Nissan Frontier problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 293 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Nissan Frontier. That averages 8.1 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.19 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #1 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 20.7.
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
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA logged 293 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Nissan Frontier, averaging 8.1 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.19 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2022 model year recorded the highest rate at 23.5 complaints per year and the 2018 model year the lowest at 2.9, recent data shows a worsening trend where 2023 and 2024 models run 241% above earlier years with 23 early complaints versus 7. The most common problem areas are Transmission / powertrain at 20.8%, Electrical at 20.5%, and Engine at 10.2%, with recurring terms including "asked knows", "abs", "wild shutting", "system wild" and "situation fleet". Owners reported 25 complaints describing a crash or fire, resulting in 8 injuries and 0 deaths, while the last 12 months saw 61 complaints filed versus 56 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 241% above the 2018 and 2019 models (23 early complaints per model year versus 7).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (23.5 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (2.9). Model years 2022 and 2023 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (20.8% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.5%) and Engine (10.2%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 1.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “asked knows”, “abs”, “wild shutting”, “system wild” and “situation fleet”. 25 complaints (8.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 61 complaints versus 56 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (24). 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 defect 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, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 25 | 2.9 | 0.07 | 9 | 0.1 | 0 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 | 28 | 3.6 | 0.09 | 6 | 0.07 | 7 | 1 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 | 23 | 3.4 | 0.08 | 2 | 0.04 | 4 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 | 17 | 3.0 | 0.07 | 6 | 0.1 | 1 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 Years to research carefully | 110 | 23.5 | 0.56 | 72 | 0.97 | 12 | 6 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 Years to research carefully | 64 | 17.4 | 0.41 | 34 | 0.41 | 24 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 19 | 7.1 | 0.17 | 12 | 0.17 | 9 | 3 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2025 | 7 | 4.2 | 0.1 | — | — | 4 | 3 | Brakes | View › |
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: 61 · Previous 12 months: 56 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
61 · 20.8% · 1.79 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- transmission29
- power train12
- train recall7
- notification power6
Engine
30 · 10.2% · 0.46 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- asked knows9
- wile abs9
- wild shutting9
- system wild9
Brakes
26 · 8.9% · 1.46 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake16
- abs6
- pedal9
- braking8
Driver-assist systems
20 · 6.8% · 1.19 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cruise11
- control13
- forward collision5
- collision warning4
Interior & equipment
19 · 6.5% · 0.72 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- website3
- view3
- camera4
- center3
Body & structure
19 · 6.5% · 0.71 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- paint4
- front9
- passenger side5
- water4
Other
14 · 4.8% · 2.64 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat reclines4
- power seat3
- switch3
- driver's3
Airbags & seat belts
14 · 4.8% · 1.25 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- passenger11
- airbag6
- flashing4
- warning light6
Steering
11 · 3.8% · 0.58 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering9
- wheel5
- information3
- turn3
Fuel system
8 · 2.7% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tank3
- gas4
- move3
- transmission4
Wheels, tires & suspension
7 · 2.4% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
4 · 1.4% · 0.87 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- asked knows10
- abs34
- wild shutting10
- system wild10
- situation fleet10
- shutting trucks10
- restart themselves10
- restart realize10
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 20 months
What owners report
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.
April 2 I was driving to an appt got off on access road and as I pulled up behind another vehicle the acceleration was faster than the pressure on the pedal warranted and the emergency stop-braking warning came on.
This is a nine speed transmission which basically shifts up each gear every 5 to 6 MPH until you hit 9th gear about 52 MPH. The transmission will not shift to next gear fast enough causing the vehicle to be very slow.
The power door lock system intermittently malfunctions. During the initial failure, the passenger rear door lock seized in the unlocked position and could not be manually operated.
Transmission hunts between gears at 25-30mph. Downshifts are delayed or hesitates during hard acceleration. Delayed shifting during slow turns.
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 | 293 | 8.1 | 0.19 | Worsening | Steady | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 668 | 19.3 | 0.46 | Improving | Rising | 38 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 3 | Chevrolet Colorado | 817 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Worsening | Steady | 9 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 4 | Toyota Tacoma | 929 | 26.6 | 0.63 | Stable | Rising | 15 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 5 | Jeep Gladiator | 978 | 30.0 | 0.71 | Improving | Steady | 16 | Steering |
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)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Frontier model year has the most complaints?
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (23.5 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (2.9).
Is the Nissan Frontier getting better or worse?
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 241% above the 2018 and 2019 models (23 early complaints per model year versus 7). In the last 12 months owners filed 61 complaints versus 56 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Nissan Frontier problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (20.8% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.5%) and Engine (10.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “asked knows”, “abs”, “wild shutting”, “system wild” and “situation fleet”.
How does the Nissan Frontier compare with other Midsize pickups?
Within the Midsize pickups segment it ranks #1 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 20.7. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Midsize pickups, including Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Gladiator.
Does the Nissan Frontier have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (4), 2 fixable over the air. No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.