2013 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 48 complaints (31.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.1% |
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 | 15 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Wheels | 3 |
Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Seat Belts: 5; Engine: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Wheels: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10552402 · 2013-11-15 (November 15, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 2 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60. UPDATED 12/30/13*CN THE CONSUMER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, HE OCCASIONALLY HIT …
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553441 · 2013-11-25 (November 25, 2013)
2013 NISSAN FRONTIER CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE MALFUNCTION AND WANTS DEALERSHIP TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10553441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704435 · 2015-04-08 (April 8, 2015)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 30,801 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11047102 · 2017-11-17 (November 17, 2017)
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-QFAASMWO IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE RUNNING FOR FEAR I COULD NOT MOVE IT AGAIN AND THE WHAT IF THIS PART MALFUNCTIONED IN TRAFFIC WHILE DOWN SHIFTING INTO 3 2 OR 1. WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED MINE TO STICK BEHIND DRIVE. IT WAS THE LOOSE SC…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,728 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575618 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10575618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527635 · 2023-06-18 (June 18, 2023)
This is an intermittent problem sometimes this problem will happen as far apart as a month, Then for two days then go away. When accelerating the truck will starting bucking, not getting to enough fuel, this will sometimes not stop the next day I take it to the mechanic it is running fine no check engine light comes on. He runs a diagnostic, no error readings this has been going on for 6mos.. Once it was so bad by the time I got it home it had fried the converters. The mechanic changed the converters replaced all the censors on the engine…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11527635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11268493 · 2019-10-15 (October 15, 2019)
ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY SUNROOF WAS ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO CLOSE, I HAVEN'T OPENED IT SINCE, THEN A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT, IT KEPT BLOWING FUSES BY THE GLOVE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, CARGO LIGHTS AND TRAILER HITCH, THEN LAST WEEK, I THOUGHT MY TRUCK WAS GOING TO BURN TO THE GROUND WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY MOTHERS DRIVEWAY. SMOKE CAME IN BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH AND FILLED THE CAB UP VERY QUICKLY. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I ROLLED ALL THE WIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11539819 · 2023-08-21 (August 21, 2023)
I felt like I was loosing control of my steering it was so scary I took my car to the closest service place which was Meineke which was 3 months ago well the same problem is back with my steering wheel and definitely isn't safe. I am reporting this to make sure that there isn't a safety issue I should be aware of on how to resolve this
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11539819 at NHTSA ↗