2009 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
60,097 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 37 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 18.9% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 18.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Structure: 2; Suspension: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 10; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10334158 · 2010-06-01 (June 1, 2010)
WEAK CLUTCH 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER SE 4X4 4.0 LITRE, 6 SPEED MAN TRANSMISSION. 10,331 MILES AND CLUTCH SLIPS IN 3RD, 4TH, 5TH, 6TH AND LITTLE NO ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE. SLIPS ON SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MANUFACTURER ALWAYS BLAME CUSTOMER'S ON FAULT. TRUCK WAS NOT ABUSED BY ME. MANUFACTURER IS NOT ADMITTING FAILURE. IF YOU SEARCH FOR NISSAN FRONTIER CLUTCH PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET, YOU WILL SEE, THAT THE SAME POWERPLANT BELONGS TO A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA AND AT 13,000 AND THE 24,000 THIS PERSON HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AS WELL AS SLIPS. 2ND ISSUE, T…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,331 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671927 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)
TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFTER ONLY 64,000 MILES. RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION OIL WHICH IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. QUOTED $4200 IN REPAIRS-THEY WILL NEED TO RE-MANUFACTURE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE AT VALVE. I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER SINCE I AM JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YR 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY (5 MONTHS OVER 5 YRS). THEY ADVISED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY WILL HELP WITH. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS TO NEED TO BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303124 · 2010-01-29 (January 29, 2010)
THE ABS SYSTEM ON THE 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER MALFUNCTIONS ANY TIME FULL BRAKING IS REQUIRED WHEN ANY SNOW COVER IS ON THE ROAD SURFACE. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE DURING THOSE CONDITIONS, YOU MUST ANTICIPATE A STOP AND SLOW SPEED THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR TO COAST TO A STOP. IF YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO FULL OR NEAR THE BRAKES START TO JUMP (FELT THROUGH THE FOOT PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL) MAKING AN AUDIBLE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SLIDES UNCONTROLLED. FOLLOWING PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN LATE 2008 AND AFTER NUMEROUS INCIDENTS ON LIGHT TO HEAVY SNOWY …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317973 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER LX. THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES HE ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9600. UPDATED 4/28/10 *CN UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256556 · 2009-01-28 (January 28, 2009)
"I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AFTER 30K MILES. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276384 · 2009-07-11 (July 11, 2009)
MR. , PRESIDENT & CEO NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. P.O. BOX 685003 FRANKLIN TN 37064 DEAR SIR; I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER CLUB CAB. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT ABOUT 54000 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I HAD MY PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK THE CODES, AND IT CAME BACK AS A FAILED FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WOULD BE COVERED …
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10535454 · 2013-08-15 (August 15, 2013)
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR - STAYED ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT DEALER FOR 75,000 MI CHECK UP WHICH INCLUDED EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL VEHICLE SYSTEMS. AFTER CHECKING COLD PRESSURE SEVERAL TIMES AND DRIVING VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WOULD NOT GO OFF. RETURNED TO DEALER AND REQUESTED THE PROBLEM BE FIXED. THEY WERE HELPFUL AND POLITE BUT TRIED TO CHARGE ME $160.75 FOR REPLACING THE MONITOR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WENT OUT IN THE MONITOR. I AM COMPLAINING THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPEND $160 FOR EACH TIRE MONITOR BECAUSE IT'S BATTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535454 at NHTSA ↗