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2013 Nissan Frontier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Nissan Frontier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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

37 reports with mileage · 11 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

My daughter backed out of our driveway, put the truck in reverse. She was then unable to put the truck into drive. It got stuck in the middle of the street. Thankfully we live on a quite street with not much traffic during the day. However if this happened in a parking lot it would have been much different. My husband was able t…

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My daughter backed out of our driveway, put the truck in reverse. She was then unable to put the truck into drive. It got stuck in the middle of the street. Thankfully we live on a quite street with not much traffic during the day. However if this happened in a parking lot it would have been much different. My husband was able to come home from work and manually push it forward, then drove it backwards into a parking spot (out of the middle of the street). He did an internet search and found a solution. Apparently one of the screws holding the gear shifter (park,neutral,reverse,drive...) came loose and was getting hung up on the plastic molding portion of the gear box. It was a simple fix - just pop open the cover and screw the part back in. However this was a terrible thing to happen, and could have really been a much bigger issue than it was. Had it happened in a busy parking lot, busy street, or on a boat ramp.... It would have been disastrous. Please consider sending a written notice to all owners. Thank you

NHTSA ODI #11504270

76,000 miles · Apr 12, 2021
Unknown Or OtherWheels

PURCHASED 4 NEW GENERAL GRABBER HTS TIRES SIZE 25/75R15 LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AGO. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT A REPUTABLE DEALERSHIP. I NOW HAVE 2,600 MILES ON THE TIRES. LAST WEEK THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE BEAD, WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE RIM. I INSTALLED MY FULL SIZE SPARE WHILE THE FIRST FAILURE IS INVESTIGATED. NOW TWO DAYS LAT…

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PURCHASED 4 NEW GENERAL GRABBER HTS TIRES SIZE 25/75R15 LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AGO. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT A REPUTABLE DEALERSHIP. I NOW HAVE 2,600 MILES ON THE TIRES. LAST WEEK THE FIRST TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE BEAD, WHERE THE TIRE MEETS THE RIM. I INSTALLED MY FULL SIZE SPARE WHILE THE FIRST FAILURE IS INVESTIGATED. NOW TWO DAYS LATER, A SECOND TIRE IS SEVERELY DEFORMED AT THE TIRE BEAD AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE JUST LIKE THE FIRST ONE. BOTH FAILURES ARE RIGHT UNDER THE 'GE' IN GENERAL AT THE TIRE BEAD. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE, THEY ARE A DANGER TO ANYONE THAT HAS THEM INSTALLED ON THEIR VEHICLE AND A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT, SMOOTH ROAD. THE SECOND TIRE HAS NOT COMPLETELY FAILED, BUT THERE IS A LARGE BULGE OR BUBBLE IN THE TIRE WHERE IT MEETS THE RIM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FIRST PHOTO OF FIRST FAILED TIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT FAILED ON THE SIDE OF ROAD. SECOND AND THIRD PHOTO IS THE SECOND TIRE I BELIEVE IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. LAST PHOTO DOT NUMBER OF FIRST FAILED TIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11407557

120,000 miles · Feb 26, 2020
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED AND HAD THIS FIXED VIA A RECALL THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WITH MY 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER

NHTSA ODI #11311623

3,800 miles · Jan 3, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE AT TIMES. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR INTO OVER DRIVE, AFTER TOPPING A HILL AND GOING BACK DOWNHILL. TRUCK WILL DO A JERKING MOTION WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. ON INTERSTATE I81 TRUCK SPEED WAS 50-55 MPH THE RPM'S WAS 6,000 AND THE RPM'S …

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TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR FORWARD OR REVERSE AT TIMES. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR INTO OVER DRIVE, AFTER TOPPING A HILL AND GOING BACK DOWNHILL. TRUCK WILL DO A JERKING MOTION WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. ON INTERSTATE I81 TRUCK SPEED WAS 50-55 MPH THE RPM'S WAS 6,000 AND THE RPM'S WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR. WHEN IT DID SHIFT IT WAS A VERY HARD SHIFT. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT FIND OUT WHAT IT IS. THE TRUCK DOESN'T THROUGH A CODE, SO THEY CAN'T WORK ON IT TILL IT DOES. I PULL A SMALL POP UP CAMPER AT TIMES AND IT ACTS UP MORE WHEN THE TRUCK IS UNDER STRESS. I HAVE WHERE THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN THE TRUCK AND THEIR COMMENTS. THEY DID OFFER ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TILL 2020. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD AND ESPECIALLY WHEN MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK. I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 23,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AS TO DATE. NISSAN DENIED MY REQUEST FOR ANOTHER TRUCK BECAUSE THEY SAID MY CLAIM FALLS OUTSIDE THE TIME PERIOD FOR FILING CLAIMS. I HAVE THE REPAIR PAPER WORK AND LETTERS FROM THE NISSAN GROUP.

