2023 Nissan Frontier Owner Complaints

The power door lock system intermittently malfunctions. During the initial failure, the passenger rear door lock seized in the unlocked position and could not be manually operated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Nissan dealership, where all three passenger door lock actuators were replaced. Following the repair, the seized lock condition was resolved; however, the underlying malfunction continues. The passenger front and passenger rear doors will unlock electronically but will not lock using the key fob, interior lock switch, or intelligent key functions. The driver rear side door does not respond to electronic lock or unlock commands. The only way to secure or access the affected doors is by manually operating each individual door lock. The malfunction affects three of the four doors simultaneously and occurs intermittently without warning. No warning lights or messages are displayed when the failure occurs. This defect creates a safety concern because the vehicle cannot be secured as designed, and passengers may not be able to quickly access or enter through an affected door without manual intervention. In an emergency, delays caused by manually locking or unlocking doors could impede access to passengers or evacuation from the vehicle. The issue has been reproduced multiple times and confirmed by an authorized Nissan dealership. Although the passenger door lock actuators were replaced, the malfunction persists, indicating the repair did not correct the underlying defect. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

NHTSA ID

11752360

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

Rear backup camera turned purple in color and not accurate when backing up to a trailer.

NHTSA ID

11749737

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Transmission shifting harshly and may have to be replaced

NHTSA ID

11747309

Incident

Jun 22, 2026

While underway at speeds under 20 mph. Vehicle hesitates and lurches creating a danger when taking off from a stop light. Vehicle may delay acceleration from a stop, which can feel unsafe in traffic and in merging situations.This activity is uncontrollable as the driver has no control and could lead to an accident or injury to pedestrians or other wise. Another problem is rough shifting, hard downshifts and a jerking. There is both an audible clunk and felt responce or "shift shock". Potential safety risk of hesitation or unexpected gear changes may compromise vehicle control. I have reported and visited the Bradenton Nissan dealership. (2 times) to no avail.

NHTSA ID

11746707

Incident

Apr 8, 2026

Bought my 2023 Nissan Frontier PRO 4X last year and immediately noticed a clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. This noise only occurs while driving and making slight adjustments to the wheel. The noise ranges in loudness and intensity and at times can be felt while holding the steering wheel. Reported issue at 2 separate dealerships so far with no resolution offered. Concerned that the constant clicking/rubbing in the steering column may lead to a catastrophic failure while driving.

NHTSA ID

11744632

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

Camera shows purple/pink screen and is not fully functional. Numerous instances found online of this issue.

NHTSA ID

11744398

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

Vehicle door locks causing driver and passengers to exit the vehicle. Have already had front passenger door and driver side back passenger door fixed. Now driver door will lock and once driver inside, is unable to exit vehicle. In the event of emergency, anyone in vehicle could parish because they would not be able to exit the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11740004

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

The 2023 Nissan Frontier was purchased new and is under manufacturer's warranty. Beginning in the summer of 2025, the driver's seatback has unexpectedly moved rearward, including more than one instance where it fell completely back toward the rear seat. Each time, the vehicle has been turned off, the seat is unoccupied, and no one was in contact with the seat controls. The seat does not feel lose when manually pushed and appears normal between incidents. The issue is intermittent and cannot be easily reproduced on demand. This is a serious safety issue. If the seatback recliner mechanism fails while driving, it could suddenly alter the driver's position, reduce control of the vehicle and increase the risk of injury in a crash. I have reported the issue multiple times to an authorized Nissan dealership. The vehicle has been inspected and kept overnight, but the issue was not reproduced and no repair was made. I also contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs who attributed the issue to the seat adjustment switch being accidentally activated. This explanation does not match the conditions under which the problem occurs (vehicle off, seat unoccupied). I am requesting this issue be investigated as a potential defect in the seatback recliner mechanism or power seat system. This condition appears to involve un-commanded seat movement and possible failure of the seatback locking mechanism. I have photos but am waiting for the internet to forward them from my phone to my computer to upload.

NHTSA ID

11732266

Incident

Jul 26, 2025

April 2 I was driving to an appt got off on access road and as I pulled up behind another vehicle the acceleration was faster than the pressure on the pedal warranted and the emergency stop-braking warning came on. After it was safe to proceed to my destination I proceeded to a parking spot as I turned to pull in the vehicle rapidly accelerated on its on and jumped the side walk. I attempted to brake but the pedal went to the floor with no braking and the engine was red lining as we crashed. My passenger pushed the engine off button. Front passenger tire was sheered off. No air bag deployment and vehicle likely totalled.

