2011 Nissan Frontier Brakes Problems

The brakes have failed several times, seems to be a known issues and affecting others. While our Nissan Truck is older, we had our Nissan checked at Midas, and then at the local Continental Nissan location, that didn’t really help, found a part that helped but only for a short period of time, as this part crapped out again yesterday 3/19/2025, and even though the brake pushed to the floor trying to stop as the brakes stopped working again! The part was only approx 2-5 months old. Nissan Frontier dealership or other places to find the actual parts needed have no real parts that would actually fix the issue. It is very sad for those in the same issue as us, pay $$$ for a used vehicle that cannot seem to be fixed, if they have even tried. I’m pretty sure nothing will be done, but wanted to file this complaint. I’m not expecting anything will be reviewed on this issue, since nothing has been seen thus far for an actual fix via Nissan etc.

NHTSA ID

11649505

Incident

Mar 19, 2025

The Actuator Assembly - Anti Skid has failed on my 2011 Frontier. My vehicle has cluster lights illuminated for ABS, brake, VDC, and SLIP. My independent mechanic pulled the codes and stated that they indicate the ABS module is going bad. This part has been discontinued by Nissan so I am not able to replace the part with a new part. The ABS system will not properly function which I would assume would be a safety issue and might impact more than the braking performance of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11468651

Incident

Jun 10, 2022

ABS module failed. The repair shop called the local Nissan dealership for parts. The Nissan dealership said the failure was a known issue. I called Nissan Customer Service for more info and they said no complaints had been filed.

NHTSA ID

11444273

Incident

Dec 10, 2021

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES BECAME SPONGY (NOT FIRM) AND PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN LONGER BRAKING DISTANCES UNLESS I PUMP THE PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AHEAD OF A STOP SIGN AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A BUMP/IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD. THE ABS AND VDC (ANTI-SLIP) ACTIVATED BRIEFLY THEN THE PEDAL GOT SOFT. IT REMAINED IN THIS CONDITION (SPONGY AND EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL) UNTIL REACHED MY DESTINATION. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED AND IGNITION OFF OVERNIGHT (GOOD PEDAL FIRMNESS AND NORMAL PEDAL TRAVEL AND BRAKING DISTANCES THE NEXT MORNING). HOWEVER, AFTER A SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED (BRAKE GETS SOFT AFTER ABS AND ANTI-SLIP ACTIVATES) THE SPONGY AND LONG PEDAL TRAVEL REMAINS. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BLED SYSTEM (USED MOTIVE POWER BLEEDER) DID TROUBLESHOOTING ON BRAKE BOOSTER, BOOSTER VACUUM LINE AND CHECK VALVE AND ALL CHECKED FINE. INSPECTED BRAKE LINES FOR BULGES, DAMAGE AND LOOSENESS AT ALL CALIPERS ALL OK. ALL PADS AND ROTORS CHECKED GOOD (NO EXCESSIVE WEAR OR MISSING PARTS). ALSO, DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO SEE IF THE ABS/VDC SYSTEM RESETS. NO CHANGE TO BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND SPONGY FEEL. BRAKE PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED STILL REMAINS.

NHTSA ID

11306559

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

156,000 mi

VDC OFF/ SLIP LIGHT ARE COMING ON AND OFF. I PUSHED THE VSC BUTTON AND IT STAYS. ITS FULL OF FLUID. ID JUST LIKE TO HAVE A TECH LOOK AT THEM, IVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT FRONTIER FORUMS.

NHTSA ID

11165941

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

82,321 mi

THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ALL PRESSURE AND BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING SOME SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. EVEN AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOLLOWING THIS COLLISION, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACEMENT, AND FULL BRAKE SERVICE, THIS ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. SMALL ROAD BUMPS MAKE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY NON-FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA ID

11123947

Incident

Nov 21, 2017

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT IT WAS HARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE VIA EMAIL. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11013734

Incident

Aug 6, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING MY BRAKES IN TRAFFIC WHILE NOT MOVING VERY FAST I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND LOST FULL PRESSURE TO MY BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK JUMP TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE THE SOME THING HAPPENED TO WEEKS AGO - THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME - THE 1ST TIME THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK TO FULL - BUT ON 6/23 AFTER AN HOUR OR SO THE PEDAL PUMPED BACK UP (2011 NISSAN FRONTIER)

NHTSA ID

11002053

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

109,000 mi

WHEN APPLY THE BRAKES DONT STOP FIRMLY. IN PAIR OF TIMES INVOLVED IN POSIBLE DEAD PEOPLE THATS WALK IN ROAD.WHEN APPLY BRAKES ARE GOING DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID

10983730

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

30 mi

BOTH REAR AXLES ARE LEAKING AT 60,265 MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD LEAD TO BRAKE PAD CONTAMINATION WHICH WOULD REDUCE BRAKING CAPABILITY AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVENESS O THE PARKING BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

10873668

Incident

May 18, 2016

Mileage

60,265 mi

THE VENT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLOGGED AND A BACK UP OF PRESSURE PUSHED THE SEALS ON THE AXLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AXLE AND BRAKES. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR SUBMERGE THE DRIVE TRAIN.

NHTSA ID

10747872

Incident

May 7, 2013

Mileage

34,000 mi

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 ID

10491500

Incident

Jan 3, 2013

Mileage

17,000 mi

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 ID

10441931

Incident

Dec 5, 2011

Mileage

4,300 mi