YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Frontier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2009 Nissan Frontier has 37 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 15, ranking 18th of 21 model years. It carries a Good verdict, capped from a higher rating because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
15/100
#18 of 21 Frontier years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
37
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2015
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17.5
15.5 city / 20 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2009 Nissan Frontier problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags9 (24%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain8 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (16%)
  4. Brakes5 (14%)
  5. Fuel System5 (14%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (8%)
  7. Engine2 (5%)
  8. Other2 (5%)
  9. HVAC1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brake pedal reportedly sank to the floor at low mileage, sometimes causing the driver to hit the accelerator by mistake.
  • Front lower control arm detachment was linked to a brake failure that ended in a crash into a lamp post.
  • Owners of manual-transmission trucks described clutch slipping in multiple gears and catastrophic clutch/flywheel failure at low mileage.
  • Engine bay smoke while driving led to a dealer diagnosis that the radiator, transmission, and engine all needed replacement.
  • Fuel gauge and fuel sending unit problems caused inaccurate tank readings and a check engine light.
  • The driver's sun visor repeatedly fell out of position and vibrated, blocking view while driving.
2009 Nissan Frontier complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2009Apr 2010Mar 2012Jan 2015Jun 2017Oct 2018Jul 2020Sep 2022
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2009 to Nov 2023; peak May 2010 (3).

2009 Nissan Frontier recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

    Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s 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.

  2. NHTSA 10V401000Sep 10, 2010Other7,948 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 08V690000Dec 29, 2008Airbags242,720 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, a mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the front crash zone sensor (czs) housing. If this occurs, the czs may internally rust resulting in a signal interruption. If this happens, the red air bag warning light will illuminate to alert the vehicle operator.

    Risk: This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2009 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
17.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Frontier years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid95520117
2008Avoid75136517
2009Good1537317.5
2010Caution6059417
2011Caution6564117

All Nissan Frontier years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Frontier reliable?
NHTSA data shows 37 complaints for the 2009 Frontier and a complaint index of 15, the second-lowest among 21 model years covered. It carries a Good verdict, though that rating is capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are less complete.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Frontier?
Airbags make up 24% of complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 22%, Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 16%, and Brakes at 14%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2009 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2009 Frontier: an airbag cover resin emblem recall, a Garmin nuvi 750 GPS battery recall, and a 2008 airbag sensor recall affecting 242,720 Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles.
How does the 2009 Frontier compare to other Frontier years?
The 2009 model ranks 18th worst out of 21 years by complaint index, well below the 2005-2008 Avoid years but not as low-complaint as 2015, 2018, 2021, or 2025, which earned Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Frontier?
EPA rates the 2009 Frontier at 17.5 mpg combined (15.5 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.