2018 Nissan Frontier
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 5 of 25 complaints (20%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 38 in 2017 to 25 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Small Pickup Trucks 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,650 | 2,950–3,650 | 2,950–3,650 | 2,950–3,650 | 3,100–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–21 | 17–21 | 17–21 | 17–21 | 19–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–19 / 21–23 | 15–19 / 21–23 | 15–19 / 21–23 | 15–19 / 21–23 | 17–18 / 23–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 426–514 | 431–521 | 431–520 | 425–521 | 445–469 | |
| Complaints filed | 43 | 38 | 25 | 28 | 23 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Frontier have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Nissan Frontier?
Electrical: 5 of 25 NHTSA complaints (20%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Nissan Frontier get?
EPA rates it 17–21 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Nissan Frontier?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 17 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 467 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 19 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 431 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 16 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 478 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 479 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 519 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 16 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 507 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 4.0L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 520 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 19V654000 · Sep 13, 2019
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 18V551000 · Aug 24, 2018
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.