2023 Nissan Frontier Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 Nissan Frontier, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2827.7%
- Driver assistance1615.8%
- Brakes1514.9%
- Engine1312.9%
- Powertrain (other)1211.9%
- Steering65.9%
- Interior & seats55.0%
- Body & structure33.0%
- Exterior lighting11.0%
- Tires & wheels11.0%
- Visibility11.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Camera shows purple/pink screen and is not fully functional. Numerous instances found online of this issue.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Camera shows purple/pink screen and is not fully functional. Numerous instances found online of this issue.
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.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Transmission shifting harshly and may have to be replaced
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.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked or stationary, the driver's side door became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband stated that the keyhole was fractured, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the keyhole was replaced; however, there was no diagnosis made for the inoperable door. The contact stated that the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. On a separate occasion, the contact's husband was at the airport and was unable to open the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the handle and door latches were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The frame of my truck was improperly welded at the factory and after 16k miles the welds broke. Nissan's fix it to rebuild the truck on a new frame. I'm currently still driving it with a broken frame because they did not provide a loaner and don't have time to fix it even though they know there are broken welds and the steering column makes a popping sound and the right front is also making sounds. Nissan refused to replace the truck or extend the warranty. They have also given me no paperwork even though it's been at the dealership for the issue already.
Some mechanism in the door is bad. I get locked out of the vehicle when the truck is unlocked. On multiple occasions this door and truck will try to lock itself with the keys still inside (the warning alarm will go off). To get back into the truck I have to lock the door and unlock it even though the door was unlocked to begin with. If the situation were to arise where this door is stuck closed with the keys inside the vehicle, it can cause many issues for the owner/operator (This happened to me once, but the other side was not jammed fortunately). I have brought this vehicle back to the dealership many times and they have not fixed the problem.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact leased a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated the normal tire pressure was 35; however, the tire pressure had increased to 37, 39, and 40 while driving on several occasions. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH and attempting to overtake another vehicle, the vehicle was wobbling and was shuddering, and the contact almost loss control of the vehicle. The contact held the steering wheel tightly and decelerated significantly. The contact was able to remain in control of the vehicle and continued driving. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V273000 (Tires); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear backup camera turned purple in color and not accurate when backing up to a trailer.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .