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2011 Nissan Frontier
Solid pick — the complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
64 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (25% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor — almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Complaint reports have faded — early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Nissan Frontier, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (16) · Body & structure (6) · Electrical system (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
25%16 complaints
“My air bag light kept flashing on my 2011 Nissan Frontier Pro 4x4, I had it looked at when I got my oil changed and was told that it is a malfunction where you click t…”
Brakes
20%13 complaints · typically near 17k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“ABS module failed. The repair shop called the local Nissan dealership for parts. The Nissan dealership said the failure was a known issue. I called Nissan Customer Ser…”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%9 complaints · typically near 50k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“Transmission fluid mixing with coolant in radiator!”
Body & structure
9%6 complaints
“Paint flaking off of front fender in crease above tire on both the passenger and driver side.”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Air Bags · 23V067000
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.
Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Nissan FRONTIER beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Frontier model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Nissan Frontier against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.