YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Frontier Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Frontier years

The 2020 Nissan Frontier ranks 13th worst of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 20 and 23 complaints, making it one of the better Frontier years. Its top issue is transmission/powertrain, tied to a parking-pawl recall causing rollaway.

Complaints
23
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2020 Nissan Frontier problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain12 (52%)
  2. Engine6 (26%)
  3. Brakes4 (17%)
  4. Electrical System4 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (9%)
  6. Other2 (9%)
  7. Airbags1 (4%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  9. Steering1 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles left in park have rolled away unexpectedly, in some cases striking garages, RVs, or fences.
  • Owners report waiting extended periods for replacement parts to complete the parking-pawl recall repair.
  • Brake pedal depression sometimes fails to trigger the brake lights, with no dashboard warning.
  • Drivers report loud grinding noises from the brakes accompanied by pad wear that returns after replacement.
  • A steering crank bolt reportedly snapped and caused a sudden loss of power steering.
  • A passenger seat was reported to not lock properly on one side, raising concern about occupant safety in a hard stop.
2020 Nissan Frontier complaints: complaints filed per month5Mar 2021Sep 2022Jan 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026
34 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2022 (5).

2020 Nissan Frontier recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V671000Sep 7, 2022Transmission & Powertrain197,230 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.

    Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: • Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission Control Module (TCM) • Model Year 2020-2022 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM and Engine Control Module (ECM) • Model Year 2023 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM • Model Year 2023 Z vehicles: reprogram TCM. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

  2. NHTSA 22V457000Jun 24, 2022Transmission & Powertrain180,176 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.

    Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A2 R22A3.

2020 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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.

2020 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
2018Best025218.5
2019Good2728118.5
2020Best2023219.5
2021Best719219.5
2022Avoid100111619.5

All Nissan Frontier years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Frontier reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2020 Frontier has a complaint index of 20 and ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, giving it a 'Best' verdict relative to other Frontier years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Nissan Frontier?
Transmission and powertrain issues make up 52% of complaints, largely tied to a parking-pawl defect that let vehicles roll away when placed in park.
Does the 2020 Nissan Frontier have a transmission recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls, campaigns 22V671000 and 22V457000, both covering a transmission parking pawl that may not engage, leading to vehicle rollaway.
At what mileage do 2020 Frontier problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 28,000 miles, though engine complaints had a lower median of 19,392 miles.
How does the 2020 Frontier compare to other years like 2022?
The 2020 model (complaint index 20) is far better than 2022 (complaint index 100, 'Avoid') and 2011-2012, 2023 model years, which are also marked 'Avoid'.

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.