RoadVitals

2010 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest May 2, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 59 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed May 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to Waxahachie Nissan (W Highway, 1900 US-287 BYP, Waxahachie, TX 75167), where the previous diagnostic test result was confirmed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

NHTSA ID
11520125
Incident
Feb 1, 2023
Mileage
79,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 12, 2022

Radiator failure leaking into tranny, causing a sound coming from transmission as if driving over a rumble strips when accelerating between 40-60mph, as well as sudden jerking when changing gears. SMOD residue (creamy pink fluid) present on radiator cap. This is a known issue that I was never made aware of during nor after purchase. Obviously this was not addressed prior to the sale by the Nissan Dealership. No warning signs were present prior to the issue appearing. Vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer yet as I am only now learning of this problem, however I have made arrangements. The issue is confirmed by third parties. Vehicle is available for further inspection upon request. The issue first appeared about 2 weeks ago but symptoms were milder and progressively became more noticeable. Sudden transmission failure on the highway could be catastrophic and is part of my daily driving routine.

NHTSA ID
11488994
Incident
Sep 28, 2022
Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL EMISSION DEFECT. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO PALM SPRINGS NISSAN (68177 KYLE RD, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11343455
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
AirbagsEngine
Filed Mar 20, 2020

I HAVE TROUBLE SHOT THE AIRBAG LIGHT I HAVE THAT HAS BEEN BLINKING FOR A WEEK NOW. I CAN NOT FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE NOTICED MANY POSTS ON FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT HAVE A RECALL. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRUCK IDLES ROUGH, I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
11318793
Incident
Mar 16, 2020
Mileage
109,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 16, 2017

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY VEHICLE IS TURNING OFF WITH A BRAND NEWLY INSTALLED BATTERY AND MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP CANNOT READ MY CAR TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR CLOSE TO A MONTH AND STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE NEVER FAILS TO TURN OVER, BUT IT JUST LOSES POWER AND TURNS OFF LIKE SOMEONE SNATCHED OUT THE BATTERY. SOMETIMES IT FAILS TO TURN OVER, RIGHT AWAY, BUT THEN IT TURNS OVER AND I CAN DRIVE IT A FEW MILES BEFORE IT STALLS ON ME AGAIN, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE 64,500 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE BABIED IT SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 12/2009. THE SLIP LIGHT COMES ON AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND THEN THE VEHICLE GETS CONFUSED AND SHUTS OFF. IT IS ANNOYING. IT FEELS LIKE A BATTERY ISSUE AND MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP CHANGED WHAT THEY CALLED A FAULTY POSITIVE TERMINAL HOOK-UP BUT I STILL HAVE THIS ISSUE WHERE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY POWERED. I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY START THE VEHICLE BACK UP AND BARELY MAKE IT HOME. I WAS NEVER IN A CRASH, BUT I DID HIT THE BOTTOM OF MY VEHICLE ON AN ABUTMENT THAT WAS IN A AUTOMOTIVE PARKING LOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 3MPH. BUT THIS HAPPENED IN 2014 DECEMBER AND I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND DROVE IT FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11033936
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 12, 2017

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 60MPH AND TRUCK WILL JUST SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING

NHTSA ID
11004944
Incident
Jul 10, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2016

ENGINE IDLES TOO LOW: ENGINE IDLES AT APPROXIMATELY 600 RPMS, WHEN AC KICKS IN IDLE DROPS TO 500 RPMS OR LESS CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTTER AND SHAKE AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR RESET, BUT VEHICLE STILL IDLES AT AROUND 600 RPM. VEHICLE SPECS STATE VEHICLE SHOULD IDLE AT 650 RPM +OR- 50 RPMS FOR V6 ENGINE. THIS IS TOO LOW WHEN AC IS TURNED ON.

NHTSA ID
10881709
Incident
Jun 13, 2016
Mileage
26,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2015

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN...WHEN TIME TO GO CAR DOES NOT MOVE. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN DEALER IN 2014 AND THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE FLUID...COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. FLUID WAS CHANGED AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. WILL BE TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALER THIS WEEK. I UNDERSTAND NISSAN HAS HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION AS I HAD A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. NISSAN WOULD NOT COMPENSATE ME AS MY MILEAGE WAS 100+K. WHEN I TREADED IN MY 2005 FOR A 2010 I WAS ASSURED THAT NISSAN HAD FIXED THE DEFECT. HERE WE GO AGAIN...I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!

NHTSA ID
10743605
Incident
Jul 26, 2015
Mileage
114,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2014

AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AND WAITING FOR AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY FOUR-LANE ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH, I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE INTO AN OPENING AND NOTHING HAPPENED, NO FORWARD MOTION. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS; ONE INVOLVED TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY STREET FROM A STOP SIGN. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE; WHEN THE DRIVE TRAIN IS UNRESPONSIVE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, PEOPLE COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. TODAY, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE THIS ANOMALY CHECKED OUT. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE RADIATOR CRACKED, LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND BOTH MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS BEING DONE AT NO COST TO ME, AS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR CRACKING FOR WHICH NISSAN HAS INCREASED THE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY NOTIFICATION DOESN'T MENTION THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE COMPROMISED, STATING ONLY, "IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY MIGHT OCCUR AT HIGHER MILEAGES LEADING TO INTERNAL LEAKAGE OF ENGINE COOLANT." MY VEHICLE IS FOUR YEARS OLD AND JUST HIT 12,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597204
Incident
Jun 6, 2013
Mileage
10,759 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .