Nissan

Frontier

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · model years 1998 to 2027

Includes Frontier 2WD, Frontier 2WD FFV, Frontier 4WD and 2 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 125 Frontier trims All Nissan cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 33; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2001. complaints: 134, about 6.1x this model's typical 22; recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Nissan Frontier
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1998	3Gas	19	no data	$3,300	2	129	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, TIRES 16%, SUSPENSION 13%
complaints: 129, about 3.9x this model's typical 33 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	3Gas	19	no data	$3,300	2	78	0	no data	TIRES 19%, AIR BAGS 17%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 78, about 2.4x this model's typical 33 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	3Gas	19	no data	$3,300	3	189	0	no data	TIRES 14%, POWER TRAIN 12%, SUSPENSION 10%
complaints: 189, about 5.7x this model's typical 33 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 5 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	3	134	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 17%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 10%
complaints: 134, about 6.1x this model's typical 22 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	4	124	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%, STEERING 9%
complaints: 124, about 5.6x this model's typical 22 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	4	77	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 15%, SUSPENSION 12%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 77, about 3.5x this model's typical 22 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	2Gas	20.5	no data	$3,075	1	66	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 15%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 8%, STEERING 8%
complaints: 66, about 3x this model's typical 22 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	3	532	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 35%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 16%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%
complaints: 532, about 24.2x this model's typical 22 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	4	617	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 27%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 21%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 617, about 28.1x this model's typical 22 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	2Gas	20	no data	$3,125	1	520	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 32%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 16%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 520, about 23.6x this model's typical 22 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	6Gas	17	no data	$3,650	5	136	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 29%, ENGINE 14%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 136, about 2.1x this model's typical 65 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	6Gas	17.5	no data	$3,550	3	37	0	no data	AIR BAGS 21%, POWER TRAIN 18%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 9%
complaints: 37, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	6Gas	17	no data	$3,650	4	59	1	104	AIR BAGS 25%, POWER TRAIN 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 59, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	6Gas	17	no data	$3,650	1	64	0	107	AIR BAGS 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 14%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 64, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 66 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	6Gas	17	no data	$3,650	3	79	0	110	AIR BAGS 23%, POWER TRAIN 20%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 79, above this model's typical 65 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	6Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	1	48	0	125	AIR BAGS 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 48, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	6Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	2	42	0	130	AIR BAGS 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 42, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	6Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	0	33	0	112	AIR BAGS 21%, POWER TRAIN 10%, STRUCTURE 10%
complaints: 33, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	6Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	1	43	0	116	AIR BAGS 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 43, below this model's typical 65 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	8Gas	18.5	261	$3,375	1	38	0	84	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 38, below this model's typical 87 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 62 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	8Gas	18.5	261	$3,375	2	25	0	72	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 10%
complaints: 25, below this model's typical 87 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	8Gas	18.5	261	$3,375	1	28	0	61	POWER TRAIN 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, AIR BAGS 13%
complaints: 28, below this model's typical 87 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	19.5	310	$3,200	2	23	0	65	POWER TRAIN 35%, ENGINE 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 23, above this model's typical 22 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	19.5	310	$3,200	2	19	0	59	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 19, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	19.5	310	$3,200	6	112	0	112	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 112, about 5.1x this model's typical 22 recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	6Gas	19.5	310	$3,200	1	66	0	80	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, SERVICE BRAKES 13%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 66, above this model's typical 65 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	3Gas	20	310	$3,100	3	22	0	20	POWER TRAIN 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 22, below this model's typical 33 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	3Gas	19	310	$3,550	3	8	0	3	POWER TRAIN 20%, SERVICE BRAKES 20%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20%
complaints: 8, below this model's typical 33 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	3Gas	19	no data	$3,550	1	10	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 27%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 33 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 Score: 86 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	3Gas	19	no data	$3,550	0	0	0	no data	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 33 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1998: 19 to 2027: 19

Owner complaints1998: 129 to 2027: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Nissan Frontier to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.