Best and worst Nissan Frontier years — which to avoid

The Nissan Frontier retains a prominent spot on the used car market for being dependable at a very affordable price, but that’s assuming you can find a model without any prominent issues. Truth being said, although it’s more than a decent model overall, there are some Nissan Frontier years to avoid.

These are mostly determined by common problems associated with certain model years, and our team will be happy to help you cope with the choice. We’ll consider all of the Nissan Frontier models and their best and worst model years to bring you the best possible option according to official NHTSA reports, complaints, and ratings to back up our claims.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Nissan Frontier years

Ranking and evaluating the best and worst Nissan Frontier years wasn’t so easy since, after all, it’s a decent model overall in terms of its reliability. However, we had to pay attention to the details that could make or break your selection, and we based our research on NHTSA records and complaints.

We also used sources of authority to see which years Nissan has scheduled major recalls, and that told us a lot about the common issues of those models. Finally, we used platforms where real Frontier owners shared their opinions on the car’s ride quality and problems, including KBB, Edmunds, Consumer Reports, and even forums. With all that in mind, here’s a brief overview of the best and worst model years:

Most common Nissan Frontier problems

To further elaborate on the reliability of the Nissan Frontier as a model, we have to mention its common problems. These may help you understand what we mean by “bad model years” since in all honesty, Nissan Frontier only had a few of those in more than 20 years of production.

Sure, there were some common Nissan Frontier problems here, but the model in general received a lower number of complaints for its worst model years than some vehicles do for their decent-rated years. Even so, we have to give you a heads-up about the common issues, so here it goes:

1. Coolant leakage

Coolant leakage is a problem most Nissan vehicles have had to deal with, asides from the Frontier. The coolant is usually mixed with the transmission fluid, diluting it and causing the transmission to fail.

Frontiers of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 models were most severely affected by this issue, with Nissan offering a limited warranty in response to a lawsuit. The warranty covered the repair cost for affected cars with mileage less than 80,000 miles and part of the repairs when the vehicle had gone past 80,000 miles. The warranty became inactive after the car reached a mileage of 100,000 miles.

With that in mind, it’s especially important to keep an eye out for symptoms of low coolant to prevent having to deal with engine damage.

2. Drivetrain issues

Some Frontier drivers have laid complaints about clunking noises, premature wear of several parts, a whining sound from the rear differential, and problems with shifting. These were indicators of the drivetrain issues the Nissan Frontier is prone to having.

Drivetrain issues often lead to transmission failure as they directly relate to the transmission, with the engine overheating following behind.

3. Stalling engine

The Nissan Frontier is notorious for having a distributor shaft bearing that easily rusts, leading to the bearing ‘seizing.’ As a result, the engine may stall in traffic or refuse to start the first time you try.

The model years most affected by this issue are 1998 to 2001. The 2002 to 2012 models were not much better as they also suffered the same problem, albeit less significantly.

4. Brake problems

Drivers have complained of the brake system on the Nissan Frontier feeling soft and spongy instead of firm. Reports also reached the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about excess rust in the braking system. This matter can also affect the braking pressure and cause the problem of the brake pedal going to the floor without proper braking power.

The soft and rusting brakes pose a severe problem regarding safety for drivers and occupants of the vehicle. It is best to avoid older versions of the Frontier for this reason and your protection.

5. The automatic gearbox problem

Nissan hopped on the automatic transmission with eight or nine speeds trend with the Frontier. The higher speeds were a result of the altering of the computer shift mapping.

However, when the Frontier shifts to the highest speeds and the driver slow down or stop, the transmission often does not downshift correctly. To downshift appropriately, the driver must revert to manual mode to regain control. Another problem with the transmission was the matter of coolant leaking into the transmission which often led to costly repairs and transmission rebuilds.

6. Engine problems

The engine mounts are known to frustrate a good number of Frontier drivers who happen to buy the wrong model. Some trucks also tend not to accelerate appropriately, with the ‘check engine light’ warning sign always seeming to be on. There are other issues the engine is prone to developing, often caused by problems with the transmission, drivetrain, and other systems.

