2020 Nissan Frontier
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 12 of 23 complaints (52%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 28 in 2019 to 23 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,650 | 2,950–3,650 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–21 | 17–21 | 19–20 | 19–20 | 19–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–19 / 21–23 | 15–19 / 21–23 | 17–18 / 23–24 | 17–18 / 23–24 | 17–18 / 21–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 431–520 | 425–521 | 445–469 | 445–469 | 444–458 | |
| Complaints filed | 25 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 110 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 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 2020 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 2020 Nissan Frontier?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 12 of 23 NHTSA complaints (52%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Frontier get?
EPA rates it 19–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Nissan Frontier?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 24 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 445 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S9) | 6 | 3.8L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 469 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 22V671000 · Sep 8, 2022
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Consequence: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission Control Module (TCM) Model Year 2020-2022 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM and Engine Control Module (ECM) Model Year 2023 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM Model Year 2023 Z vehicles: reprogram TCM. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 22V457000 · Jun 27, 2022
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Consequence: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A2 R22A3.