RoadVitals

2009 Nissan Frontier Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Nov 3, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 28, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Nissan Frontier. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 37 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Nov 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated the air bag warning light had been illuminated for two years. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11553464
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
170,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 13, 2022

Airbag warning light blinking and won't go off. Was not able to reset. Diagnostic Code 12.

NHTSA ID
11484251
Incident
Sep 5, 2022
Engine
Filed Oct 26, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated and shut off. The failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that it took a while for the vehicle to regain full power. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle had to be towed after shutting off. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft and crankshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11438265
Incident
Aug 26, 2021
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2020

MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. MY MECHANIC NOTICED A RECALL, CAMPAIGN ID R0807, BUT THE RECALL ONLY AFFECTS VEHICLES REGISTERED IN 'SALT' STATES. I LIVE IN VA BUT TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN PA, MARYLAND, DC FOR WORK FOR MANY YEARS. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR, MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO BORDERING STATES TO ACCOUNT FOR FREQUENT TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES.

NHTSA ID
11354855
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
72,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2020

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE FRONT AIR BAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT, BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES IN 'SALT' STATES. MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN VA, BUT I TRAVELED IN PA, MD, AND DC FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR WORK, SO MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED ON THE EXISTING WARRANTY RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11351610
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jul 10, 2020

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO AN ALREADY FILED CLAIM. COMPLAINT # 11331805 CLAIM # [XXX]. DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THE WAY TO FIX THE AIRBAG ON MY 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO 4X WAS TO REPLACE EACH PART UNTIL THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NISSAN HAS A VERY INTERESTING WAY TO FIX SOMETHING EVEN AFTER THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11338603
Incident
Jun 10, 2020
Mileage
116,750 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2020

THE DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS BAD. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE AIR BAG IS A TAKATA. VEHICLE IS A 2009 FRONTIER PRO 4X WITH 117,000 MILES. CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE MILEAGE AND AGE DOES NOT WARRANT ANY ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN IN MAKING THE REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON TAKAT AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID
11331805
Incident
Jun 10, 2020
Mileage
116,750 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 23, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

NHTSA ID
11330289
Incident
Jun 14, 2020
Mileage
175,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 30, 2019

MY CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN AND I ONLY HAVE 55,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. MY TIRES ARE WEARING AND THE FRONT END POPS, AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11228494
Incident
Jun 28, 2019
Mileage
54,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 8, 2019
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KING WINDWARD NISSAN (45-568 KAMEHAMEHA HWY, KANEOHE, HI 96744, (808) 235-6433) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11194711
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 1, 2018

2009 NISAN FRONTIER 114K MILES SAME SINGS AS MANY OTHERS VIBRATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR START HAPPENING IN THE MORNING SPECIAL WINTER PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND NOW HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID
11132465
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
105,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2018

NISSAN FRONTIERS OF ARE EXPERENCING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR EMISSION SYSTEMS. EVAP CONTROL VALUES ARE FAILING AT VARIOUS MILEAGES. THE DEALERS BLAME DUST IN THE SYSTEM. THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING VERY HIGH PRICES TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM. NISSAN HAS ALREADY CHANGED THE EVAP CONTROL VENT SWITCH DESIGN 3 TIMES. THIS MEANS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE REFUSING TO RECALL THE TRUCKS.

NHTSA ID
11123290
Incident
May 16, 2018
Mileage
60,097 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 13, 2018

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THIS WARNING.

NHTSA ID
11085005
Incident
Apr 12, 2018
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2017

MY 09 NISSAN FRONTIER SE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) GRINDED A BIT WHEN CHANGING GEARS. I NOTICED IT WAS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. SOMETIMES IT WAS LOUDER AND LONGER THAN OTHER TIMES. SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. I NOTICED IT HAPPENS WHEN I ACCELERATED SLOWLY WITH THE GAS ONLY SLIGHTLY PRESSED. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE.I HAD PURCHASED MY FRONTIER AS A USED TRUCK WITH ABOUT 113K MILES ON IT FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN EVERETT, WA AND NOTHING WAS SAID OF ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES (AS YOU'D EXPECT FROM A DEALER). ONLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER AFTER PURCHASING IT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING VERY STRANGE THINGS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD, MY TRUCK WAS SHIFTING LIKE NORMAL. HOWEVER, ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUMP FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE TRUCK SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN A VERY HIGH GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV VERY LOUDLY WHILE I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT MY TRUCK WASN'T ACCELERATING AT ALL. IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF MY TRUCK, THEN RESTART T TO DRIVE AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED BUT THIS TIME IT WAS AFTER I HAD GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING ALL THROUGH EACH GEAR (AROUND THE 4TH/5TH GEAR RANGE). I HAD TO PULL OVER 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE FINALLY GETTING TO WORK.

