2011 Nissan FRONTIER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Nissan FRONTIER has 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan frontier. the contact stated that the front passenger side air bag warning light would illuminate whenever a passenger was occupying the seat at a weight of 100 pounds or less. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 4 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

16 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE
• MYSELF AND THREE KIDS AND DOG HAD BEEN ON A MILD 4 WHEEL DRIVE ROAD HAVING A LITTLE COOK OUT AND HIKE. WE WERE COMING HOME ON A SMOOTH MAINTAINED COUNTY ROAD GOING AND COMING TO STOP BY A STREAM. I THINK MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WE WERE MAYBE GOING 20 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED.
• GOING DOWN BACK ROAD, HIT A DEPRESSION, THE TRUCK NATURALLY ROCKED A BIT FROM SIDE TO SIDE, SIDE AIRBAGS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER) SUDDENLY DEPLOYED W/A HORRENDOUS LOUD BANG, SCARING ME HALF TO DEATH A LONG W/MY LEFT EAR RINGING. RIDICULOUS THAT IT IS THAT SENSITIVE IN A 4X4 TRUCK THAT THEY ADVERTISE N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

13 complaints

15%

• WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARK POSITION FRONT BRAKES MAKE A LOW GROAN OR RUBBIING SOUND LIKE THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER TWICE, ONCE THEY PUT MOLYCOTE GREASE ON THE PADS, THEN THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS ALL DONE WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES,STILL HAS TH
• BRAKE ROTORS HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERE RUST ALONG BRAKE PAD SURFACE. NOT SUPERFICIAL RUST. THE SURFACE IS "PITTED" WITH RUST. VEHICLE HAS 17000 MILES. ALL 4 ROTORS REQUIRE "TURNING" OR REPLACEMENT WAY TOO EARLY. THIS CONFIRMED BY TWO RELIABLE MECHANICS. *TR
• THE VENT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLOGGED AND A BACK UP OF PRESSURE PUSHED THE SEALS ON THE AXLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AXLE AND BRAKES. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR SUBMERGE THE DRIVE TRAIN.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARK POSITION FRONT BRAKES MAKE A LOW GROAN OR RUBBIING SOUND LIKE THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER TWICE, ONCE THEY PUT MOLYCOTE GREASE ON THE PADS, THEN THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS ALL DONE WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES,STILL HAS TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

11%

• 10/2010 ORDERED A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO-4X ; DELIVERED 11/26/10, 9 MILES. PERSONAL COMMUTING AND RECREATION; NOT COMMERCIAL DUTY! ONLY PULLED POP-UP CAMPER & UTILITY TRAILERS A FEW TIMES, OFTEN SMELL CLUTCH "BURN" AFTER BACKING UP (ESPECIALLY SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY: BOTH MAX 2K LBS): TR
• THE VENT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLOGGED AND A BACK UP OF PRESSURE PUSHED THE SEALS ON THE AXLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AXLE AND BRAKES. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR SUBMERGE THE DRIVE TRAIN.
• YEA I GOT A NISSAN FRONTIER NEW AND MY WARRANTY IS UP DUE TO 5 YEARS BUT UNDER 60000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD.. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT ABOUT 7500 FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT...I WAS DRIVING NEXT THING YOU KNOW ON THE FREEWAY I PRESS ON THE PEDAL IT REVS HIGH BUT DOESN'T GO A

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

“10/2010 ORDERED A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO-4X ; DELIVERED 11/26/10, 9 MILES. PERSONAL COMMUTING AND RECREATION; NOT COMMERCIAL DUTY! ONLY PULLED POP-UP CAMPER & UTILITY TRAILERS A FEW TIMES, OFTEN SMELL CLUTCH "BURN" AFTER BACKING UP (ESPECIALLY SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY: BOTH MAX 2K LBS): TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE 805 FREEWAY WHEN MY AIRCONDITIONER LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON THE DASH BOARD. THEN I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. ALL POWER WAS LOST. I HAD TO MERGE ON TO THE 8 WEST FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY HANDBRA
• 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER MODELS DELAY RESPONSE IN ACCELERATION DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.WIFE SAYS THIS HAS AL MOST CAUSED ACCIDENT .NISSAN NEEDS TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM TO GET REPAIRED.DEALER SAYS DELAY IS CAUSED BY POTENTOMETER RELAYING INFO TO COMPUTER. *TT
• AFTER LEAVING A REMOTE LOGGING ROAD IN NORTHERN MAINE WOODS, MY WIFE AND I HEADED BACK TOWARDS BANGOR , MAINE. WHILE TRAVELING APX 60 MPH THE TRUCK LOST POWER, SOME WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED, I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. ENGINE WAS CHUGGING, COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING. I SHUT IT OFF AND ATTEMP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE 805 FREEWAY WHEN MY AIRCONDITIONER LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON THE DASH BOARD. THEN I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. ALL POWER WAS LOST. I HAD TO MERGE ON TO THE 8 WEST FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY HANDBRA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

• 2011 BLUE PAINT COLOR PROBLEM PAINT IS CHIPPING AT THE REAR FENDER WELLS JUST BEFORE THE REAR TIRE LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT TIRES ARE CAUSING SAND TO HIT THIS AREA DESIGN FLAW HAVING FEND STICK OUT LIKE THIS DEALER IS WORKING ON THIS STILL GOING TO RE PAINT BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I HA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MANUALLY HELD THE DOOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO REMAIN CLOSED WHILE DRIVING, DUE TO THE FAULTY LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER
• AUTOMOBILE HAS BODY RUST AND RUST LIKE STAINING. NISSAN ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR BY PUTTING SANDING PUDDING AND PAINTING IT. CAR STILL HAS CONSTANT RUST PROBLEMS. NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE IS UNABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. THE REAR BUMPER IN PARTICULAR HAS THAT ISSUE NISSAN CUT HOLES IN IT T

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

“2011 BLUE PAINT COLOR PROBLEM PAINT IS CHIPPING AT THE REAR FENDER WELLS JUST BEFORE THE REAR TIRE LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT TIRES ARE CAUSING SAND TO HIT THIS AREA DESIGN FLAW HAVING FEND STICK OUT LIKE THIS DEALER IS WORKING ON THIS STILL GOING TO RE PAINT BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I HA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 84 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARK POSITION FRONT BRAKES MAKE A LOW GROAN OR RUBBIING SOUND LIKE THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER TWICE, ONCE THEY PUT MOLYCOTE GREASE ON THE PADS, THEN THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS ALL DONE WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES,STILL HAS TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 10/2010 ORDERED A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO-4X ; DELIVERED 11/26/10, 9 MILES. PERSONAL COMMUTING AND RECREATION; NOT COMMERCIAL DUTY! ONLY PULLED POP-UP CAMPER & UTILITY TRAILERS A FEW TIMES, OFTEN SMELL CLUTCH "BURN" AFTER BACKING UP (ESPECIALLY SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY: BOTH MAX 2K LBS): TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE 805 FREEWAY WHEN MY AIRCONDITIONER LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON THE DASH BOARD. THEN I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. ALL POWER WAS LOST. I HAD TO MERGE ON TO THE 8 WEST FREEWAY AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO USE MY HANDBRA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)