2016 Nissan FRONTIER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Nissan FRONTIER has 55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 nissan frontier. after the vehicle was serviced for an oil change, the air bag warning light illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 14,007. the vin was unavailable. updated 08/30/. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
55
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
10 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,007. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/30/
- • THE ISSUE WITH MY NISSAN FRONTIER IS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING (INDICATING THAT THERE IS NOT SOMEONE SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT GO OFF) WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN FULL-GROWN ADULTS SITTING PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. . I WAS SENT TO A DEALER, WHERE I
- • AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. FUEL RELATED, BUT NOT SURE, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT MIGHT BE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM VENT CIRCUIT SHORTED. LEFT WHEEL PASSENGER SIDE ROTOR COVER KEEPS TWISTING AND RUBS AGAINST THE WHEEL AND MAKES NOISE.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,007. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/30/”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
8 complaints- • THE THROTTLE ON THE TRUCK WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE THEN WILL SURGE FORWARD. OTHER TIMES IT IS AS IF THE TRUCK ENGINE IS TRYING TO QUIT RUNNING . TODAY I STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO DCTS ON THE COMPUTER, AFTER TEST DRIVING THE TRUCK 10 MI. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. BUT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT
- • I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING. PICTURES, RECEIPTS, WHO I TALKED TO, DATES. EVERYTHING IN A LONG OUTLINE THAT I WILL ATTACH. PLEASE READ IT. THE ISSUE IS THAT I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 12-28-2016 AND HAVE YET TO GET THE ADVERTISED FUEL CAPACITY OF 21.1 GALLONS. MY TRUCK GETS ABOUT CONSISTENTLY 15 GAL
- • AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. FUEL RELATED, BUT NOT SURE, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT MIGHT BE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM VENT CIRCUIT SHORTED. LEFT WHEEL PASSENGER SIDE ROTOR COVER KEEPS TWISTING AND RUBS AGAINST THE WHEEL AND MAKES NOISE.
“THE THROTTLE ON THE TRUCK WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE THEN WILL SURGE FORWARD. OTHER TIMES IT IS AS IF THE TRUCK ENGINE IS TRYING TO QUIT RUNNING . TODAY I STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO DCTS ON THE COMPUTER, AFTER TEST DRIVING THE TRUCK 10 MI. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. BUT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
8 complaints- • WHEN I STOP AND PUT THE GAS AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION DO NOT ENGAGE, AFTER AFTER SKIPPING THE ENGAGE IT ENGAGE SUDDENLY.
- • VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WHEN USING "NISSAN CONNECT" HANDS-FREE SYSTEM WITH ALL CELL PHONES. "NISSAN CONNECT" DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN CALLING A PERSON WITH MULTIPLE PHONE NUMBERS. INSTEAD OF ASKING "WOULD YOU LIKE TO CALL ____ ON CELL OR AT HOME"?, IT ASKS YOU WHICH PHONE NUM
- • I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING. PICTURES, RECEIPTS, WHO I TALKED TO, DATES. EVERYTHING IN A LONG OUTLINE THAT I WILL ATTACH. PLEASE READ IT. THE ISSUE IS THAT I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 12-28-2016 AND HAVE YET TO GET THE ADVERTISED FUEL CAPACITY OF 21.1 GALLONS. MY TRUCK GETS ABOUT CONSISTENTLY 15 GAL
“WHEN I STOP AND PUT THE GAS AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION DO NOT ENGAGE, AFTER AFTER SKIPPING THE ENGAGE IT ENGAGE SUDDENLY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
8 complaints- • WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS PRESSED THE ENGINE DOES NOT REACT IMMEDIATELY. VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) AND ACCELERATE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE S
- • I HAVE REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT, TENSOR AND PULLEY THREE TIMES AND, AFTER ONE WEEK START TO DO THE SAME NOISE. AT THE BEGINNING ONLY IN THE MORNING, BUT FEW DAYS LATER ALL THE TIME, EVEN WHEN IS ON MOTION.
- • IN MOTION, PULLING INTO PARKING STALL, WHEN SOMETHING STARTED TO SMELL LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE, STARTED TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM MOTOR. CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. POLICE CASE #19-0773 *DT *DT*JB
“WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS PRESSED THE ENGINE DOES NOT REACT IMMEDIATELY. VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) AND ACCELERATE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE S”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE A CAB FOR THE VEHICLE, THE CAB WOULD NOT FIT DUE TO THE INCORRECT SIZE OF THE TRUCK BED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE MODIFICATION WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. W
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPOT WELDS BETWEEN THE OUTER BODY PANEL AND THE INNER BED ON THE PASSSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIA NISSAN OF COLONIE (2233 CENTRAL AVE, SCHENECTADY, NY 12304, 518-631-2393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS
- • IN MOTION, PULLING INTO PARKING STALL, WHEN SOMETHING STARTED TO SMELL LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE, STARTED TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM MOTOR. CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. POLICE CASE #19-0773 *DT *DT*JB
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE A CAB FOR THE VEHICLE, THE CAB WOULD NOT FIT DUE TO THE INCORRECT SIZE OF THE TRUCK BED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE MODIFICATION WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. W”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 55 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,007. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/30/
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THE THROTTLE ON THE TRUCK WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE THEN WILL SURGE FORWARD. OTHER TIMES IT IS AS IF THE TRUCK ENGINE IS TRYING TO QUIT RUNNING . TODAY I STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO DCTS ON THE COMPUTER, AFTER TEST DRIVING THE TRUCK 10 MI. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. BUT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WHEN I STOP AND PUT THE GAS AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION DO NOT ENGAGE, AFTER AFTER SKIPPING THE ENGAGE IT ENGAGE SUDDENLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS PRESSED THE ENGINE DOES NOT REACT IMMEDIATELY. VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THE ENGINE TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) AND ACCELERATE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Nissan FRONTIER — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 55
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Nissan FRONTIER