NHTSA ID
11014684
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Mileage
113,700 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 2017

FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS, DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED CENTER CRASH ZONE SENSOR IS FAULTY. BEING TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, DESPITE BEING AN INCLUDED MODEL/YEAR AND BEING DRIVEN IN AN INCLUDED STATE.

NHTSA ID
10994046
Incident
Jun 8, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY THREE YEARS AGO AND THAT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID
10916781
Incident
Feb 10, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 5, 2016

THE NUTS ON THE AIR SENSORS ON TIRES CORRODED AND CRACKED . THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED TO A NISSAN RECALL OF 2008-09 MURANOS AND FIT MODELS. ( LIVING IN MARYLAND FROM 2009 UNTIL 2015)

NHTSA ID
10853601
Incident
Feb 27, 2016
Mileage
51,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RINGING PINION HAD FAILED AND THE REAR END ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,709.

NHTSA ID
10816814
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
67,709 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 29, 2015

MY WIFE AND I OWN NISSAN VEHICLES. 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON HER 2005 PATHFINER. IN OCTOBER OF 2015 MY 2009 FRONTIER TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL BECAUSE OF COOLANT MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NISSAN

NHTSA ID
10816699
Incident
Oct 30, 2015
Mileage
121,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2015

TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFTER ONLY 64,000 MILES. RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION OIL WHICH IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. QUOTED $4200 IN REPAIRS-THEY WILL NEED TO RE-MANUFACTURE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE AT VALVE. I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER SINCE I AM JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YR 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY (5 MONTHS OVER 5 YRS). THEY ADVISED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY WILL HELP WITH. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS TO NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT 64K THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER SIMPLY STATED HE IS NOT A MECHANIC. AT 40MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO POWER AND NEEDED TO PULL OVER. THIS PUT MY PROPERTY AND WELL BEING IN SEVERE DANGER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT THIS MAY NOT BE THE CASE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE HANDLED RESPONSIBLY BY NISSAN. EXTEND MY WARRANTY AND FIX THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671927
Incident
Dec 10, 2014
Mileage
64,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Aug 15, 2014

ON JULY 8, 2014 MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO LATER INFORMED ME THAT COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND SHOT METAL PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE A/C SYSTEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM REPLACED. NISSAN REFUSED TO REIMBURSE MY $2500 EXPENSE BECAUSE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE, INVESTIGATE HOW THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WOULD FAIL ON AN 82,000-MILE VEHICLE OF A RESPECTABLE BRAND LIKE NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622486
Incident
Jul 8, 2014
Mileage
82,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed May 24, 2014

THE BRAKE PEDALS TRAVELS FURTHER DOWN THAN TOP OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IN WINTER WHEN WEARING WINTER BOOTS I HAD TO MAKE AN QUICK STOP TO AVOID A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE STREET ON A CROSSWALK. I FOUND MYSELF DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR AT SAME TIME NEARLY HITTING PERSON. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS NOT AS SERIOUS. I CALLED DEALER AND NISSAN WITH NO SATISFACTION. I ALSO ASKED NON-DEALER SHOPS AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AS FAR AS THEY COULD SEE. MY CONCLUSION IS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN AN EMERGENCY, SHOULD NOT TRAVEL THAT FAR DOWN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10593851
Incident
Feb 9, 2011
Mileage
1,100 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Aug 15, 2013

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR - STAYED ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT DEALER FOR 75,000 MI CHECK UP WHICH INCLUDED EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL VEHICLE SYSTEMS. AFTER CHECKING COLD PRESSURE SEVERAL TIMES AND DRIVING VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WOULD NOT GO OFF. RETURNED TO DEALER AND REQUESTED THE PROBLEM BE FIXED. THEY WERE HELPFUL AND POLITE BUT TRIED TO CHARGE ME $160.75 FOR REPLACING THE MONITOR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WENT OUT IN THE MONITOR. I AM COMPLAINING THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPEND $160 FOR EACH TIRE MONITOR BECAUSE IT'S BATTERY EXPIRED. THE BATTERIES SHOULD BE REPLACEABLE IN THE TIRE MONITOR. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND POOR DESIGN TO REQUIRE NISSAN OWNERS TO SPEND $640 OVER TIME TO KEEP AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE OPERATIONAL. THIS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO REFLECT A MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE(REPLACEABLE BATTERY) REPLACEMENT PART OR REPLACE THE MONITORS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535454
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
76,235 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 9, 2012
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,435. UPDATED 04/11/12*LJ UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10450886
Incident
Jan 9, 2012
Mileage
72,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 23, 2011

WHILE DRIVING, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARED WITH CODE P0448. AFTER CODE APPEARED, CANNOT FILL UP GAS TANK WITHOUT GAS SPILLING OUT. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS IS UNRELATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441125
Incident
Dec 20, 2011
Mileage
42,000 mi

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