2011 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
47,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 64 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Air Bags: 14; Service Brakes: 12; Power Train: 9; Electrical System: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Engine: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 9; 2018: 3; 2019: 9; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10398455 · 2011-05-02 (May 2, 2011)
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 HANDBRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO REST ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, WE COULD SMELL BURNING AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AREA COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED BY FLAME…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10419941 · 2011-08-18 (August 18, 2011)
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. SEAT AIR BAGS AND FRONT AIRBAGS FORTUNATELY DID NOT EXPLODE. I RECEIVED MILD BURNS AND BRUISES ON MY FACE. MY 6 Y.O. RED, HURT ON HIS CHEST. 11 Y.O. LOST HIS HEARING TEMPORARILY AND RED STINGING EAR. OTHER CHILD, 8, UNINJURED AS SHE WAS BENDING …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475811 · 2012-09-18 (September 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR DIAGNO…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865389 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
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 ANYWHERE... THIS IS SO SAD I THINK THEY MAKE THE CAR KNOWING THAT IT WOULD GO BAD AFTER THE SHORT WARRANTY I DIDN'T FIX MY TRUCK YET BECAUSE THE PRICING IS WAY TOO HIGH TO AFFORD AFTER BUYING THE TRUCK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415498 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS TAMPERED WITH DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF SUGAR BEING INSIDE OF IT. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10965821 · 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)
CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WENT BAD AT 70,000 MILES. RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE BOOSTING. LUCKILY HAD JUST TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD SO HAD SPACE TO STOP TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10965821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361150 · 2020-09-25 (September 25, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING BRACKET DETACHED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEER BELT SHIFTED FORWARD AND DETACHED THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BELT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED CROWN NISSAN OF GREENVILLE (2712 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) AND INFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 213,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444114 · 2021-12-17 (December 17, 2021)
2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EVAPORATION EMMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO FILL THE TANK WITH GAS, THE GAS SPOUT MUST BE HELD ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF THE WAY OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THIS WOULD CAUSE SPILLING OR SPLASHING. THE CONSUMER STATED AT A PARTICULAR GAS STATION THE GAS NASAL HAD A WIDE RUBBER GASKET ON THE GAS NOZZLE DISPENSER THAT COVERED THE ENTRANCE TO THE GAS TANK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306559 · 2020-02-02 (February 2, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES BECAME SPONGY (NOT FIRM) AND PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN LONGER BRAKING DISTANCES UNLESS I PUMP THE PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AHEAD OF A STOP SIGN AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A BUMP/IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD. THE ABS AND VDC (ANTI-SLIP) ACTIVATED BRIEFLY THEN THE PEDAL GOT SOFT. IT REMAINED IN THIS CONDITION (SPONGY AND EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL) UNTIL REACHED MY DESTINATION. THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF …
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306559 at NHTSA ↗