YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Frontier Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Frontier years

The 2021 Nissan Frontier has 19 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 7, ranking 15th of 16 model years with a 'Best' verdict. Its top issue area is the Electrical System, but overall complaint volume is low compared to other Frontier years.

Complaints
19
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2021 Nissan Frontier problems

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

  1. Electrical System5 (26%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain5 (26%)
  3. Other4 (21%)
  4. Airbags3 (16%)
  5. Fuel System3 (16%)
  6. Engine2 (11%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (11%)
  8. Brakes1 (5%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbag warning light flickers on and off for the passenger seat, leaving owners unsure if the airbag will deploy in a crash.
  • Airbag warning light illuminated and flashed at 75 MPH, traced to a loose wire that a dealer tightened but the problem recurred days later, at a median mileage of 26,500.
  • A tire sidewall failed at 70 MPH on the highway, causing sudden deflation and a near loss of control, with the low tire pressure warning lamp coming on right after.
  • The vehicle failed to start after an abnormal sound came from the engine compartment, with the issue occurring around 17,000 miles.
  • The transmission control module threw an error at 35 MPH with multiple warning lights illuminating, at a median mileage of 99,172 for transmission complaints.
  • Owners reported the truck rolling while in park and later failing to start, tying into the parking pawl recall.
2021 Nissan Frontier complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2021Nov 2021Jul 2022Mar 2023Jun 2023Aug 2024Feb 2025Oct 2025
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (4).

2021 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.

2021 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.

2021 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
2019Good2728118.5
2020Best2023219.5
2021Best719219.5
2022Avoid100111619.5
2023Avoid9366119.5

All Nissan Frontier years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Frontier reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2021 Frontier has a Complaint Index of 7, one of the lowest among all 16 Frontier model years, and carries a 'Best' verdict relative to other years.
What problems does the 2021 Nissan Frontier have?
The top problem area is the Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain, each with 5 complaints (26% share). Airbags and Fuel System each account for 3 complaints (16% share).
Does the 2021 Nissan Frontier have a transmission recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists two recalls (22V671000 and 22V457000) covering the transmission parking pawl, which may not engage in park and can allow the vehicle to roll away. The remedy involves applying the parking brake and a dealer repair.
How does the 2021 Frontier compare to other model years?
With only 19 complaints and a Complaint Index of 7, the 2021 Frontier ranks 15th worst out of 16 years, well below the worst years like 2022 (Complaint Index 100) and 2012 (Complaint Index 87).
What is the median mileage for Electrical System complaints on the 2021 Frontier?
NHTSA complaints show a median mileage of 26,500 miles for Electrical System issues on the 2021 Frontier.

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.