2018 Nissan Frontier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2018 Nissan Frontier ranks 21st out of 21 model years by complaint volume, with a complaint index of 0 and a Best verdict. It has 25 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls, with no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 0/100
- #21 of 21 Frontier years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 25
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2018 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System5 (20%)
- Engine4 (16%)
- Other4 (16%)
- Brakes3 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
- Airbags2 (8%)
- Fuel System2 (8%)
- Structure & Body2 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners describe throttle dead spots when pulling away from stops or climbing hills, where acceleration lags until the transmission kicks down and then surges.
- Drivers report the rear wheels locking up between 25 mph and 40 mph while the overdrive light flashes and the vehicle briefly stops accelerating.
- Several complaints describe the brake pedal traveling too close to the floor and sitting too near the accelerator, sometimes causing unintended forward lunge.
- Owners report the engine revving on its own for a few seconds after coming to a stop, with wheels screeching until the driver shifts to neutral.
- A fuel-pump issue is described where the pump shuts off repeatedly during refueling, requiring dealer part replacement.
- Front suspension squeaking is reported starting from purchase and worsening over time, with the dealer unable to identify the cause.
2018 Nissan Frontier recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V654000Sep 12, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,228,830 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
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."
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 18V551000Aug 21, 2018Electrical System153,047 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
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.
Risk: 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.
2018 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.
2018 compared with other Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Nissan Frontier reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Frontier has a complaint index of 0 and ranks 21st (lowest complaint volume) among 21 model years, earning a Best verdict relative to other Frontier years.
- How many complaints and recalls does the 2018 Nissan Frontier have?
- NHTSA lists 25 owner complaints and 2 recalls for the 2018 Frontier, with no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
- What is the top problem area for the 2018 Nissan Frontier?
- Electrical System complaints make up 20% of reports (5 complaints), with a median mileage at failure of 50,260 miles, followed by Engine issues at 16%.
- Does the 2018 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
- Yes, two recalls: one from 2019 covering back-up camera software across multiple Nissan models, and one from 2018 covering an ignition switch inspection/replacement.
- How does the 2018 Frontier compare to other years like 2006 or 2022?
- The 2006 Frontier had a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, and 2022 had an index of 85, also Avoid; the 2018 model's index of 0 is far lower, supporting its Best verdict.