What 64 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Frontier

A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE STEEL WHEELS ALLOWS WATER TO PUDDLE IN A CHANNEL IN THE WHEEL -- BECAUSE THERE IS INADEQUATE DRAINAGE BEHIND A SHOULDER ON THE RIM. FURTHERMORE THE COATING OF THE STEEL RIM IS INADEQUATE TO PREVENT RUSTING OF THE RIM. THUS, AFTER AS LITTLE AS 57,500 MILES, THE PUDDLING IN THIS UNDRAINED CHANNEL LEADS TO SEVERE CORROSION, WITH FOLLOWING ADVERSE RESULTS. (1) THE CORROSION INVADES THE HOLE FOR THE TPMS WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT IN THE CHANNEL -- CAUSING LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE AROUND THE BASE OF THE TPMS, THAT CANNOT BE EASILY REMEDIED. (2) THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE STRONGLY PREDICTS EVENTUAL CATASTROPHIC WHEEL FAILURE DURING THE NORMAL LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ALL THE TIME.THE PASSINGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH READS AIRBAG OFF.THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE PASSINGER SEAT AIRBAG PARTS AT A COST OF $2300.NISSAN HAS RECALLED OTHER CARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE FRONTIER.

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THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ALL PRESSURE AND BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING SOME SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. EVEN AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOLLOWING THIS COLLISION, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, AND FULL BRAKE SERVICE, THIS ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. SMALL ROAD BUMPS MAKE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY NON-FUNCTIONAL.

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MY CLUTCH KEEPS WEARING OUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED WITH 60,000 MILES AND REPLACED THE CLUTCH AT 81,893 MILES, 107,179 MILES AND IT IS NOW SLIPPING AGAIN AT 131,521 MILES. I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN PRIMARILY MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES SINCE 1975 AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I HAVE DRIVEN NEARL ONE MILLION MILES IN VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND REPLACED ONLY ONE CLUTCH. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH THAT NISSAN USES. THE FIRST TIME WAS 02/27/15 THE SECOND TIME WAS 5/24/16 AND MOST RECENTLY 12/20/17

NHTSA ODI 11056630

THE HOOD OF MY TRUCK POPPED OPENED AT 67 MPH WHILE DRIVING ON 595 EAST BOUND ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY BETWEEN FLAMINGO AND UNIVERSITY EXITS. DUE TO THE IMPACT IT CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD AND OBVIOUS LOSS OF VISIBILITY TO HIGHWAY. AFTER PULLING OVER AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE LATCH OF THE HOOD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN EXPLANATION HOW THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE HAPPENED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO HARM TO MYSELF ONLY THE DAMAGE TO HOOD, WINDSHIELD, TOP OF VEHICLE ROOF AND MISSING LATCH AND THE EMERGENCY CABLE THAT IS HOOKED UP TO HOOD. MY ANTENNA ALSO BROKE FROM THE IMPACT AND THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY.

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AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SHOWS "OFF" WHEN OCCUPIED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT IT WAS HARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE VIA EMAIL. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

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WHILE APPLYING MY BRAKES IN TRAFFIC WHILE NOT MOVING VERY FAST I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND LOST FULL PRESSURE TO MY BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK JUMP TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE THE SOME THING HAPPENED TO WEEKS AGO - THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME - THE 1ST TIME THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK TO FULL - BUT ON 6/23 AFTER AN HOUR OR SO THE PEDAL PUMPED BACK UP (2011 NISSAN FRONTIER)

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WHEN APPLY THE BRAKES DONT STOP FIRMLY. IN PAIR OF TIMES INVOLVED IN POSIBLE DEAD PEOPLE THATS WALK IN ROAD.WHEN APPLY BRAKES ARE GOING DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE FLOOR.

