 200782kmedian
- 200885kmedian
- 200960kmedian
- 201041kmedian
- 201148kmedian
- 201243kmedian
- 201327kmedian
- 201435kmedian
- 2015—too few
- 2016—too few
- 2017—too few
- 2018—too few
- 2019—too few
- 2020—too few
- 2021—too few
The 2005 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 532
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2005
- Transmission and driveline262 reports · median 102,000 mi
- Fuel system119 reports · median 58,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system106 reports · median 96,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2005: Engine and engine cooling; Air bags — frontal; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 80,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 617
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2006
- Transmission and driveline220 reports · median 103,000 mi
- Fuel system174 reports · median 51,000 mi
- Engine82 reports · median 106,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2006: Engine and engine cooling; Fuel system, gasoline — storage; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2007 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 82,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 520
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2007
- Transmission and driveline222 reports · median 108,000 mi
- Fuel system113 reports · median 52,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system75 reports · median 71,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2007: Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2008 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 85,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 136
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2008
- Transmission and driveline54 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Engine26 reports
- Airbag system21 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2008: Air bags — frontal; Equipment — electrical; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2009 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 60,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 37
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2009
- Airbag system9 reports
- Transmission and driveline8 reports
- Fuel system4 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2009: Air bags — frontal; Equipment — electrical. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2010 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 41,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 59
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2010
- Airbag system19 reports
- Transmission and driveline15 reports
- Electrical system9 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — frontal; Equipment — electrical; Child seat — tether. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 48,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 64
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2011
- Airbag system16 reports
- Brakes12 reports
- Transmission and driveline9 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2011: Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 43,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 78
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2012
- Airbag system23 reports
- Transmission and driveline20 reports
- Engine12 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2012: Electrical system — wiring; Suspension — front; Engine and engine cooling. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 27,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 48
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2013
- Airbag system15 reports
- Electrical system8 reports
- Transmission and driveline6 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2013: Electrical system — wiring. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- 35,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 42
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2014
- Airbag system11 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise7 reports
- Electrical system6 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2014: Seat belts — rear/other; Electrical system — wiring. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 33
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2015
- Airbag system10 reports
- Transmission and driveline5 reports
- Body structure5 reports
The 2016 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 43
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2016
- Airbag system10 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise9 reports
- Engine8 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2016: Electrical system — wiring. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 38
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2017
- Fuel and propulsion system10 reports
- Electrical system6 reports
- Transmission and driveline6 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2017: Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 25
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2018
- Electrical system5 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise4 reports
- Brakes3 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2018: Back over prevention — sensing system; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 28
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2019
- Transmission and driveline7 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise6 reports
- Airbag system5 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2019: Back over prevention — sensing system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 23
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2020
- Transmission and driveline12 reports
- Engine5 reports
- Electrical system3 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2020: Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2021 Nissan Frontier
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 19
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2021
- Electrical system5 reports
- Transmission and driveline5 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise4 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2021: Power train — automatic transmission. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2005 reports latest and the 2013 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2005 has had 8 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 7 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2005–2021 Nissan Frontier reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 78,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 133,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,960
- Recalls
- 18
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline36.8% of complaints · median 101,000 mi
- Fuel system17.8% of complaints · median 54,000 mi
- Engine13.3% of complaints · median 99,000 mi
Documented problems
- Transmission / Cooling System2005–2010
- Engine - Timing Chain2005–2019
- Powertrain Change2020–2021
- Body/Frame - Corrosion2005–2021
Owners filed 2,342 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2021 Nissan Frontier; the transmission and driveline leads with 36.8% of them, and half of the 1,960 that record an odometer reading came by 78,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 46,000 and 109,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2005–2021 Nissan Frontier last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2005–2021 Nissan Frontier, half of the 1,960 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 78,000 miles and 90% by 133,000 miles.
105 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 14 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Frontier reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Frontier 2005–2021 · 1,960 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 106 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 14 complaints (0.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 19,232
- 25%
- 46,000
- Median
- 77,536
- 75%
- 109,000
- 90%
- 133,100
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 106 | 5.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 36 | 1.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 30 | 1.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 25 | 1.3% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 31 | 1.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 34 | 1.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 55 | 2.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 74 | 3.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 71 | 3.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 88 | 4.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 98 | 5.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 78 | 4.0% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 70 | 3.6% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 66 | 3.4% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 74 | 3.8% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 78 | 4.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 94 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 78 | 4.0% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 89 | 4.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 70 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 79 | 4.0% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 60 | 3.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 78 | 4.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 61 | 3.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 61 | 3.1% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 41 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 45 | 2.3% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 35 | 1.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 24 | 1.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 26 | 1.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 17 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 9 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 14 | 0.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Frontier problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Frontier 2005–2021
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Fuel system416 reports54,00042,000–74,000Fuel system: 416 reports, median 54,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 74,000 miles.
- Airbag system228 reports66,00034,000–106,000Airbag system: 228 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 34,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system207 reports73,00052,000–97,000Fuel and propulsion system: 207 reports, median 73,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 97,000 miles.