Worst Nissan Frontier years to avoid

While we already said how certain model years faced issues that don’t necessarily make them bad options, other model years have proved otherwise. So, if you are asking yourself “What are the worst Nissan Frontier years”, here’s a detailed list of all the badly rated model years:

• 2001
• 2002
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007

These are the ones you should avoid, so here’s our complete breakdown of why that’s the case with those particular years.

First-generation Nissan Frontier (2001-2002 model years)

The first-gen Nissan Frontier is a decent model with a great safety rating overall and its reliability index isn’t far behind. However, a lot of the first-gen models have had some issues, most commonly reported for the 2001 and 2002 Frontier.

While the issues rarely caused devastating damage, there were still some engine and transmission issues that drivers needed to sort out. So, we advise against buying one of these two if you have to buy a first-gen model or skip the first generation in its entirety just to be safe.

Second-generation Frontier (2005-2007 model years)

For some strange reason, the first three model years of the second generation of the Nissan Frontier performed poorly, with the highest number of complaints for one model being over 1,000 for the 2005 model.

These three model years were most afflicted with leaking coolant, which wreaked the transmission, causing the vehicle to inconvenience drivers. That of 2005 was so severe that drivers had to especially avoid that model because, after 100,000 miles, they would need to replace the entire transmission assembly. Replacing the transmission costs more than the car’s worth, making it a big loss to the owner.

These models only seemed to nail a new aesthetic look with a new engine construction and chassis. Besides that, it seems they all inherited most of the problems the first-generation Frontiers had, but in more giant blocks. Nissan must have learned their lesson because the Frontiers that followed these three never came close to being half as bad as them, as far as we can tell.

What are the best Nissan Frontier years to buy?

The Nissan Frontier is well-known to be durable and reliable even in the first generation, but once the time comes for you to make up your mind, there are several factors that could affect your reasoning. So, the first thing you’d ask yourself is – what are the best Nissan Frontier years?

The best Nissan Frontier years are 2009 and 2017, but here’s a full list of desirable models with high-reliability ratings:

• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2003
• 2004
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020

All Nissan Frontier models, except those of 2005, 2006, and 2007 model years, are great investments. The durable truck has proven its reliability right from the start and continues to do so to this day, and even 2001 and 2002 models can serve you well if properly maintained. Still, we’ll take a closer look at the best-rated models for precise buying advice.

2009 Nissan Frontier

The 2009 model only received a couple of reliability complaints even though it’s been released for more than 15 years now. Among these, you’ll find reports of incidents with the clutch pedal falling down to the floor, body paint peeling off, and issues with interior accessories.

However, all these were reported in low numbers which made us realize these are all pretty rare for the model. So, since it has a proven track record of engine and transmission reliability, and great driver feedback and ratings overall, we’d say it’s the go-to option for all those of you looking for the best possible second-gen model.

2017 Nissan Frontier

As for the 2017 Nissan Frontier, this model proved to be one of the best later second-gen options on the market. We feel it’s mostly due to low numbers of reported issues and even those didn’t have anything to do with important systems like the engine, drivetrain, and suspension.

For what it’s worth, you may end up having some problems with the electrical system, but that’s nothing to worry about as the repairs are simple and affordable. Nissan also recalled 2017 models struggling with ignition due to mentioned electrical system issues, so if you buy one of the recalled options, you’ll be pretty safe with your choice.

Is the Nissan Frontier worth buying?

Each model year of the Frontier, besides 2005, 2006, and 2007, is worth their price and beyond. These vehicles can stand the test of time and are a valuable investment.

Though the latest Nissan Ford is struggling with its resale value and credibility, the ones mentioned here are the best and have a great resale value and market prestige. The 2014 Frontier model is reputed to be the most reliable and fitted with the best features you could want in a compact truck. The Frontier can last for 200,000 miles or more with the proper care and maintenance.

We sort out which years are great and which ones aren’t worth it, using feedback from people who’ve owned them and looking at common issues. To get started, take a look at our articles on the Toyota Tacoma years to avoid, Chevy Colorado years to avoid, and GMC Canyon years to avoid. It’s your one place for all info you need.