Home · 2011 Nissan Frontier · Complaints

What 64 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Frontier

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (64)Crash / fire / injury (6)Airbags (16)Brakes (13)Transmission & drivetrain (9)Body & structure (6)Electrical system (6)Engine (4)Speed control (4)Seat belts (3)Seats (3)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)

Newest first · 64 complaints · page 3 of 3

Oct 19, 2013Body & structure

AUTOMOBILE HAS BODY RUST AND RUST LIKE STAINING. NISSAN ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR BY PUTTING SANDING PUDDING AND PAINTING IT. CAR STILL HAS CONSTANT RUST PROBLEMS. NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE IS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. THE REAR BUMPER IN PARTICULAR HAS THAT ISSUE NISSAN CUT HOLES IN IT TO DRAIN WATER OUT AFTER IT RAINS TO PREVENT FURTHER RUSTING. ONGOING ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION. THIS IS A 2011 MODEL PURCHASED NEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548542

Jan 25, 2013Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MANUALLY HELD THE DOOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO REMAIN CLOSED WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO THE FAULTY LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,530.

NHTSA ODI 10494681

Jan 9, 2013Seats

SEAT MATERIALS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, AT 6139 MILES DRIVER SEAT WAS REPLACED BY NISSAN GARAGE, AT 16726 MILES, BOTH SEATS WERE REPLACED BY NISSAN AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, ACCORDING TO NISSAN, NOW AT 19000 MILES BOTH SEATS ARE BECOMING THREAD BARE AGAIN. EACH REPLACEMENT WAS WITH THE SAME MATERIALS AS THE ORIGINAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10491932

Jan 9, 2013Airbags

GOING DOWN BACK ROAD, HIT A DEPRESSION, THE TRUCK NATURALLY ROCKED A BIT FROM SIDE TO SIDE, SIDE AIRBAGS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER) SUDDENLY DEPLOYED W/A HORRENDOUS LOUD BANG, SCARING ME HALF TO DEATH A LONG W/MY LEFT EAR RINGING. RIDICULOUS THAT IT IS THAT SENSITIVE IN A 4X4 TRUCK THAT THEY ADVERTISE NAVIGATING ROUGH CONDITIONS. I TRULY HOPE THIS DOES NOT END UP COSTING ME AND THAT NISSAN STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND MAKES THIS RIGHT. 2 OTHER VERY SIMILAR REPORTS ON THIS SITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10492025

Jan 5, 2013Brakes

BRAKE ROTORS HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERE RUST ALONG BRAKE PAD SURFACE. NOT SUPERFICIAL RUST. THE SURFACE IS "PITTED" WITH RUST. VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES. ALL 4 ROTORS REQUIRE "TURNING" OR REPLACEMENT WAY TOO EARLY. THIS CONFIRMED BY TWO RELIABLE MECHANICS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10491500

Nov 27, 2012Electrical systemEngine

AFTER LEAVING A REMOTE LOGGING ROAD IN NORTHERN MAINE WOODS, MY WIFE AND I HEADED BACK TOWARDS BANGOR , MAINE. WHILE TRAVELING APX 60 MPH THE TRUCK LOST POWER, SOME WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED, I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. ENGINE WAS CHUGGING, COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING. I SHUT IT OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FURTHER, I COULD NOT. IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED. I GIVE THANKS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE LOGGING ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO CELL SIGNAL AND FEW OTHER CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10486243

Sep 18, 2012Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10475811

Dec 31, 2011Brakes

WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARK POSITION FRONT BRAKES MAKE A LOW GROAN OR RUBBIING SOUND LIKE THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER TWICE, ONCE THEY PUT MOLYCOTE GREASE ON THE PADS, THEN THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS ALL DONE WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES,STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. ALSO SEEMS LIKE ONCE YOU BRAKE AND COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND START AGAIN TAKES ALOT OF POWER TO GET GOING LIKE THERE IS A DRAG ON THE FRONT END.ALSO ROTORS A VERY HOT. *KB

NHTSA ODI 10441931

Oct 15, 2011Body & structure

2011 BLUE PAINT COLOR PROBLEM PAINT IS CHIPPING AT THE REAR FENDER WELLS JUST BEFORE THE REAR TIRE LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT TIRES ARE CAUSING SAND TO HIT THIS AREA DESIGN FLAW HAVING FEND STICK OUT LIKE THIS DEALER IS WORKING ON THIS STILL GOING TO RE PAINT BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I HAVE SEEN THIS ON OTHER NISSAN TRUCKS NOT JUST MINE.. TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE NERF BARS SEE ALLOT OF THESE TRUCK WITH THOSE NOT SEEING THE PROBLEM ON THOSE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10430295

Aug 18, 2011Airbags3 injuries

MYSELF AND THREE KIDS AND DOG HAD BEEN ON A MILD 4 WHEEL DRIVE ROAD HAVING A LITTLE COOK OUT AND HIKE. WE WERE COMING HOME ON A SMOOTH MAINTAINED COUNTY ROAD GOING AND COMING TO STOP BY A STREAM. I THINK MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WE WERE MAYBE GOING 20 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED. SEAT AIR BAGS AND FRONT AIRBAGS FORTUNATELY DID NOT EXPLODE. I RECEIVED MILD BURNS AND BRUISES ON MY FACE. MY 6 Y.O. RED, HURT ON HIS CHEST. 11 Y.O. LOST HIS HEARING TEMPORARILY AND RED STINGING EAR. OTHER CHILD, 8, UNINJURED AS SHE WAS BENDING OVER PUTTING ON HER SHOES AS WE WERE COMING TO A STOP, BUT IS AFRAID TO SIT UP STRAIGHT IN A CAR NOW. WANTS TO LAY DOWN ON THE SEAT ALL THE TIME. WE HAD TO CUT OURSELVES OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH OUR JACK KNIVES. WE HAD NO CELL PHONE SERVICE AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME 45 MINUTES WITH NO SEAT BELTS AND THEY LOCKED UP. I CAN NOT EVEN START TO DESCRIBE HOW SCARY IT WAS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT. 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH A 6 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF FIXING IT. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW THIS CAN BE. NISSAN IS NOW LOOKING IN TO THE 'LITTLE BROWN BOX'. WE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP. *KB

NHTSA ODI 10419941

Jul 28, 2011Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS TAMPERED WITH DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF SUGAR BEING INSIDE OF IT. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10415498

Jul 12, 2011Electrical system

2011 NISSAN FRONTIER MODELS DELAY RESPONSE IN ACCELERATION DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.WIFE SAYS THIS HAS AL MOST CAUSED ACCIDENT .NISSAN NEEDS TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM TO GET REPAIRED.DEALER SAYS DELAY IS CAUSED BY POTENTOMETER RELAYING INFO TO COMPUTER. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10412021

Jun 3, 2011Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/20/11

NHTSA ODI 10404350

May 2, 2011Electrical systemFire

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE 805 FREEWAY WHEN MY AIRCONDITIONER LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON THE DASH BOARD. THEN I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. ALL POWER WAS LOST. I HAD TO MERGE ON TO THE 8 WEST FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY HANDBRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO REST ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, WE COULD SMELL BURNING AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AREA COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED BY FLAMES AND DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10398455

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Working with the data? Download all 64 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Nissan Frontier verdict →