Short answer
Among Nissan Frontier model years through 2024, 2015 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2022 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Frontier: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 37
- Fewest recalls
- 2015 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2022 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (10)
Nissan Frontier Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 4 stars | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 4 stars | Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2024 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Suspension |
| 2023 | 1 | 4 stars | Tires |
| 2022 | 6 | 4 stars | Power train, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2021 | 2 | 4 stars | Power train |
| 2020 | 2 | 4 stars | Power train |
| 2019 | 1 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2018 | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2017 | 1 | 4 stars | Electrical system |
| 2016 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2015 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2014 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2013 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Suspension |
| 2011 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Child seat, Equipment |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2008 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2003 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering, Suspension |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Steering, Suspension |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Suspension |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20253 recalls
- 20243 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20226 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20191 recall
- 20182 recalls
- 20171 recall
- 20161 recall
- 20150 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 20123 recalls
- 20111 recall
- 20104 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20085 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20064 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20041 recall
- 20034 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20013 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Nissan Frontier: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Frontier recalls are air bags (10), fuel system, gasoline (10), power train (7), electrical system (6) and suspension (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 9 of these 27 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Nissan Frontier Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Frontier?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2015 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Frontier model years have the most recalls?
2022 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Frontier", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy