Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Nissan Frontier problems

Owners filed 136 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Frontier with NHTSA between Feb 2008 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is power train (54).

Complaints
136
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train54
  2. Engine26
  3. Air bags21
  4. Fuel/propulsion system13
  5. Electrical system13
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  7. Engine and engine cooling9
  8. Steering4
  9. Suspension4
  10. Seat belts4
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  12. Fuel system, gasoline3
  13. Structure3
  14. Seats2

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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20085
20094
20108
20115
20128
20138
201419
201516
201614
201711
201810
20199
20205
20211
20224
20236
20243

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

54 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 40 MPH, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the radiator fluid had leaked into the transmission causing severe damage to the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2022Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 11486366

Engine

26 reports1 fire
“Transmission fluid cooler integrated in the radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with and contaminate the automatic transmission fluid causing damage to the transmission. Radiator had to be replaced along with flushing out of the trans fluid at a service station costing a few thousand of dollars. Months later the check engine light went on and found out that the transmission is slipping caused by the fluid contamination.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2022Power train, EngineODI 11474744

Air bags

21 reports2 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“Saw that there was an airbag item recall (NHTSA I.D.: 08V69000) for my vehicle. Airbag warning light is on. However, dealer says, "No open campaigns" and vehicle is out of the warranty period.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2024Air bagsODI 11581535

Fuel/propulsion system

13 reports
“While driving the vehicle and the fuel gauge reading 1/4 tank, without any prior notification such as a "low fuel" light thw car shut off on the highway, the vehicle ran out of gas. This has happened 3 times. Upon researching there is a known recall for this vehicle that exhibits these exact symptoms as the fuel gauge shows 1/4 tank but really there is no gas. Other than this the fuel gauge works, when filled with gas it shows full on the gauge, but upon reaching the 1/4 tank level the gauge stops moving and does not indicate low fuel leaving me to believe there is gas when in fact there is not.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11622555

Electrical system

13 reports1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE BUT IT SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING POWER. I SHUT IT OFF AND THEN IT WOULD NOT START. ADD THE STARTER REPLACED STILL AND START THE ATE UP FUSE WAS BLOWN.TICKET TO ELECTRICAL SHOP THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAIN ECU AND THEN THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE BRAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO GOOD COST $5500 TO FIX”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11268165

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 reports
“the calipers in this kit have seized and been replaced (fronts 7/22,rears3/23) the front calipers have seized again 8/23. there is something wrong with these calipers and a potential for crash/injury situation, as a break components this reliability is unacceptable and potential dangerous. I feel this should be investigated before someone dies due to this/these products.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2023Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11542021
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.