2016 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
32,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 43 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 11.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.3% |
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 | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Air Bags: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9; Engine: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Structure:Body: 4; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System: 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2016: 5; 2017: 5; 2018: 6; 2019: 6; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10873982 · 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
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 PROBLEM. AFTER THIS TEST THE TRUCK DID IT AGAIN GOING HOME STALL THEN SURGE FORWARD ( COULD DO IT IN FWD OR REV) WILL CONTINUE TO GET DEALER TO TEST BY LEAVING TRUCK THERE A FEW DAYS. JUST WONDERING IF ANY OTHERS OUT THERE. SOME SAY THESE TRUCKS HAV…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170646 · 2019-01-17 (January 17, 2019)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11170646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789715 · 2015-11-10 (November 10, 2015)
THE TRANSMISSION DON'T CHANGE TO REVERSE, NEUTRAL, AND PARKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10789715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10929618 · 2016-12-02 (December 2, 2016)
WHEN I STOP AND PUT THE GAS AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION DO NOT ENGAGE, AFTER AFTER SKIPPING THE ENGAGE IT ENGAGE SUDDENLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10929618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083520 · 2018-04-05 (April 5, 2018)
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SPONGY PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE FLOOR. EVEN WHEN THE TRUCK IS EMPTY YOU WONDER IF YOU ARE GOING TO STOP. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328733 · 2020-06-14 (June 14, 2020)
THE YAWRATE SENSOR AND ABS DIAGNOSTIC MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED TO KEEP MY VEHICLE FROM GRABBING THE BRAKES AS I STARTED DRIVING
Owner-reported narrative. 38,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080268 · 2018-03-19 (March 19, 2018)
WE PURCHASED OUR 2016 NISSAN FRONTIER IN OCTOBER 2016. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THREE MAJOR CAR ACCIDENTS AND TWO OUT OF THE THREE TIMES THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERY ACCIDENT WE WERE INVOLVED IN COST OVER $10,000 TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE SO WE KNOW THAT THE FRONT END DAMAGE WAS VERY SEVERE. WE WOULD LIKE OUR VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR ANY AIR BAG MAIL FUNCTION THE LAST ACCIDENT WE WERE INVOLVED IN WE HIT VERY HARD AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352922 · 2020-09-03 (September 3, 2020)
KEY LOCKED IN IGNITION THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WAS PARKED AT A PUBLIC BEACH PARKING LOT BEFORE THE ISSUE OCCURRED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11352922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11206271 · 2019-05-08 (May 8, 2019)
WAS DRIVELING DOWN A STRAIGHT CITY STREET ON A CLEAR SPRING DAY AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE CAR TURNED OFF INCLUDING ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES WITHOUT WARNING. THEN ABOUT 1.5 SECONDS LATER THE CAR TURNED BACK ON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11694089 · 2025-10-17 (October 17, 2025)
I am experiencing a fuel pump issue that stalls the engine while driving. The issue will sometimes go away if I first loosen the fuel cap on the gas tank to relieve built up pressure but after driving for 10 to 15 minutes or so the vehicle will begin to jerk while accelerating then it will stall and cut off. I have to wait a few minutes once it cuts off and then I can start the engine up again and drive for another 10 to 15 minutes before the issue occurs again. The vehicle has over 120,000 miles on it and all parts are original to the vehicle.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11694089 at NHTSA ↗