IllustrationTRANSMISSION. WE WERE PASSING A CAR WHEN IT STARTED TO COME IN OUR LANE. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF ITS WAY. THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. LUCKY FOR US THE DRIVER SAW US AT THAT LAST SECOND AND GOT BACK IN HIS LANE AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
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
What owners actually said
520 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD WHINING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD WHINING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,188 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,350. *TR
TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN SHIFTING INTO OVER-DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID INSIDE RADIATOR. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100K MILES AND NO WARRANTY OVER 100K (NEEDS RECALL). NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE THAT ALLOWS FLUIDS TO MIX AND CREATE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. DEA…
Read full complaint
TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN SHIFTING INTO OVER-DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID INSIDE RADIATOR. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100K MILES AND NO WARRANTY OVER 100K (NEEDS RECALL). NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE THAT ALLOWS FLUIDS TO MIX AND CREATE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS SUCH HIGH DEMAND ON THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THEY ARE ON BACKORDER FOR A MONTH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WOULD POSSIBLY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT BUT FIRST, A DIAGNOSTIC WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WOULD POSSIBLY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT BUT FIRST, A DIAGNOSTIC WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. *TR
AFTER I FILLED UP ON 2/28/13, THE GAS GAUGE READ EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I LOOKED UP ON LINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSANS OF THIS MILEAGE. THE UNIT THAT CONTROLS THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH EXTREME HESITATION. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE T…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION RESPONDED WITH EXTREME HESITATION. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEVERELY VIBRATED WHEN IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,916.
THE VEHICLE HAS THE COMMON PROBLEM OF THE RADIATOR MIXING ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERS ARE OF NO HELP AND NEITHER IS NISSAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INCORRECT FUEL LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ENGINE WHINE STARTED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP OR PULLEY BEARING. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, SO LOOKED IT UP ON YOUTUBE & ENGINE WHINE VIDEOS ARE WIDESPREAD - TURNS OUT THIS IS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT, BUT DECLINED TO TELL ME BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY HAVE DONE AL…
Read full complaint
ENGINE WHINE STARTED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A POWER STEERING PUMP OR PULLEY BEARING. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, SO LOOKED IT UP ON YOUTUBE & ENGINE WHINE VIDEOS ARE WIDESPREAD - TURNS OUT THIS IS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT, BUT DECLINED TO TELL ME BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE SO THEY SURELY HEARD THIS ENGINE WHINE. THEY EVEN HAVE A BULLETIN OUT FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS "DEFECT". THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SHOE IS TOO SOFT & IS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THIS JOB WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1200 & I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THE REPAIRS MADE. I WAS IN TALKS WITH NISSAN FACTORY REPS, & SHE WILL NOT HELP ME ANY WITH THESE REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DOING THIS BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS NOISE WAS. THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY DEFECT RECALL SO ALL THE OWNERS LIKE ME COULD GET REIMBURSED, & SO THE PEOPLE NEARING WARRANTY EXPIRATION COULD BE FOREWARNED TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE. THIS IS THE Q40 V-6 ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT RADI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING VIOLENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT RADIATOR COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE NEITHER OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE ALSO REQUIRED REPLACING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO DISCONNECT THE ABS SYSTEM UNTIL THE REPAIR COULD BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
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.