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2013 Nissan Frontier
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age — inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
48 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (31% 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 2013 Nissan Frontier, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (15) · Electrical system (8) · Transmission & drivetrain (6) · Seat belts (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
31%15 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Air bag light will not go off. Afraid will deploy. Dealer no problem just censor. Did not have part to fix.”
Electrical system
17%8 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Nissan Frontier. The vehicle was purchased in a private sale. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. At t…”
Transmission & drivetrain
13%6 complaints
“I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS DEFECTIVE DURING A REGULAR MAINTENCE OF THE TRANSMISSION.”
Seat belts
10%5 complaints
“ONE MORNING I ARRIVED AT WORK AND MY SEAT BELT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AFTER STRUGGLING WITH IT FOR 10 MINUTES I HAD TO CUT IT TO GET OUT I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH SEAT…”
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.
Electrical System · 14V052000
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.
Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
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 2013 Nissan FRONTIER beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Frontier model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 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.