2011 Nissan FRONTIER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10404350 · 2011-06-03 (June 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/20/11
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10412021 · 2011-07-12 (July 12, 2011)
2011 NISSAN FRONTIER MODELS DELAY RESPONSE IN ACCELERATION DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.WIFE SAYS THIS HAS AL MOST CAUSED ACCIDENT .NISSAN NEEDS TO KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM TO GET REPAIRED.DEALER SAYS DELAY IS CAUSED BY POTENTOMETER RELAYING INFO TO COMPUTER. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10412021 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 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 10430295 · 2011-10-15 (October 15, 2011)
2011 BLUE PAINT COLOR PROBLEM PAINT IS CHIPPING AT THE REAR FENDER WELLS JUST BEFORE THE REAR TIRE LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT TIRES ARE CAUSING SAND TO HIT THIS AREA DESIGN FLAW HAVING FEND STICK OUT LIKE THIS DEALER IS WORKING ON THIS STILL GOING TO RE PAINT BUT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I HAVE SEEN THIS ON OTHER NISSAN TRUCKS NOT JUST MINE.. TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE NERF BARS SEE ALLOT OF THESE TRUCK WITH THOSE NOT SEEING THE PROBLEM ON THOSE.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10430295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441931 · 2011-12-31 (December 31, 2011)
WHILE BACKING UP FROM PARK POSITION FRONT BRAKES MAKE A LOW GROAN OR RUBBIING SOUND LIKE THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING PROPERLY. HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER TWICE, ONCE THEY PUT MOLYCOTE GREASE ON THE PADS, THEN THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS ALL DONE WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES,STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. ALSO SEEMS LIKE ONCE YOU BRAKE AND COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND START AGAIN TAKES ALOT OF POWER TO GET GOING LIKE THERE IS A DRAG ON THE FRONT END.ALSO ROTORS A VERY HOT. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441931 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