NHTSA ODI #11165681

7,835 miles · Feb 24, 2018
Unknown Or OtherWheels

VEHICLE ROLLS-NOT SLIDES OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHILE VEHICLE IN PARK AND NOT RUNNING WHILE ON SNOW AND ICE DOES NOT DO SO WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NISSAN DEALER HAS SEEN VIDEOS BUT SAYS NOTHING WRONG. LIVED IN HOUSE SINCE 1985 AND NO CAR HAS EVER ROLLED OUT. ONLY UNDER CERTAIN WINTER CONDITIONS DOES THIS HAPPEN SUCH AS WET PACKED …

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VEHICLE ROLLS-NOT SLIDES OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHILE VEHICLE IN PARK AND NOT RUNNING WHILE ON SNOW AND ICE DOES NOT DO SO WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NISSAN DEALER HAS SEEN VIDEOS BUT SAYS NOTHING WRONG. LIVED IN HOUSE SINCE 1985 AND NO CAR HAS EVER ROLLED OUT. ONLY UNDER CERTAIN WINTER CONDITIONS DOES THIS HAPPEN SUCH AS WET PACKED SNOW.. WAS NEARLY RAN OVER ONE DAY GETTING MAIL. VIDEO SHOW NO KEY, IN PARK AND ALL 4 TIRES ROTATING FORWARD. SECOND VIDEO SHOWS NO KEY, IN PARK 3 WHEELS ROTATING FORWARD AND 1 REAR WHEEL ROTATING BACKWARD AS PICKUP ROLLS FORWARD. ONE DEALER COULD SEE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO PUT BLOCKS BEHIND WHEELS. SECOND COMPLAINT. REAR BUMPER HAS SIGNIFICANT RUST AROUND LICENSE PLATE, REST OF BUMPER OK. NISSAN SAYS BECAUSE OF WINTER CHEMICALS. BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION 4 YEARS AGO WHEN PICKUP HAD 7835 MILES. IN 4 YEARS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIND ANOTHER PICKUP APPROXIMATE SAME AGE ANY MAKE WITH RUST FROM CHEMICALS. I HAVE THE ONLY ONE IN (REDACTED). WHY RUST BEHIND LICENSE PLATE WHICH IS PROTECTED FROM CHEMICAL. THE PAST 4 YEARS I AVE MADE A MINIMUM OF 15 TRIPS, CALLS, LETTERS ALL TO BE TOLD NOTHING WRONG, NOTHING WE CAN DO. FEEL AS THOUGH THE BIG COMPANY IS BULLYING THE LITTLE PERSON. CAN SEND PHOTOS, VIDEO CORRESPONDENCE SEPARATELY-NOT COMPUTER SAVVY. FIRST INCIDENT AT DEALER WAS 2/27/2018. MIGHT ADD THIS IS A GREAT PICKUP, WHICH I CAN NEVER SELL IN GOOD FAITH KNOWING THE DANGEROUS CONDITION ON SNOW AND ICE.

NHTSA ODI #11074668

27,000 miles · Mar 17, 2016
Unknown Or OtherInjury

TRACTION CONTROL CAN SNAP THE DRIVERS NECK. WITH TRACTION CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN APPLY THE BRAKE ON THE DRIVE WHEEL THAT IS SPINNING. THIS HAPPENING IF YOU ARE NOT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE CAN SNAP YOUR NECK IF DRIVER IS NOT LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD. NOTE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED IT IS NOT SLOWLY, IT IS SNAPPED ON, THIS IS PA…

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TRACTION CONTROL CAN SNAP THE DRIVERS NECK. WITH TRACTION CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE CAN APPLY THE BRAKE ON THE DRIVE WHEEL THAT IS SPINNING. THIS HAPPENING IF YOU ARE NOT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE CAN SNAP YOUR NECK IF DRIVER IS NOT LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD. NOTE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED IT IS NOT SLOWLY, IT IS SNAPPED ON, THIS IS PAINFUL AND COULD KILL. PLUS I DO NOT THINK THE DRIVE-LINE PARTS WILL LAST VERY LONG. ALSO I WOULD LIKE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM WILL NOT 'COME ON' BY DEFAULT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE INNER WHEEL SPUN ON THE WET PAVEMENT, THE 'SYSTEM' APPLIED THE BRAKE WHILE I WAS LOOKING LEFT AND MY NECK WAS TWISTED MORE TO THE LEFT THEN RIGHT FORWARD DISPLACING MY NECK. NOTE 'TRACTION CONTROL' IS DEADLY !

NHTSA ODI #10850217

Official recalls

1

14V052000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Feb 12, 2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.