Problems · by component

2008 Nissan Frontier engine problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Frontier cite engine, 19% of all 136 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“DRIVING ON STREET TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE I LOSS POWER AND CAR COULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR IT SEEMED I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. CAR I STARTED IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AND IT WUDNT GO OVER 30MPH I STOPPED AND NOTICED LEAKING UNDER THE TRUCK TOWARDS THE ENGINE AND WHEN I PRESSED ON GAS IT WOULDN'T GO STILL SO I STOPPED AND GOT TOWED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2020Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11348447
“THE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID GOT MIXED TOGETHER IN MY TRUCK AND I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THAT THE TRUCK WOULD AT LEAST GIVE ME 100,000 MILES BEFORE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2020Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11325611
“THE COOLER TUBES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR CRACKED, ALLOWING FOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID DEGRADATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONTIER IS NOW UNDRIVABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2018EngineODI 11162276
“THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN TIMING BELT ISSUES. THE VEHICLE STARTS MAKING A LOUD NOISE(WHINING) THAT GETS LOUDER AS I DRIVE FASTER ON ANY ROAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL COST OVER 2400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2018EngineODI 11161312
“TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATER FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND OVERHEATING.BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2017Power train, EngineODI 11051408

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2008 Frontier problem areas