Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 3 NHTSA variants

2023 Nissan FrontierRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 68 owner complaints for the 2023 Nissan Frontier. Most complaints involve electrical system (31) and service brakes (15). The EPA rates it 18–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
18–21mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Apr 2023
Owner complaints
68
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Tires: bead

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 Titan and Frontier vehicles. The tires may have a tear in the inner bead which can cause a rapid loss of tire pressure.

TiresReported Apr 17, 2023NHTSA 23V273000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

68 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2022 – Nov 2026
  1. Electrical system31
  2. Service brakes15
  3. Power train13
  4. Forward collision avoidance13
  5. Engine13
  6. Vehicle speed control9
  7. Steering6
  8. Seats4
  9. Structure3

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

By model year

Complaints for each Frontier model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998131
199987
2000205
2001143
2002139
200377
200466
2005532
2006617
2007520
2008136
200937
201059
201164
201280
201348
201442
201533
201644
201738
201825
201928
202023
202120
2022112
202368
202422
202510
202611
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

31 reports1 crash1 fire
“Vehicle will drain it's battery over-night occasionally (approximately 2-3 times monthly for me). I park in the garage of my home and will sometimes walk out the truck displaying an error regarding the parking brake. When I go to start the vehicle, it does not and then requires I jump start it. After getting it started, the dashboard lights up with every error under the sun: showing proximity sensor system failures, engine malfunctions, 4WD failures, etc. It typically takes 1-2 drives for the system to fully reset itself and clear the errors.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2026Electrical systemODI 11775119

Service brakes

15 reports2 crashes
“April 2 I was driving to an appt got off on access road and as I pulled up behind another vehicle the acceleration was faster than the pressure on the pedal warranted and the emergency stop-braking warning came on. After it was safe to proceed to my destination I proceeded to a parking spot as I turned to pull in the vehicle rapidly accelerated on its on and jumped the side walk. I attempted to brake but the pedal went to the floor with no braking and the engine was red lining as we crashed. My passenger pushed the engine off button. Front passenger tire was sheered off. No air bag deployment and vehicle likely totalled.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2026Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11729979

Power train

13 reports
“Muffler developed hole in the top of it prematurely and melted the main wiring harness due to a known design flaw. The vehicle is still at the dealer awaiting repair. All warning lights came on, 4 wheel drive was disabled, center console lost power and hvac was disabled. Safety was put at risk as this happened on the nys thruway and the vehicles main wiring harness was actively melting/shorting while driving. The shorts disabled all Safety features like lane assist, detections, and abs. Transmission would also not down shift properly leaving me unable to safely accelerate. Im unsure if the tail lights were still operational or not but wouldnt be surprised if they weren't as many other systems to the rear of the vehicle were fully disabled. The truck is at the dealer I have a quote and video of the muffler and melted wiring harness. The truck is not safe to drive but the problem is constant. This is a known problem by nissan as theres a tsb to place a larger heat shield over the wiring harness.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11763691
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S9)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Frontier 2WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS · Rear-Wheel Drive
182421$2,950437
Frontier 2WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive
182420$3,100444
Frontier 4WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
182220$3,100438
Frontier 4WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
172119$3,300468
Frontier 4WD PRO4X
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
172119$3,300469
Frontier 4WD PRO4X
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
162118$3,450472
  • Frontier 2WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS
    18 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 2WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD PRO4X
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI; ISS and AGS
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD PRO4X
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SIDI
    16 city · 21 hwy · $3,450/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

4 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
20.4%
Overall
4 / 5
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC RWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
20.4%
Overall
— / 5
Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC 4WD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
20.4%
Overall
— / 5
Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC RWD
Frontal crash
Not rated
Side crash
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
3 of 5
Rollover risk
20.4%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 18397Vehicle 18396Vehicle 18395
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2023 Frontier questions

How many recalls does the 2023 Nissan Frontier have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 9, 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.

What are the most common 2023 Nissan Frontier problems?

Owners filed 68 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (31), service brakes (15), power train (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2023 Nissan Frontier get?

The EPA rates the 2023 Nissan Frontier at 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2023 Nissan Frontier?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2023 Nissan Frontier 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026