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IPDM RELAY OR IPDM BOARD ISSUE AT 78K, TOTAL NO CRANK NO START AND VEHICLE DRIVING ISSUES

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LEAD SPRING SNAP FOR NO REASON AFTER TAKING A NICE SUNDAY DRIVE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS JUST HERD A RATTLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IT WAS A CLEAN SNAP STRAIGHT ACROSS ON THE MIDDLE LEAF SPRING? DRIVING ON 106 HWY NEW HAMPSHIRE

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CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD AT 70,000 MILES. RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE BOOSTING. LUCKILY HAD JUST TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD SO HAD SPACE TO STOP TRUCK.

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I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AS NORMAL WHEN I HEARD A CHATTER FROM THE GEAR SHIFT.. I LOST ALL POWER IN THE LOW GEARS AND IT WOULD TAKE 45 SECONDS TO GET TO 60 MPH. I DROVE IT A SHORT WAY LIKE THAT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PARKED MY TRUCK FOR A FEW HOURS AN WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED AND WAS DRIVING NORMAL. I STARTED MY DRIVE HOME AND AFTER 50 MILES I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING SO I STARTED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THAT POINT I LOST ALL POWER AND THE TRUCK WAS DEAD. IT WOULD NOT START AND I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO GET MY FAMILY AND I HOME. I WAS WATCHING THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES ON THE DASH AND THEY WERE NORMAL SO IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM HAPPENED BECAUSE THE LOWER PART OF THE RADIATOR THAT COOLS THE TRANSMISSION CRACKED LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSED ALL THE PARTS TO SWELL UP CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO BURN UP, SENSORS TO FAIL. I SPENT OVER $4000 ON PARTS AND LABOR TO GET THIS FIXED. THAT INCLUDED A REBUILD KIT, BAND,PISTON, EXCHANGE REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER, NEW VALVE ASSEMBLY, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, FRONT PUMP BUSHING, CRANK SENSOR,REVOLUTION SENSOR, AND ALL THE LABOR. THERE WERE KNOWN ISSUES OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND EARLIER MODELS UP TO 2010. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT IT. WELL THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE ON THE 2011 MODEL. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL MY COST SINCE NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND STILL MADE A INFERIOR PRODUCT THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THEY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS ENGINEERING FLAW EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD OF BEEN AVOIDED BY HAVING A SEPARATE TRANSMISSION COOLER . NISSAN WAS NEGLIGENT FOR LETTING THIS DESIGN GO TO MARKET WHEN THEY ALREADY KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE. IT SHOULD OF BEEN RESOLVED ON THE 2011 BUT IT WASN'T,

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BOTH REAR AXLES ARE LEAKING AT 60,265 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE PAD CONTAMINATION WHICH WOULD REDUCE BRAKING CAPABILITY AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVENESS O THE PARKING BRAKE.

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YEA I GOT A NISSAN FRONTIER NEW AND MY WARRANTY IS UP DUE TO 5 YEARS BUT UNDER 60000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD.. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT ABOUT 7500 FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT...I WAS DRIVING NEXT THING YOU KNOW ON THE FREEWAY I PRESS ON THE PEDAL IT REVS HIGH BUT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE... THIS IS SO SAD I THINK THEY MAKE THE CAR KNOWING THAT IT WOULD GO BAD AFTER THE SHORT WARRANTY I DIDN'T FIX MY TRUCK YET BECAUSE THE PRICING IS WAY TOO HIGH TO AFFORD AFTER BUYING THE TRUCK

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AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN TURNING ON FOR NO REASON WHETHER THE CAR IS PARKED OR RUNNING. TOOK IT TO SERVICE THEY RESET IT AND WENT ON AGAIN

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THE VEHICLE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES FOR NO REASON. IT BLINKS WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT WAS RESET BY THE NISSAN SERVICE TECH, BUT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY.

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SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH COUNTY ROAD WITHOUT A COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. DRIVER ONLY IN THE VEHICLE, EARS ARE RINGING. HAD TO CUT THE AIR BAGS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. IN DRIVE WAY, UNUSABLE AT THIS POINT. SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ACTIVATED SO CANNOT USE SEATBELT AT THIS POINT.

