2013 Nissan FRONTIER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan FRONTIER has 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: side air bags deployed with no impact of vehicle. nissan claimed the vehicle was at an angle that required the bags to deploy. the vehicle is a 4x4 truck and was not at any angle that required the air bags to deploy. speed was 10mph on a flat dirt road. even though the vehicle only had 9000 miles th. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 7 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

15 complaints

23%

• SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO IMPACT OF VEHICLE. NISSAN CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 4X4 TRUCK AND WAS NOT AT ANY ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. SPEED WAS 10MPH ON A FLAT DIRT ROAD. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 9000 MILES TH
• MY SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO IMPACT - NO REASON IN MARCH OF 2014. SAME EXACT THING OCCURRED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. NISSAN TOOK RESPONSIBILITY + HAD ITEMS REPAIRED, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THIS IS REPEATEDLY HAPPENING + I'M AFRAID OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN!
• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IF FAULTY, AND SETS OFF A LIGHT WHICH INDICATES NO PROTECTION FOR ANY PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO IMPACT OF VEHICLE. NISSAN CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 4X4 TRUCK AND WAS NOT AT ANY ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. SPEED WAS 10MPH ON A FLAT DIRT ROAD. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 9000 MILES TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

12%

• 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOW HITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK. BUT, INSTEAD ANOTHER TYPE OF TOW HITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER FOUND IT UNACC
• THE MULTI-SENSING SYSTEM WITH REAR CAMERA FAILED TO DETECT (NO WARNING BEEP SIGNALS) THAT A METAL LIGHT POLE (ON TOP OF A 12 INCH CONCRETE SLAB) WAS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AFTER BACKING OUT (VEER TO LEFT) OF A PARKING SPACE. THERE WERE NO PRE-IMPACT SIGNALS OF THE OBJECT WHEN 10, 5, OR 3 FEET AWAY. THE
• YESTERDAY WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS MY FRONTIER BURST INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE SEEMED TO INNITIATE FROM THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. *TR

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

“2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOW HITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK. BUT, INSTEAD ANOTHER TYPE OF TOW HITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER FOUND IT UNACC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

11%

• 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOW HITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK. BUT, INSTEAD ANOTHER TYPE OF TOW HITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER FOUND IT UNACC
• 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
• 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 T

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

6 complaints

• TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE DRIVER AND VEHICLE WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED FAILURES FOR THIS SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. *TR
• MY CLUTCH HAS PREMATURELY FAILED AT 20500 MILES. THE TRUCK IS LESS THEN 2 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH INCLUDING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 3000 MILES. THE DEALER SHIP TOLD ME THIS IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE PART IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE DRIVEN A CLUTCH
• THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE FROM NEUTRAL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF HOLDING IT IN DRIVE, I MANAGED TO GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD. THEN, I COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF DRIVE. IT ONLY MOVED FORWARD. THE PROBLEM FIX IS DESCRIBED IN THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO PERFECTLY. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XF-QF

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

“TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE DRIVER AND VEHICLE WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED FAILURES FOR THIS SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

5 complaints

• 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AT LOW SPEED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN, WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE AND THEN STALL. *JB
• I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 15 20 MILES PER HOUR, I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED IN ORDER TO GO AROUND A CORNER, THE TRUCK THEN ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO JUMP THE CURB AND HIT THE MAIL BOXES. THE TRUCK ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 30-40 MPH. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER DEPRESSING AND RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH

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

“2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE INTERMITTENT ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AT LOW SPEED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT WOULD HAPPEN, WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE AND THEN STALL. *JB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 65 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO IMPACT OF VEHICLE. NISSAN CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 4X4 TRUCK AND WAS NOT AT ANY ANGLE THAT REQUIRED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. SPEED WAS 10MPH ON A FLAT DIRT ROAD. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 9000 MILES TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOW HITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK. BUT, INSTEAD ANOTHER TYPE OF TOW HITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER FOUND IT UNACC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TOW HITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INSTALLED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT ON THE TRUCK. BUT, INSTEAD ANOTHER TYPE OF TOW HITCH HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER FOUND IT UNACC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE DRIVER AND VEHICLE WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED FAILURES FOR THIS SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)