2010 Nissan FRONTIER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan FRONTIER has 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan frontier crew cab. the contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light remained illuminated when the passenger seat was occupied. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that the electronic sensor could not be shut off. the vehicle .

2 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

19 complaints

25%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE
• AIR BAGS LIGHT KEEP STAY ON, REPLACE SPINAL CABLE FOR THE AIR BAGS, CALL NISSAN MANUFACTURER AND THEY WON'T DO THE RECALL, COST ME $1200.00 FOR THE REPAIR. SAW THE NEWS ON CNN THE RECALL FOR AIR BAG PROBLEM INCLUDE NISSAN. *TR
• AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY STAYS ON, ACCORDING TO MANUAL IT MEANS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYING IN A ACCIDENT, CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS AND THEY WANT $125.00 TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. TO ME THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED FOR FREE BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

16 complaints

21%

• 6-SPEED MANUAL STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION; CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY AT 20,160M, 13MOS VEHICLE AGE; SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR, INTERMITTANT BURNING SMELLS OF UNK ORIGIN WHEN BACKING VEHICLE THAT WENT AWAY QUICKLY MAY HAVE BEEN ONLY SYMPTOM OF IMPENDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. SOLE DRIVER/OWNER IS VETERAN
• I PUT MY 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW TO BACK MY CAMPER INTO ITS PARKING AREA. THE PARKING AREA IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF A SLIGHT INCLINE. AFTER BACKING THE CAMPER INTO POSITION I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE I SECURED THE CAMPER BY PLACING CHOCKS BEHIND ITS
• TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, DOES NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“6-SPEED MANUAL STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION; CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY AT 20,160M, 13MOS VEHICLE AGE; SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR, INTERMITTANT BURNING SMELLS OF UNK ORIGIN WHEN BACKING VEHICLE THAT WENT AWAY QUICKLY MAY HAVE BEEN ONLY SYMPTOM OF IMPENDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. SOLE DRIVER/OWNER IS VETERAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

12%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE IGNITION UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240.
• WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE IGNITION ALL THE DASHBOARD NEEDLE INDICATORS BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE DASHBOARD NEEDLES CONTINUE TO VIBRATE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I HOOKED UP A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER TO THE BA
• WITH THE TREND TOWARDS LAWS BANNING HAND HELD CELL PHONE OPERATION I PURCHASED A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO4X ON MARCH 4, 2010 WHICH INCLUDES A HANDS FREE FEATURE. THE HANDS FREE CAPABILITY OF MY TRUCK WOULD NOT SUPPORT SAFE DRIVING IN STATES THAT HAVE OR HAVE PENDING LEGISLATION THAT BAN HAND HELD CE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE IGNITION UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

9 complaints

12%

• AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AND WAITING FOR AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY FOUR-LANE ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH, I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE INTO AN OPENING AND NOTHING HAPPENED, NO FORWARD MOTION. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS; ONE INVOLVED TRYING TO CROS
• TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN...WHEN TIME TO GO CAR DOES NOT MOVE. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN DEALER IN 2014 AND THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE FLUID...COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. FLUID WAS CHANGED AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. WILL BE TAKING
• ENGINE IDLES TOO LOW: ENGINE IDLES AT APPROXIMATELY 600 RPMS, WHEN AC KICKS IN IDLE DROPS TO 500 RPMS OR LESS CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTTER AND SHAKE AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR RESET, BUT VEHICLE STILL IDLES AT AROUND 600 RPM. VEHICLE SPECS STATE VEHICLE SHOULD ID

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AND WAITING FOR AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY FOUR-LANE ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH, I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE INTO AN OPENING AND NOTHING HAPPENED, NO FORWARD MOTION. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS; ONE INVOLVED TRYING TO CROS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

• INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK. COMING TOWARDS A STOP SIGN, I HAD ALREADY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. ABOUT 200 FEET,BEFORE THE STOP SIGN, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK,THE PEDA
• NOTICED E-BRAKE NO LONGER HOLDING. TOOK TO LOCAL SHOP. TOLD ME NEED NEW E-BRAKE PADS AND REAR AXLE BEARINGS, SEALS. APPARENTLY BEARING SEALS FAILED AND GEAR OIL SATURATED BRAKE PADS. TOOK TO DEALER TO FIX BEARINGS AND SEALS UNDER WARRANTY (THOUGH THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT T
• ON DECEMBER 7, 2013, I BEGAN TO HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES. I PHONED THE NEAREST AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 12TH. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $18.95 FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION, IF MY VEHICLE WARRANTY NO LONGER COVERED THE REPAIR. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK. COMING TOWARDS A STOP SIGN, I HAD ALREADY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. ABOUT 200 FEET,BEFORE THE STOP SIGN, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK,THE PEDA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 76 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED MANUAL STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION; CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY AT 20,160M, 13MOS VEHICLE AGE; SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR, INTERMITTANT BURNING SMELLS OF UNK ORIGIN WHEN BACKING VEHICLE THAT WENT AWAY QUICKLY MAY HAVE BEEN ONLY SYMPTOM OF IMPENDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. SOLE DRIVER/OWNER IS VETERAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE IGNITION UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO EXIT A PARKING LOT AND WAITING FOR AN OPENING IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY FOUR-LANE ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH, I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE INTO AN OPENING AND NOTHING HAPPENED, NO FORWARD MOTION. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT INCIDENTS; ONE INVOLVED TRYING TO CROS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)