2014 Nissan Frontier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2014 Nissan Frontier has a complaint index of 35, ranking 14th out of 21 model years, with a Good verdict. It logged 42 complaints and 2 recalls, led by Airbags issues (26% of complaints, median mileage 69,380).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 35/100
- #14 of 21 Frontier years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 42
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2014 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags11 (26%)
- Electrical System7 (17%)
- Other7 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (14%)
- Fuel System5 (12%)
- Engine3 (7%)
- Structure & Body3 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (7%)
- Brakes2 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during crashes, including a high-speed front-end collision and a lower-speed tree impact.
- Side airbags deployed on their own while driving at low speed with no crash involved.
- A burning odor and non-working tail lights traced to a defective main wire harness in the electrical system.
- Cruise control unexpectedly sped up or dragged down hills, sometimes disengaging without warning.
- The automatic transmission disengaged while coasting downhill, causing the engine to rev while the vehicle kept slowing.
- Front tire vibration and rough idling traced to incorrect lug nuts separating from the tire threads.
2014 Nissan Frontier recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 14V418000Jul 10, 2014Seat Belts1,319 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Frontier Crew Cab vehicles manufactured June 11, 2014 to June 26, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with an out of specification anchor nut installed on the weld nut plate where the rear seat belt anchor is attached. The seat belt anchor bolt may not be attached as designed.
Risk: If the seat belt anchor bolt is not attached as designed, that increases the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt anchor attachment and repair it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
- NHTSA 14V052000Feb 12, 2014Electrical System13,535 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the A-pillar.
Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
2014 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 22 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 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.
2014 compared with other Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Nissan Frontier reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2014 Frontier ranks 14th out of 21 model years with a complaint index of 35 and a Good verdict, meaning it performs better than most other Frontier years.
- What problems does the 2014 Nissan Frontier have?
- Owners most often reported issues with airbags (26% of complaints, including non-deployment and unintended deployment), followed by electrical system problems like wiring harness failures, and transmission disengagement while coasting.
- Does the 2014 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2014 Frontier: one for an out-of-specification seat belt anchor and one for a circuit breaker orientation issue in the electrical system. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2014 Frontier compare to other Frontier years?
- The 2014 model's complaint index of 35 is much lower than the worst years like 2006 (index 100) and 2005 (index 90), but higher than top years like 2018 and 2021, which score 0 and 10.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Nissan Frontier?
- EPA rates the 2014 Frontier at 18.5 mpg combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.