Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Nissan Frontier problems
Owners filed 87 complaints about the 1999 Nissan Frontier with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Aug 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (21).
Complaints
87
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags21
- Tires19
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Electrical system6
- Fuel system, other5
- Suspension4
- Seat belts4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Structure4
- Visibility4
- Exterior lighting3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
20
5
8
10
11
7
3
2
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 13 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
21 reports13 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS (WEAKLEY COUNTY MOTORS, 841 N LINDELL ST, MARTIN, TN 38237, 731-587-3141) AND (PREMIER NISSAN, 300 HIGHWAY 77, PARIS, TN 38242, 731-642-0601) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”
Tires
19 reports
“TRAVELING SOUTH ON TX 130 NEAR MANOR AT 65 MPH. BRIGHT COOL, SUNNY WEATHER, DRY ROAD. RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD CAME OFF IN ONE LONG STRIP, WHICH THRASHED THE CAR. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL CAR OFF ROAD, BUT DAMAGE TO RIGHT REAR PANEL, WHEEL WELL, AND FUEL FILLER ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN $1500 AND $3000. THE CAR HAD BEEN VIBRATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A WHILE, BUT I SUSPECTED A SUSPENSION PROBLEM RATHER THAN A TIRE PROBLEM. NOW I NOTICE ALL TIRES APPEAR ROTTEN ON OUTSIDE; THEY HAD NOT BEEN HOLDING AIR WELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HAVE REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES. CAR: 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP. TIRE: WILDERNESS HT, P215/65R15 95S, DOT #W2VF NNA 129. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH TRUCK, 42000 MILES ON IT, TREAD WEAR MINOR. COMPLAINT FILED WITH FIRESTONE, AND TIRE SENT TO THEM AT MY EXPENSE. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY, AND CLAIM LOW INFLATION AND AGE ARE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM (NOT SURPRISING SINCE THE TIRE NEEDED INFLATING EVERY WEEK). THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO HAVE TIRE SENT BACK TO ME, BUT HELL WILL FREEZE OVER BEFORE THAT OR BEFORE I STOP TELLING ANYBODY WILLING TO LISTEN ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND FIRESTONE'S RESPONSE. *JB”
Power train
11 reports
“1999 NISSAN FRONTIER DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH CHANGING GEARS.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED SOON AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. *JB”
Engine and engine cooling
10 reports
“DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRUCK GOT DOWN TO 30 MPH. VEHICLE KEPT GOING, ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. ONE DAY IT WILL RUN FINE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WILL MESS UP AGAIN. IT WAS TAKEN 2 YEARS BEFORE BY CONSUMER'S HUSBAND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER OF ROAD TO GET HER VEHICLE HOME .CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CODES THAT WERE SHOWING UP WERE EGR SYSTEM PROBLEM. AFTER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER VEHICLE RAN WELL FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE HAD A NEW TUNE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE FIRST YEAR THE CUSTOMER HAD THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ARM LINKAGE . NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORTS. WERE TAKEN. NO FIRES. NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 10015857 ISSUED. *AK”
Fuel system, gasoline
8 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1999 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the sending unit and fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V230000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports1 crash
“AIRBAGS/SAFETY RESTRAINTS/ON-OFF SWITCHES & OTHER MODIFICATIONS I AM AGAIN STATING GREAT CONCERN OVER LEGAL REGULATIONS REGARDING VEHICLE/&/OR COMPONENTS -MODIFICATIONS/COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMSETC & THE REPORTING STATUTES THERETO AS I AM PERCEIVING THEM FROM FRM NRM & VARIOUS SITES I READ THAT VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS OF SAFETY STANDARDS INCLUSIVE OF AIRBAG ON-OFF SWITCHES &/OR DEACTIVATION WAS NOT REPORTED TO NHTSA UNTIL APRIL OF 2001 & THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE TO CONSUMERS EVEN IF IT WAS VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT HOWEVER IF PERFORMED BY VEHICLE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE ON RECORD & SUBSEQUENT BUYER WOULD BE UNAWARE & WOULD NOT REFLECT ON VIN SEARCH HOWEVER DEALERSHIP SHOULD & DOES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY ON RESALE TO INSPECT SAID VEHICLE & BRING IT TO FEDERAL STANDARDS HOW DO I SEARCH A DEALERSHIP TO FIND MODIFICATIONS THEY AUTHORIZED OR MADE TO A VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY LISTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTRY OF WHICH I WAS THE 2ND OWNER & RECEIVED AN URGENT RECALL CARD NOTIFICATION SPECIFYING MODIFICATION 120705 I DID RESPOND NUMEROUS X TO THEM & NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS & BLATANTLY TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS /SERVICE BULLETINS OR ANYTHING ELSE & I RECEIVED THIS CARD IN…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.