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TRUCK STARTED TO RATTLE AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. BROKE THE MAIN LEAF SPRING IN HALF. DIDN'T LOAD THE TRUCK OR HIT ANYTHING.

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THE VENT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLOGGED AND A BACK UP OF PRESSURE PUSHED THE SEALS ON THE AXLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AXLE AND BRAKES. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR SUBMERGE THE DRIVE TRAIN.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER FAILED CAUSING THE TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE TRUCK BED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE LOST TREAD AND EXHIBITED SCRAPES ON THE SIDE WALLS. IN ADDITION, THE VALVE WAS MADE OF RUBBER CAUSING THE TIRE MONITOR TO BE UNABLE TO READ THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 5/11/15*CN

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DRIVER DOOR LOCKING ITSELF INTERMITTENTLY. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCT OF 2012. THE KEY WAS NOT LEFT IN THE IGNITION AND THERE IS NOT A BUTTON THAT CAN BE PUSHED THAT LOCKS ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR. *TR

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THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS LIT AND WILL NOT RESET. I AM NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAG IS OPERATING CORRECTLY OR NOT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE. *TR

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10/2010 ORDERED A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO-4X ; DELIVERED 11/26/10, 9 MILES. PERSONAL COMMUTING AND RECREATION; NOT COMMERCIAL DUTY! ONLY PULLED POP-UP CAMPER & UTILITY TRAILERS A FEW TIMES, OFTEN SMELL CLUTCH "BURN" AFTER BACKING UP (ESPECIALLY SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY: BOTH MAX 2K LBS): TRUCK IS RATED FOR TOWING 6K LBS: SO LIMITS NEVER EXCEEDED. ABOUT 18 MONTHS & 14K MILES THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING WHEN GOING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL, SLIPPAGE CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO FALL OFF SUDDENLY. NISSAN DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ACCUSED ME OF DRAG RACING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE PREMATURE FAILURE! UNBELIEVABLE! HE GAVE ME THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, & IN FIRST 3 YR/36K FULL WARRANTY SO FIXED IT FREE: NORMALLY A $1,500 BILL. JUST PASSED 33K MILES AND 3 1/2 YEARS ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP (8/2014): WHEN I OPERATE/LET THE CLUTCH OUT ROUGHNESS FELT IN THE MECHANISM; ENGINE RPMS REV HIGHER THAN NORMAL DURING GEAR CHANGES; TRYING TO ACCELERATE ENGINE RPMS REV HIGHER THAN NORMAL (UP TO 1K) AND VEHICLE LACKS SPEED INCREASE RESPONSE; CRUISE CONTROL DROPS OFF AT 30, 40, 50 AND 65 MPH WITHIN 30 SECONDS! SMELL CLUTCH BURN IN CITY TRAFFIC. PAST 3 YEAR WARRANTY; STILL WITHIN 5 YEAR DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD; SO GOING TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AGAIN AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT IT. I HAVE 30+ YEARS OF DRIVING MANUAL SHIFT VEHICLES; DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND SMOOTH; AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSED. SERIOUSLY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS NISSAN FRONTIER'S CLUTCH SITUATION! TWO CLUTCHES FAILED WITHIN 36K MILES AND LESS THAN 4 YRS OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE; PERFORMING NORMAL DRIVING DUTIES! OTHERS TOO. ALSO SEE??: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/FRONTIER/2010/CLUTCH/PREMATURE_CLUTCH_FAILURE.SHTML THIS PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE ISSUE IS RIDICULOUS; NO WONDER DEALER(S) DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND OTHERS! THIS COULD ALSO BE A HAZARD IF FAILS IN TRAFFIC! *TR

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I WAS CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON MY FRONTIER AND WHEN I RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE, THE SIDE WALL WAS WORN DOWN SO THE TIRE COULD NOT BE USED. THE WAY THE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE TRUCK CAUSED 4 GASHES INTO THE SIDEWALL. *TR

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