Nissan Frontier problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 316 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Nissan Frontier. That averages 8.7 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.21 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #1 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 20.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 222% above the 2018 and 2019 models (23 early complaints per model year versus 7).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (23.4 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (2.8). Model years 2022 and 2023 run at least 50% above this model's average of 8.7 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 run at least 40% below this model's average of 8.7 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (21.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.3%) and Engine (9.8%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 1.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 26 complaints (8.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 67 complaints versus 64 in the previous 12 months — up 5%. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (16). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 20 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (4), 2 fixable over the air. No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Midsize pickups, including Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 25 | 2.8 | 0.07 | 0 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 | 28 | 3.6 | 0.09 | 6 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 23 | 3.4 | 0.08 | 3 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 | 20 | 3.5 | 0.09 | 3 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 ▲50%+ | 112 | 23.4 | 0.58 | 12 | 6 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 ▲50%+ | 66 | 17.4 | 0.43 | 16 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 22 | 7.9 | 0.2 | 11 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 9 | 5.0 | 0.12 | 5 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 11 | 11.0 | 0.27 | 11 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 67 · Previous 12 months: 64 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
67 · 21.2% · 1.81 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
64 · 20.3% · 1.29 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Engine
31 · 9.8% · 0.44 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
26 · 8.2% · 1.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
22 · 7.0% · 0.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other
21 · 6.6% · 0.74 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
21 · 6.6% · 1.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
15 · 4.7% · 2.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
15 · 4.7% · 1.25 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
12 · 3.8% · 0.59 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
9 · 2.8% · 0.66 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
8 · 2.5% · 1.01 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
5 · 1.6% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 20 months
What owners report
I purchased a pre-owned certified vehicle in June of 2025 it was a 2023 model with approximately 23k miles on it. In August of 2026 I was driving on the interstate and the vehicles warning lights came on and the vehicle shut down completely at a speed of 70…
On the evening of April 22, 2026, my 2024 Nissan frontier with approximately 7600 miles on it had an electrical fire in the front driver side fog lamp housing. My vehicle has a manufacturer warranty of 36,000 miles or 36 months.
While driving on a two lane state route road towing a RV at approximately 60 MPH, the first indication of an issue was an amber ABS warning light accompanied by an Amber traction control light. Shortly after a red BRAKE warning light illuminated.
had my tires balanced but still shakes at highway speeds.without nissan addessing more damage will happen to other parts.i bought it used in september 2026
I bought a brand new 2026 Nissan Pro4x from a dealer in Murfreesboro, TN. The hood was misaligned (fitment), which the service department agreed need to be corrected, and there was a significant scuff below the clear coat on the hood.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Frontier | 316 | 8.7 | 0.21 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 713 | 18.8 | 0.47 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 3 | Chevrolet Colorado | 857 | 21.2 | 0.53 | Worsening | Rising | 9 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 4 | Jeep Gladiator | 994 | 25.9 | 0.64 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 18 | Steering |
| 5 | Toyota Tacoma | 965 | 27.2 | 0.67 | Stable | Rising | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 15
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 2
Safety recalls: 2018 (2) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (2) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (6) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (3) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.