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Nissan Frontier: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Frontier problems by model year, from 678 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (60%, 31 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (56%, 19 drivetrain complaints) and 2010 (54%, 22 drivetrain complaints). 9 of the 12 Nissan Frontier years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (22%), 2022 (28%) and 2011 (31%). 2018 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (56%) to 2018 (22%), down 34 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (31 of 202 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Frontier year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Frontier | high | 54% | 22 | 59 | 3/12 | 6 |
| 2011 Frontier | no elevated signal | 31% | 15 | 64 | 10/12 | 1 |
| 2012 Frontier | high | 60% | 31 | 78 | 1/12 | 3 |
| 2013 Frontier | elevated | 35% | 11 | 48 | 9/12 | 1 |
| 2014 Frontier | elevated | 38% | 11 | 42 | 8/12 | 2 |
| 2015 Frontier | elevated | 38% | 8 | 33 | 7/12 | 0 |
| 2016 Frontier | high | 52% | 17 | 43 | 4/12 | 1 |
| 2017 Frontier | high | 56% | 19 | 38 | 2/12 | 1 |
| 2018 Frontier | no elevated signal | 22% | 5 | 25 | 12/12 | 2 |
| 2019 Frontier | elevated | 39% | 9 | 28 | 5/12 | 1 |
| 2020 Frontier | too few to score | – | 14 | 23 | – | 2 |
| 2021 Frontier | too few to score | – | 9 | 19 | – | 2 |
| 2022 Frontier | no elevated signal | 28% | 29 | 112 | 11/12 | 6 |
| 2023 Frontier | elevated | 38% | 25 | 66 | 6/12 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Frontier years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Frontier engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Nissan Frontier involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 20 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2011 | 11V592000 | engine and engine cooling | 2012 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V457000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2022 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V671000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2022 |
17 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2010 | 10V208000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10E019000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| Aug 2010 | 10V372000 | child seat: tether: connector/clip | 2010 |
| Sep 2010 | 10E043000 | equipment | 2010 |
| Sep 2010 | 10V401000 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2010 |
| Sep 2012 | 12V462000 | suspension: front: hub | 2012 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V052000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2012–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V418000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2014 |
| Mar 2016 | 16V181000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2016 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V551000 | electrical system: ignition | 2017–2018 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V917000 | trailer hitches | 2022 |
| Dec 2021 | 21V958000 | seat belts: critical fasteners | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V527000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V772000 | back over prevention: display function | 2022 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V067000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2011 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V273000 | tires: bead | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Frontier
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Frontier
What are the worst years for the Nissan Frontier?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Frontier years are the 2012 (60% of relevant complaints, high), the 2017 (56% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2010 (54% of relevant complaints, high). 9 of 12 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Frontier?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Frontier years are the 2018 (22%), the 2022 (28%) and the 2011 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 12 scored years, 202 of 515 relevant NHTSA complaints (39%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
Is the Nissan Frontier reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 9 of 12 Nissan Frontier years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 39% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Frontier?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Frontier years we track, out of 20 in total: 11V592000 (Dec 2011, 2012), 22V457000 (Jun 2022, 2022), 22V671000 (Sep 2022, 2022). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.