YearToAvoid

2018 Nissan Frontier Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Frontier years

The 2018 Nissan Frontier ranks best of all 16 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 0 and only 25 complaints logged. It carries 2 recalls, both non-critical, covering a back-up camera software update and an ignition switch inspection.

Complaints
25
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16 city / 22 hwy

Top 2018 Nissan Frontier problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System5 (20%)
  2. Engine4 (16%)
  3. Other4 (16%)
  4. Brakes3 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
  6. Airbags2 (8%)
  7. Fuel System2 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (8%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Battery drains fast and dashboard warning lights for battery, brakes, ABS, and traction control come on even after replacing the battery and checking wiring and grounds.
  • Passenger airbag warning light flashes continually, sometimes traced to an incorrectly installed or non-OEM occupancy classification module, and repeated dealer repair attempts have not fixed it.
  • Rear wheels lock up between 25 and 40 mph while the overdrive light flashes and the vehicle briefly stops accelerating before resuming.
  • The truck fails to accelerate and idles roughly for several seconds a few times a month, occurring both at speed and from a stop.
  • A front driver-side suspension squeak has persisted since purchase and has worsened over time without the dealer identifying a cause.
  • The brake pedal feels soft and goes nearly to the floor, with the pedal position sitting too close to the accelerator, a problem dealers could not duplicate on road tests.
2018 Nissan Frontier complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2018Feb 2019Aug 2019Aug 2020Aug 2021May 2023Jan 2025Sep 2025
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Sep 2025; peak Aug 2025 (3).

2018 Nissan Frontier recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution5343118.5
2017Good4038118.5
2018Best025218.5
2019Good2728118.5
2020Best2023219.5

All Nissan Frontier years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Nissan Frontier reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Frontier has the lowest complaint index (0) of all 16 model years tracked and is rated Best relative to other Frontier years.
What are the most common problems on the 2018 Nissan Frontier?
NHTSA complaints are led by the Electrical System (5 complaints, 20% share), followed by Engine (4 complaints, 16%) and Brakes (3 complaints, 12%).
Does the 2018 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Frontier: one for back-up camera software affecting multiple Nissan models, and one for ignition switch inspection/replacement. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
What year Nissan Frontier should I avoid instead of 2018?
According to NHTSA data, 2011, 2012, 2022, and 2023 are rated Avoid, with 2022 having the highest complaint index (100) and 111 complaints among all tracked years.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Nissan Frontier?
EPA rates the 2018 Frontier at 18.5 mpg combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.

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.