- Electrical system174 reports76,00049,000–108,000Electrical system: 174 reports, median 76,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 108,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system256 reports97,00080,000–117,000Engine and its cooling system: 256 reports, median 97,000 miles, middle half 80,000 to 117,000 miles.
- Engine312 reports99,00078,000–120,000Engine: 312 reports, median 99,000 miles, middle half 78,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline862 reports101,00081,000–121,000Transmission and driveline: 862 reports, median 101,000 miles, middle half 81,000 to 121,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 862 | 36.8% | 101,000 | 81,000–121,000 |
| Fuel system | 416 | 17.8% | 54,000 | 42,000–74,000 |
| Engine | 312 | 13.3% | 99,000 | 78,000–120,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 256 | 10.9% | 97,000 | 80,000–117,000 |
| Airbag system | 228 | 9.7% | 66,000 | 34,000–106,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 207 | 8.8% | 73,000 | 52,000–97,000 |
| Electrical system | 174 | 7.4% | 76,000 | 49,000–108,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 122 | 5.2% | 80,000 | 20,000–111,000 |
| Body structure | 70 | 3.0% | 35,000 | 10,000–72,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 66 | 2.8% | 87,000 | 18,000–115,000 |
System by system, in words
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 78,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 36.8% of complaints (862 reports, 769 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 101,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 121,000 miles.
A single system taking 36.8% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The fuel system accounts for 17.8% of complaints (416 reports, 379 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 74,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 13.3% of complaints (312 reports, 261 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 99,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 78,000 and 120,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 10.9% of complaints (256 reports, 232 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 80,000 and 117,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 9.7% of complaints (228 reports, 146 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,000 and 106,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 8.8% of complaints (207 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 73,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 97,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2005–2021 Frontier
Transmission / Cooling System 2005–2010
The 'strawberry milkshake of death' (SMOD). The automatic transmission fluid cooler is integrated inside the radiator end tank; when the internal seal fails, engine coolant and ATF cross-mix. The fluid turns pink and foamy, the transmission slips, overheats and fails. Reported as early as roughly 60,000 miles with a cluster around 110,000. The only durable fix is a radiator with an external cooler plus transmission replacement. A nationwide class action filed in 2010 covering the Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder produced a settlement in 2013; the associated warranty extensions have expired.
Engine - Timing Chain 2005–2019
VQ40DE timing chain guide and tensioner wear causing rattle at start-up and, in advanced cases, cam timing codes.
Powertrain Change 2020–2021
Not a defect, but essential for grouping: MY2020-2021 D40 trucks use the VQ38DD and the Jatco JR913E 9-speed. Complaints on 2020-2021 units concern the new powertrain and share nothing mechanically with the 2005-2019 VQ40DE/RE5R05A failure modes above.
Body/Frame - Corrosion 2005–2021
Frame corrosion reports in salt-belt states across the long production run.
Before you buy a 2005–2021 Frontier: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,960 mileage-tagged complaints, 18 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 18 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check transmission / cooling system on 2005–2010 automatics (most heavily documented); risk persists on later radiators of the same design cars. The 'strawberry milkshake of death' (SMOD). The automatic transmission fluid cooler is integrated inside the radiator end tank; when the internal seal fails, engine coolant and ATF cross-mix. The fluid turns pink and…
- Check engine - timing chain on 2005–2019 (4.0L) cars. VQ40DE timing chain guide and tensioner wear causing rattle at start-up and, in advanced cases, cam timing codes.
- Check powertrain change on 2020–2021 cars. Not a defect, but essential for grouping: MY2020-2021 D40 trucks use the VQ38DD and the Jatco JR913E 9-speed. Complaints on 2020-2021 units concern the new powertrain and share nothing mechanically with the 2005-2019…
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 46,000 and 109,000 miles, with a median of 78,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the fuel system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The fuel system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 54,000, 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.
Frontier problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi37% below | At 90k mi61% below | At 120k mi83% below | At 150k mi95% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 81,000–121,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 42,000–74,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 78,000–120,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 80,000–117,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 34,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 52,000–97,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 49,000–108,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Frontier 2005–2021 · 1,960 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 37% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 61% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.7% of reports (14) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2005–2021 Nissan Frontier recalls (18)
NHTSA records 18 recall campaigns 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.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (3), the airbag system (2), the transmission and driveline (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
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.
Feb 2023 · 2008–2011 · Air BagsA detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
What can happen. A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944…
Sep 2022 · 2020–2021 · Power TrainA vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
What can happen. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: · Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles…
Jun 2022 · 2020–2021 · Power TrainA vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
What can happen. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
Sep 2019 · 2018–2019 · Back Over PreventionThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti…
What can happen. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners…
Aug 2018 · 2017–2018 · Electrical SystemIf the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key…
What can happen. If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may…
Mar 2016 · 2016 · Electrical SystemAn electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Frontier V6 vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to March 7, 2016. The starter motor wire harness may have been installed in an incorrect position, allowing the starter harness terminal to…
What can happen. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the starter wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer…
Jul 2014 · 2014 · Seat BeltsIf the seat belt anchor bolt is not attached as designed, that increases the risk of injury in the event of a…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Frontier Crew Cab vehicles manufactured June 11, 2014 to June 26, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with an out of specification anchor nut installed on the weld nut plate…
What can happen. If the seat belt anchor bolt is not attached as designed, that increases the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt anchor attachment and repair it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer…
Feb 2014 · 2012–2014 · Electrical SystemThe bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the…
What can happen. The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began…
Sep 2012 · 2012 · SuspensionIf the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness…
What can happen. If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer…
Dec 2011 · 2012 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the…
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 Infiniti fx, model year 2012 Infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 Nissan Frontier, model year 2011-2012 Nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 Nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts…
What can happen. If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Oct 2010 · 2005–2006 · Engine and Engine CoolingThis could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, Infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 Frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ecm) relay that has a…
What can happen. This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the ecm relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Sep 2010 · 2008–2010 · EquipmentOverheated batteries could result in a fire.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.
