2008 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 40 MPH, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the radiator fluid had leaked into the transmission causing severe damage to the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11486366

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

Mileage

86,000 mi

Transmission fluid cooler integrated in the radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with and contaminate the automatic transmission fluid causing damage to the transmission. Radiator had to be replaced along with flushing out of the trans fluid at a service station costing a few thousand of dollars. Months later the check engine light went on and found out that the transmission is slipping caused by the fluid contamination.

NHTSA ID

11474744

Incident

Jul 19, 2022

DRIVING ON STREET TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE I LOSS POWER AND CAR COULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR IT SEEMED I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. CAR I STARTED IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AND IT WUDNT GO OVER 30MPH I STOPPED AND NOTICED LEAKING UNDER THE TRUCK TOWARDS THE ENGINE AND WHEN I PRESSED ON GAS IT WOULDN'T GO STILL SO I STOPPED AND GOT TOWED

NHTSA ID

11348447

Incident

Aug 10, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID GOT MIXED TOGETHER IN MY TRUCK AND I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THAT THE TRUCK WOULD AT LEAST GIVE ME 100,000 MILES BEFORE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11325611

Incident

May 8, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE COOLER TUBES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR CRACKED, ALLOWING FOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID DEGRADATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONTIER IS NOW UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID

11162276

Incident

Dec 4, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN TIMING BELT ISSUES. THE VEHICLE STARTS MAKING A LOUD NOISE(WHINING) THAT GETS LOUDER AS I DRIVE FASTER ON ANY ROAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IT WILL COST OVER 2400 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11161312

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

128,000 mi

TRUCK STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 45MPH. ENGINE OFF.

NHTSA ID

11054139

Incident

Nov 22, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATER FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND OVERHEATING.BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ID

11051408

Incident

Jun 3, 2017

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, HE OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL THUMPING SOUND FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HIS LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER (TOM HESSER NISSAN , 900 ONEIL HWY, DUNMORE, PA, 18512) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,892. ... .UPDATED 11/16/17 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 11/30/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11014572

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

46,892 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ID

11003693

Incident

Jul 4, 2017

Mileage

97,000 mi

MY TRUCK WOULD GO IN TO GEAR BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING WATER AND COOLANT IN TO MY TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HOSE ON RADIATOR AND IT WAS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF FRONTIERS AND XTERRAS. WHEN MY HUSBAND QUESTIONED THE TECH ON THIS BEING A RECALL HE STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE, BUT IS NOT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. HE TOLD US WE WOULD NEED A NEW RADIATOR, HOSES, AND TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK BREAKING DOWN IS A SAFETY ISSUE! WE THEN HAD OUR TRUCK TOWED TO OUR NORMAL MECHANIC AND HE IS REPAIRING IT NOW.

NHTSA ID

11001515

Incident

Jun 20, 2017

Mileage

119,000 mi

THE ENGINE MAKES A WHINING NOISE THAT INCREASES IN FREQUENCY WITH ENGINE RPM. THE TRUCK HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT BUT THE NOISE HAS BEEN APPARENT FOR SOME TIME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS WERE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,800.

NHTSA ID

10949139

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A WADDLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID

10943886

Incident

Feb 12, 2008

Mileage

6,000 mi

MY NISSAN DEALER TOLD ME TODAY THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE 4.0L V6 ENGINE IN MY TRUCK REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALER CHARGES $2,140 FOR THE WORK. TIMING CHAINS ARE NORMALLY EXPECTED TO LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD DESTROY THE ENGINE AND, IF IT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM ON THIS AND RELATED ENGINES SINCE AT LEAST 2004, YET THEY CONTINUED TO USE THOSE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAINS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2010. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE THE CHAINS UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10920639

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

59,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART MINUTES LATER. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE FLIP ERROR LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10882045

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

Mileage

61,000 mi

1) $1473 TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM @ 53,610 MILES 2) NISSAN HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN NTB09-128 REVEALING A KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE ON AT LEAST 3 MODELS OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME 3) CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CHECK ON REIMBURSEMENT SINCE NISSAN KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM. IN FAIRNESS, THEY RESPONDED WITHIN 24 HRS. ONLY TO TAKE LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO DENY THE CLAIM 4) WROTE 3 LETTERS (1 PER MONTH) TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS UNTIL THEY CONTACTED ME AGAIN TODAY 1/13/2016 ONLY TO DENY THE CLAIM ONCE AGAIN. I'VE OWNED ONLY NISSAN TRUCKS SINCE 1984 AND BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR PRODUCTS AND QUALITY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN 2008 AND ONLY HAD 53,610 MILES WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME UP. I'M THANKFUL I HEARD THE NOISE AND HAD IT FIXED BEFORE THE CHAIN(S) SEIZED AND CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE OR EVEN A WRECK. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I HAD AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM (BAD LUCK) IF IT HADN'T BEEN DOCUMENTED VIA THE SERVICE BULLETIN. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE VIA THE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT COVERED AT LEAST 3 MODELS OVER A 5 YEAR TIME SPAN. THEY NOW REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS CONCERNING THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I'M VERY UNHAPPY WITH NISSAN'S LACK OF PRODUCT SUPPORT ON WHAT WAS WAS CLEARLY A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROBLEM. I WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BUY (NOR RECOMMEND) A NISSAN PRODUCT ANYTIME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID

10820004

Incident

Oct 20, 2015

Mileage

53,610 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,514.

