2010 Nissan FRONTIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
41,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 59 complaints (30.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 18.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 8.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 18 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
Air Bags: 18; Power Train: 14; Electrical System: 9; Engine: 7; Service Brakes: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 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 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2010: 4; 2011: 9; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10317897 · 2010-03-08 (March 8, 2010)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK. COMING TOWARDS A STOP SIGN, I HAD ALREADY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. ABOUT 200 FEET,BEFORE THE STOP SIGN, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK,THE PEDAL STAYED DOWN WITH NO EFFECT. I TRIED TO JAM AS HARD AS POSSIBLE -- NO EFFECT, LUCKILY, MY SPEED WAS SLOW ENOUGH, IT DID NOT CARRY ME INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE. NEXT MINUTE, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE, I TESTED SEVERAL TIMES - NO PROBLEM SINCE THEN. HOWEVER,…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330162 · 2010-05-12 (May 12, 2010)
2010 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB 4X2 SE. VIBRATING PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358188 · 2010-09-29 (September 29, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONE TRAIL AT TIRES (N/A), SIZE P265/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS SWITCHED OUT FOR THE SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING AND TO VISIT THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE BLOWOUT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY ASSIST WITH 50-60% OF THE REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10364403 · 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,035.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,035 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379108 · 2011-01-25 (January 25, 2011)
2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HIS PREVIOUS NISSAN FRONTIER DID. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10379108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10388609 · 2011-03-06 (March 6, 2011)
(1) THE TRUCKS SPRAY-ON BEDLINER HAS HOLES AND CRACKS THAT EXTEND THE WIDTH OF THE BOX, PARALLEL TO THE TAILGATE (ABOUT 50CM FROM THE TAILGATE). THE ISSUE BECAME APPARENT BECAUSE WHITE SALT RINGS FORMED ON THE SURFACE OF THE BEDLINER (BOX IS COVERED) DUE TO SALT MIGRATING UP FROM THE ROADWAY. PER THE DEALER, THE BOX IS MISSING METAL AND/OR WELDS, AND CANNOT BE FULLY INSPECTED DUE TO THE EXISTENCE OF SAID BEDLINER. (2) THE BOX APPEARS TO BE IMPROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE TRUCKS FRAME. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN STANDING BY THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK, AND LOO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10388609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389831 · 2011-03-11 (March 11, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE IGNITION UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240.
Owner-reported narrative. 240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390230 · 2011-03-15 (March 15, 2011)
2010 NISSAN FRONTIER RUSTING REAR BUMPER STARTED IN DECEMBER WITH 12,000 MILES ON VEHICLE 7 MONTHS OLD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10390230 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V208000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 2010-05-14 (May 14, 2010)
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V372000 · Child Seat:Tether: Connector/Clip
Reported: 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER KING CAB VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 10, 2010 THROUGH JUNE 26, 2010. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE WELD BETWEEN THE TETHER ANCHOR AND THE SEAT GUSSET BRACKET IS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, AND BASED ON NISSAN'S ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, THE TETHER ANCHOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT WHEN TESTED UNDER THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE TETHER ANCHORAGE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE SEAT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CHILD SEAT THAT USES THE TETHER ANCHOR.
Remedy: THE SEAT GUSSET CONTAINING THE TETHER ANCHORAGE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V401000 · Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
Reported: 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V067000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2023-02-10 (February 10, 2023)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
NHTSA campaign record ↗