2025 Nissan Frontier Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2025 Nissan Frontier has a complaint index of 5, the lowest among 21 model years, and carries a Best verdict. It has 8 complaints and 3 recalls, with brakes and transmission each accounting for 25% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 5/100
- #20 of 21 Frontier years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 8
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2025 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes2 (25%)
- Other2 (25%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (25%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (13%)
- Steering1 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (13%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front brake rotors crack or warp early, causing pedal pulsing and steering wheel shake under normal driving.
- Vehicle vibrates at highway speeds around 65-70 mph, with vibration felt through the steering wheel on long drives.
- Transmission downshifts harshly, especially when slowing down after highway exits.
- Drivetrain binds near the driveshaft and transfer case, causing rough shifting and forward lunging when braking to a stop.
- Rear-view camera displays a blank screen while reversing, tied to a related recall campaign.
2025 Nissan Frontier recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V023000Jan 20, 2026Structure & Body26,432 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 28, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V508000Aug 7, 2025Engine13,719 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ECM):software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Nissan Frontier vehicles. Due to a software logic error, the daytime running lights may dim unexpectedly when the idle start-stop feature cycles the engine from off to on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: Daytime running lights that dim unexpectedly may cause confusion to other vehicles or pedestrians, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C3.
- NHTSA 25V324000Jun 4, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras79,755 vehicles
Back over prevention:software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Frontier and Kicks vehicles. The center information display unit may display a blank screen when shifted into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview image that does not display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software on the vehicleâs center information display, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2025. The manufacturer numbers for this recall are PD152 and PMA48.
2025 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 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.
2025 compared with other Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2025 Nissan Frontier reliable?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2025 Frontier ranks best among all 21 model years, with a complaint index of 5 and only 8 complaints logged.
- What problems does the 2025 Nissan Frontier have?
- Owners most often report brake issues, such as warped rotors causing pedal pulsation, and transmission problems including hard downshifts and drivetrain binding.
- Does the 2025 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls covering door strikers that may break, a software error affecting daytime running lights, and a blank reverse camera display.
- How does the 2025 Frontier compare to other model years?
- It ranks 20th worst (meaning near the best) out of 21 years tracked, with a complaint index of 5 versus much higher indexes like 100 for the 2006 model.
- What is the top complaint category for the 2025 Frontier?
- Brakes and Transmission & Powertrain are tied as the top problem areas, each making up 25% of complaints.