NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 64 owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Frontier. Most complaints involve air bags (16) and service brakes (12). The EPA rates it 16–21 mpg combined.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Frontier model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 131 |
| 1999 | 87 |
| 2000 | 205 |
| 2001 | 143 |
| 2002 | 139 |
| 2003 | 77 |
| 2004 | 66 |
| 2005 | 532 |
| 2006 | 617 |
| 2007 | 520 |
| 2008 | 136 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 59 |
| 2011 | 64 |
| 2012 | 80 |
| 2013 | 48 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 38 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 112 |
| 2023 | 68 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 11 |
“On January 25, 2024 my son was driving this truck and hit a dog on the highway. His driver side airbag deployed, the driver side seatbelt would not retract, and there was some minor body damage. The engine of the vehicle is fine and completely operational. Since then, we have been waiting for repairs to be made. Per USAA, repairs will be approx $5000 or less. The vehicle is worth over $12,000 so they decided to repair it. The problem is that part number 98820-ZP78A (air bag control module) is no longer being manufactured by Nissan. All other parts, including the *actual* air bag can still be purchased from Nissan, but they are not making the sensor we need to fix this vehicle. We are not the only ones who cannot obtain this part.”
“The brakes have failed several times, seems to be a known issues and affecting others. While our Nissan Truck is older, we had our Nissan checked at Midas, and then at the local Continental Nissan location, that didn’t really help, found a part that helped but only for a short period of time, as this part crapped out again yesterday 3/19/2025, and even though the brake pushed to the floor trying to stop as the brakes stopped working again! The part was only approx 2-5 months old. Nissan Frontier dealership or other places to find the actual parts needed have no real parts that would actually fix the issue. It is very sad for those in the same issue as us, pay $$$ for a used vehicle that cannot seem to be fixed, if they have even tried. I’m pretty sure nothing will be done, but wanted to file this complaint. I’m not expecting anything will be reviewed on this issue, since nothing has been seen thus far for an actual fix via Nissan etc.”
“TRUCK STARTED NOT ENGAGING IN REVERSE AT AROUND 50,100 MILES. TOOK MY TRUCK TO LARRY H MILLER NISSAN WHERE I PAID 157.00 TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS OVER FULL. THEY PULLED ABOUT 3 LITERS OF EXTRA FLUID FROM TRANNY. THE FLUID APPEARS DARKER BUT THINNER THAN NORMAL. THEY SAID THE PUMP IS PROBABLY BLOWN DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE FROM THE ADDED FLUID. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER HAD SERVICE OF FLUID ADDED. NO SURE AT THIS POINT IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH RADIATOR CROSS CONTAMINATION BUT ABOUT 3 YEAS AGO MY HEATER STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED MY RADIATOR TO FIND IT SEVERAL QUARTS LOW. I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY WITH ANYONE, ESPECIALLY NISSAN, TO HAVE THIS LOOKED FURTHER INTO, BUT I WOULD BED THAT IT IS A CROSS CONTAMINATION ISSUE.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier 2WD Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 23 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Frontier 2WD Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| Frontier 2WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Frontier 2WD Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Frontier 4WD Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,650 | 523 |
| Frontier 4WD Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | $3,900 | 555 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (16), service brakes (12), power train (9). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2011 Nissan Frontier at 16–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).