Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 3 NHTSA variants

2024 Nissan FrontierRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints for the 2024 Nissan Frontier. Most complaints involve power train (6) and service brakes (4). The EPA rates it 19–21 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
19–21mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Aug 2024
Owner complaints
22
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Nissan Frontier vehicles. The right-side headlight assemblies may have missing or illegible headlight aim markings, which can result in improperly aimed headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Exterior lightingReported Aug 6, 2024NHTSA 24V582000

Suspension: lower ball joint

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Frontier vehicles. The front right-side lower link may have been manufactured with an oversized ball joint, which can result in corrosion and ball joint separation from the front right-side lower link.

SuspensionReported Jun 26, 2024NHTSA 24V479000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.

Air bagsReported Feb 27, 2024NHTSA 24V154000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

22 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2024 – Sep 2026
  1. Power train6
  2. Service brakes4
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Visibility3
  5. Fuel/propulsion system3
  6. Exterior lighting2
  7. Engine2
  8. Structure2
  9. Suspension2

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
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

6 reports
“This is a nine speed transmission which basically shifts up each gear every 5 to 6 MPH until you hit 9th gear about 52 MPH. The transmission will not shift to next gear fast enough causing the vehicle to be very slow. The transmission has to go through 5 gears to get to 30 MPH. Each gear shifts at 1650 to over 2000 RPM before it will shift to next gear. If the air conditioning is running the least amount of RPM's is over 2000 or higher to shift up to next gear. At 2000 RPM's the engine has very little torque needed from the transmission due to the 3.692 axle ratio and sounds like the engine is revving higher than it should be. If you don't relax on the gas pedal it will stay in that gear and just rev the RPM's in the gear it is in, until you let off the gas pedal for it to shift up. If you need high acceleration at low speeds it just won't shift up to next gear. I have almost been rear ended many times trying to get onto an expressway or accelerating from a red light to get up to posted speed limit. If you have 5 gears to get to 30 MPH then they have to shift at low RPM's (1250 to 1500 RPM"s) and as fast as possible to get the speed of the vehicle up quickly.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2026Power trainODI 11753404

Service brakes

4 reports
“On December 29th 2025 I was driving the vehicle in a residential area approximately 40 MPH. The Interior ABS warning lights illuminated. I could here a banging noise coming from the back of the Vehicle. I took the vehicle to a Nissan Dealership who inspected it and said the entire rear braking system including rotors bubs sensors and axle were damaged and needed to be replaced. The dealership stated the parking brake was engaged while the vehicle was being driven. Never has the parking brake on that vehicle been engaged manually since I purchased it 1 year ago. Cost to repair is $6000 not covered by warranty. Clearly driving a vehicle in a mountain region with a completely destroyed rear brake system is dangerous. A vehicle that inadvertently engages the emergency brake is dangerous. And even being able to operate the vehicle with the emergency brake engaged id dangerous.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2026Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11711159

Electrical system

3 reports
“Truck has 13,000 miles Truck didnt start. Had to have some jump start. Took it to dealership. They Said battery passed but recharged it. 2 months later Truck died in the middle of a busy intersection. Could of got rear ended. I have my [XXX] child with me at all times.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2026Electrical systemODI 11763498
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 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 8, 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 · Rear-Wheel Drive
182421$2,950437
Frontier 4WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
182220$3,100438
Frontier 4WD PRO4X
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
182119$3,300469
  • Frontier 2WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    18 city · 22 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 4WD PRO4X
    Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    18 city · 21 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 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 8, 2026Vehicle 19567Vehicle 19566Vehicle 19565
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

2024 Frontier questions

How many recalls does the 2024 Nissan Frontier have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 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 2024 Nissan Frontier problems?

Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (6), service brakes (4), electrical system (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2024 Nissan Frontier get?

The EPA rates the 2024 Nissan Frontier at 19–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2024 Nissan Frontier?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2024 Nissan Frontier 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 8, 2026