What can happen. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on…
Aug 2010 · 2010 · Child SeatIn the event of a crash, the tether anchorage could separate from the vehicle seat increasing the risk of…
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 Nissan Frontier king cab vehicles manufactured from june 10, 2010 through june 26, 2010. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the tether anchorage could separate from the vehicle seat increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in a child seat that uses the tether anchor.
The free fix. The seat gusset containing the tether anchorage will be replaced with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 30, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
May 2010 · 2010 · SuspensionIf the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, qx56, Frontier, xterra, and pathfinder vehicles manufactured from november 19, 2009 through march 3, 2010. The lower control link assembly has two cylindrical collars forming the inboard attachment…
What can happen. If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Mar 2010 · 2006, 2008 · Fuel System, GasolineThis could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2006 and model year 2008 Frontier, xterra and pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument…
What can happen. This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank with a new one that has a modified float arm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to…
Dec 2008 · 2005–2009 · Air BagsThis issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash…
The defect. Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, Frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new…
What can happen. This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These…
Jan 2008 · 2008 · EquipmentThis standard specifies requirements for tire selection to prevent overloading.
The defect. Nissan is recalling 5,523 my 2008 titan, Frontier and xterra vehicles for failing to comply to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, 'Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles.' The tire placard lists an incorrect vehicle…
What can happen. This standard specifies requirements for tire selection to prevent overloading.
The free fix. Nissan will mail a correct tire placard and installation instructions to owners of the affected vehicles. The recall began on february 25, 2008. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Mar 2006 · 2005–2006 · Fuel System, GasolineThis may result in a fuel spill which in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The defect. On certain king cab trucks, in a severe side impact crash, there is a possibility that deformation of the vehicle's body could cause the fuel filler cap tether to be stretched to the point of unscrewing the fuel filler cap.
What can happen. This may result in a fuel spill which in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel cap tether pin assembly with a modified one free of charge. The recall began on april 24, 2006. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,342 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 64 (2.7%)
- Fires
- 20
- Injury reports
- 45
- Fatality reports
- 3
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Frontier problems by model year
The 2006 drew the most complaints of this generation, 617, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2020 the fewest among the 16 years with at least 20 complaints, 23. A typical year drew about 46.
That makes the 2006 stand out at roughly 13.6 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 532 | 476 | 90,000 | Transmission and driveline (262) | 3 |
| 2006 | 617 | 556 | 80,000 | Transmission and driveline (220) | 4 |
| 2007 | 520 | 457 | 82,000 | Transmission and driveline (222) | 1 |
| 2008 | 136 | 108 | 85,000 | Transmission and driveline (54) | 5 |
| 2009 | 37 | 33 | 60,000 | Airbag system (9) | 3 |
| 2010 | 59 | 43 | 41,000 | Airbag system (19) | 4 |
| 2011 | 64 | 50 | 48,000 | Airbag system (16) | 1 |
| 2012 | 78 | 65 | 43,000 | Airbag system (23) | 3 |
| 2013 | 48 | 37 | 27,000 | Airbag system (15) | 1 |
| 2014 | 42 | 31 | 35,000 | Airbag system (11) | 2 |
| 2015 | 33 | 19 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (10) | 0 |
| 2016 | 43 | 24 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (10) | 1 |
| 2017 | 38 | 24 | under 30 reports | Fuel and propulsion system (10) | 1 |
| 2018 | 25 | 11 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (5) | 2 |
| 2019 | 28 | 11 | under 30 reports | Transmission and driveline (7) | 1 |
| 2020 | 23 | 11 | under 30 reports | Transmission and driveline (12) | 2 |
| 2021 | 19 | 4 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (5) | 2 |
What Frontier owners reported
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor located in front of the radiator had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired…
2013 · 113,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was gray and then blank. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted even after the rearview…
2019 · 83,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was performing an oil change on the vehicle, the contact was informed that the front passenger's side axle housing mount was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not…
2019 · 135,000 miles · Suspension
The contact's boyfriend owns a 2017 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving at 30 MPH or above, the vehicle started to stall. The check engine warning light was illuminated. On a separate occasion, the vehicle stalled and drastically shifted out of gear into a different gear. The vehicle…
2017 · 80,000 miles · Engine
Built from 1,960 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Frontier generations
- Frontier 1998–2004 406 reports with mileage, most about the tyres