IllustrationA CRACK CAME IN THE RADIATOR, FORCING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION.
2007 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Frontier years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Frontier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
6525–50K
10050–75K
10575–100K
147100–150K
21150K+
461 reports with mileage · 59 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Power Train complaints
222 reportsMY TRANSMISIN STOP WORKING A DONT NO THA PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED STATE HIGHWAY AT APRX 50MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND RPM'S WENT UP. MUCH LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAD DOWNSHIFTED. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANS. COULDN'T MANUALLY GET IT BACK TO NORMAL BY DOWNSHIFTING OR PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS NOW LIT. PULLED OVER, STOPPED AND TURNED OFF E…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED STATE HIGHWAY AT APRX 50MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND RPM'S WENT UP. MUCH LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAD DOWNSHIFTED. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANS. COULDN'T MANUALLY GET IT BACK TO NORMAL BY DOWNSHIFTING OR PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS NOW LIT. PULLED OVER, STOPPED AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. UNDER THE HOOD THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF LEAKING, BROKEN BELTS OR SMOKE. RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND DROVE HOME APRX 10 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM, BUT SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STILL ON. DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY TO AUTOZONE (5MILES TOTAL) AND SHOWED CODES P1774 AND P0717. RESEARCHING THE CODES LED ME TO ALL THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE TRANS FLUID COOLER INSIDE THE RADIATOR WHICH MIXES THAT OIL WITH COOLANT AND DESTROYS COMPONENTS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE WHAT TO DO FACING A $6000 REPAIR BILL ON A $10000 VEHICLE. THIS HAD ME LOSING SPEED IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS AND STRANDING US AS AN ELDERLY COUPLE WITH A DISABLED PERSON IN THE ARIZONA DESERT. MONEY ASIDE, IT'S PRETTY SAD TO FIND OUT THAT THE NHTSA AND NISSAN HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND NEITHER HAS TAKEN ANY PROACTIVE STEPS TO INFORM OR WARN THE OWNERS. JUST A LOT OF COLLECTING INFO AND WAITING FOR THE VEHICLES TO BE CARTED OFF AS JUNK AND THE PROBLEM SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. THANKS A LOT FOR STALLING FOR YEARS AND DOING NOTHING. SAFETY DOESN'T JUST PERTAIN TO HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED! NOT EXACTLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT MIXING HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TCMAND NEW RADIATOR. VEHICLE CUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER FAILING TO EXCELERATE PAST 40MPH.
RADIATOR LEAK RESULTED IN REPLACING RADIATOR AND DAMAGED TRANSMISSION
DEFECTIVE RADIATOR HOSE CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO SEEP INTO THE TRANSMISSION, DAMAGING IT ENTIRELY. COST OF REPAIRS WERE $4200.00. NISSAN NEGLECTED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF DEFECTIVE PART AND THE RECALL FOR 2005-2010 MODELS. OVER 2000 COMPLAINTS WERE FILED BEFORE NISSAN TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION, WHICH INCLUDED EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,00…
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DEFECTIVE RADIATOR HOSE CAUSED COOLANT FLUID TO SEEP INTO THE TRANSMISSION, DAMAGING IT ENTIRELY. COST OF REPAIRS WERE $4200.00. NISSAN NEGLECTED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF DEFECTIVE PART AND THE RECALL FOR 2005-2010 MODELS. OVER 2000 COMPLAINTS WERE FILED BEFORE NISSAN TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTION, WHICH INCLUDED EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MECHANICAL ISSUES WILL NOT MANIFEST UNTIL WELL OVER 100,000 MILES THUS ABSOLVING NISSAN FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR OWNERSHIP.
TRANSMISSION RADIATOR CONTAMINATION. LOSS ACCELERATION ON HI WAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED TOGETHER. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
WHEN ENTERING HWY 17 (70 MPH SPEED LIMIT) I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO ENTER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. INSTEAD OF INCREASING SPEED THE TRUCK STALLED. I PULLED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE EMERGENCY LANE IN ORDER TO PREVENT TRAFFIC FROM RUNNING OVER MY VEHICLE. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND IT SEEMED TO SMOOTH OUT . MOTOR WAS R…
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WHEN ENTERING HWY 17 (70 MPH SPEED LIMIT) I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO ENTER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. INSTEAD OF INCREASING SPEED THE TRUCK STALLED. I PULLED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE EMERGENCY LANE IN ORDER TO PREVENT TRAFFIC FROM RUNNING OVER MY VEHICLE. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND IT SEEMED TO SMOOTH OUT . MOTOR WAS RUNNING WITH EXCESS RPM'S AND TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS WAS A NEAR ACCIDENT. I COULD HEAR CARS BEHIND PLACING ON BRAKES AND BLOWING HORN. WHEN RETURNING HOME WAS TOLD BY NISSAN DEALERSHIP RADIATOR COOLER AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY LINES. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PROBLEM.
OUR 07 NISSAN FRONTIER WAS BEING DRIVEN TO BE INSPECTED FOR REGISTRATION WHEN, AT A STOP LIGHT, IT JUST TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT START. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE HAD TO SEND IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THE COMPUTER TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. ACCORDING TO THIS MECHANIC, THE LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR HAS MI…
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OUR 07 NISSAN FRONTIER WAS BEING DRIVEN TO BE INSPECTED FOR REGISTRATION WHEN, AT A STOP LIGHT, IT JUST TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT START. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE HAD TO SEND IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR THE COMPUTER TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. ACCORDING TO THIS MECHANIC, THE LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR HAS MIXED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING ALL THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL AND NEED REPLACING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!
Official recalls
108V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.