NHTSA ID

10806704

Incident

Nov 24, 2015

Mileage

167,514 mi

TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE TIMING CHAINS [3]. IF THESE FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY, A SEVERE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. NISSAN HAS PUBLISHED BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS ABOUT IT. THERE ARE EVIDENTLY CLASS ACTION SUITS FILED AGAINST THEM. THESE PART ARE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND QUALITY AND POSE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10725564

Incident

May 21, 2015

Mileage

78,132 mi

HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF MY NISSAN 2008 CREW CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE FRONTIER. MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ISSUE EVALUATED AT THE SAME NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (NISSAN OF ATLANTIC CITY - FORMERLY ADMIRAL NISSAN). I PURCHASED THE USED FRONTIER IN JUNE 2011; APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 40 - 41K. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THAT TIME - 48 MONTHS, 48 THOUSAND MILES (EXPIRATION 6/15/15). AFTER EVALUATING THE PROBLEM, A NISSAN SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND ITS COMPONENTS - COST OF REPAIR $1900.00 - 2000.00 PLUS 7% SALES TAX. I ASKED HIM IF THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED. HE SAID NO! HE INFORMED ME THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR MILEAGE; I WAS OVER BY A FEW HUNDRED MILES. THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM. NISSAN HAD KNOW OF, AND BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE WELL BEFORE I PURCHASED MY 2008 FRONTIER IN JUNE 2011. HOWEVER, THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER MADE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER. WHEN THE ENGINE WHINE FIRST BEGAN IT WAS LOW - BARELY NOTICEABLE, BUT THE MORE I DROVE THE WORSE IT GOT. IF I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS SENT TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD A $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE. MY FINAL COST FOR THE REPAIR ON 3/28/15 WAS $1974.16. NISSAN OF AMERICA IS AT FAULT AND SO IS THE DEALERSHIP - NISSAN OF ATLANTIC CITY. THEY ARE BOTH RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD THE INFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702543

Incident

Mar 25, 2015

Mileage

88,779 mi

I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO WHINE AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT WILL COST $1,500 TO REPAIR. I TOOK A LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE PRESSURED TO SEND OUT A RECALL TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON THESE ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683121

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

48,000 mi

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WITH IN AN HOUR, AND ALMOST ARRIVING HOME... THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25MPH. I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND FELT A VERY LARGE BANG UNDER THE TRUCK. AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE FROM THE LIGHT I COULD ONLY GET UP TO 25MPH. THEN THE TRUCK STALLED COMPLETELY, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS CLOSE BEHIND ME AND I HAD MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, OTHERWISE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SURE CRASH. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED AND INFORMED ME THAT MY RADIATOR WAS FAULTY AND HAD CONTAMINATED AND RUINED MY TRANSMISSION. I PAID $2900 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NO HELP, OR MONEY BACK FROM NISSAN, NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY FOR THEIR FAULTY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10681485

Incident

Sep 7, 2014

Mileage

123,000 mi

THERE IS SOME SORT OF EMISSION CONTROL BEHIND THE REAR TIRES. IT SEEMS TO GET PLUGGED AND ENGAGES MY SERVICE LIGHT TO COME ON. WELL SINCE I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IT FROM BEING PLUGGED. I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED THREE (3) DIFFERENT TIMES. IT REALLY IRRITATES ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650764

Incident

Oct 24, 2013

I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF ALMOST $3,000 IN MY 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER SE 4V 2.5 WITH ONLY 84,000 MILES BECAUSE OF THE CROSS CONTAMINATION. ACCORDING TO CARCOMPLAINT.COM, THE AVERAGE OWNER IS BECOMING AWARE OF A PROBLEM AT 94,565 MILES. IF NISSAN WOULD HAVE RECALLED THE RADIATORS IMMEDIATELY UPON KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECT, IT WOULD HAVE SAVED THEM FROM DEALING WITH NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CONCERNS. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY CONTAMINATION AND I SHOULD GET HELP FROM NISSAN WHO LATER ON DENIED HELP FOR ME. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT MY NISSAN FRONTIER TO A SHOP EXPERT IN TRANSMISSIONS AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FAILURE IN MY TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSED BY AN "ANTI-FREEZE CONTAMINATION, CODE 1751". NISSAN KNEW THAT THEY HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR AND INSTEAD OF RECALLING THE RADIATOR, THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY KNOWING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CARS WOULD SURPASS 80,000 MILES BEFORE THEY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NOW LOOKING AT HIGH COST TO FIX THE TIMING CHAIN COVER SEAL. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND WON'T HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621910

Incident

Jul 28, 2014

Mileage

84,400 mi

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FUEL SENSOR REPORTED. 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584898

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT WERE MIXING. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,355 AND CURRENT MILEAGE 102,400.

NHTSA ID

10584630

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

102,355 mi