NHTSA ID

11729979

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Nissan Frontier Defect Description: The wiring harness connected to the brake stop lamp switch on 2023 Nissan Frontier vehicles contains a design or manufacturing defect that causes premature switch failure. The defect results in the switch overheating and burning out, evidenced by visible charring and sooty residue inside the switch housing. Upon failure, the brake lights may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed, removing a critical safety signal for following drivers. Nissan has acknowledged this defect and issued Technical Service Bulletin NTB22-084. However, owners whose vehicles have exceeded the 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty threshold are required to bear the full cost of repair out of pocket, despite the defect being a known manufacturing issue. Safety Hazard: Failure of the brake stop lamp switch renders the vehicle's rear brake lights inoperative. This creates a significant safety risk to the vehicle's occupants, following drivers, and the general public — particularly under low-visibility conditions such as nighttime driving, inclement weather, or high-traffic situations. In my personal incident, switch failure occurred without prior warning while traveling at approximately 50 mph on a state highway. A warning light did illuminate, but only after the switch had already failed. At that speed and location, safely moving off the roadway was not immediately possible, placing myself and other motorists in a hazardous situation.

NHTSA ID

11727766

Incident

Mar 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pushed into a nearby lot with the assistance of bystanders. The vehicle could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer; however, the failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred within the week. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that undisclosed wires need to be cleaned. The wires were cleaned but the failure reoccurred approximately 2-3 weeks later. The vehicle was again towed to the same dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred a week and a half later. The vehicle was not diagnosed and or repaired again. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11716693

Incident

Sep 15, 2025

Mileage

30,000 mi

On 1/27/26, at or about 1:00 AM driving NB on Hwy 99,south of Bakersfield, Ca.i encountered dense fog with visibility down to zero. While driving cautiously my steering wheel became locked up and I had no control of steering and the vehicle kept slowly going forward. I finally managed to stop vehicle as traffic had come to a stop. The driver in vehicle in front of me yelled out what’s wrong with your truck. I yelled back that my steering wheel locked up on me and had no way to turn. The driver informed me to turn the vehicle off and then to turn it back on. This procedure unlocked my steering wheel. The driver informed me to stay behind him as he would guide me to next Hwy exit in case my steering wheel locked up again. We both made it safely to exit Hwy 99 at Panama Lane, Bakersfield Ca. I drove the truck safely home and scheduled an appointment with Nissan dealership Bakersfield, Ca on 1/29/26. The dealership could not duplicate the problem or give me a reasonable explanation why the steering wheel locked up. This incident could have had tragic results which could have caused death with huge vehicle pileups. I was with my wife when this incident occurred and she is very scared and concerned should this mechanical or electrical failure happen again. On 1/27/26, a 43 vehicle pileup occurred on Hwy 58 east of Bakersfield, Ca. Due to dense fog. Please feel free to contact should you need further information. I can be reached at [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11714708

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

My 2023 Nissan Frontier lost all power and shut off while driving on the hwy.

NHTSA ID

11701155

Incident

Nov 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH and reversing(R) out of a parking spot, the messages "Key Malfunction" and "Crash Detected" were displayed. The contact pulled over and attempted to turn off the vehicle; however the vehicle failed to turn off. Additionally, when the contact shifted to park(P) the gear shift indicator failed to indicate that the transmission was in park(P). The contact attempted to shift to drive(D), and the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact stated that a passerby helped to turn off the vehicle by disconnecting the battery terminals. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and it was determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the same messages were displayed, and the transmission slipped out of gear. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer who cleared the codes and stated that the battery was in good condition. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failures reoccurred. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

NHTSA ID

11698971

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

Mileage

58,000 mi

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689415

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689413

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689410

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689409

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689408

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689407

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689406

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689405

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. This is an extremely dangerous situation for our fleet drivers as well as the motoring public. It has happened to 10 of the 15 Frontiers that we own.

NHTSA ID

11689403

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that on one occasion, while stopped at a traffic light at a busy intersection, the Auto START/STOP system turned off the engine, and the engine failed to restart as designed. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile mechanic jump-started the vehicle, and a handheld diagnostic machine was unable to retrieve a fault code. The failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that during a second occasion, the shifter was able to shift out of park(P) into neutral(N), and the vehicle was pushed off the road to safety with the assistance of a State Trooper. The contact attempted to jumpstart the vehicle, and while there was power, the Push to Start button was pressed, but the power shut off. The contact stated that after waiting for a while, the vehicle was restarted and operated as intended. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to dealer, and if the failure was associated with the drive train, the vehicle would be repaired under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

NHTSA ID

11684986

Incident

Aug 26, 2025

Mileage

41,000 mi

Tapping noise when starting vehicle in the mornings or when cold (now it occurs at all times at cold start despite outside temperature). Tapping lasts from about 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. Problem has been reproduced by the dealer and a techline case was submitted to Nissan on 3 JUL 2025. To date there has been no response from Dealer or Nissan on cause or how to rectify.

NHTSA ID

11684412

Incident

Sep 15, 2024