2011 Nissan Frontier problems
The 2011 Nissan Frontier has 84 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (19%) concerns air bags. After that come brakes (15%) and drivetrain & axles (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 84 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 68 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 68 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 49,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 34,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 19th most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the Nissan Frontier with enough data (36 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan frontier. While driving approximately 35 MPH around a curve, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact's vehicle crashed into a corner post on a farm. The contact stated that the impact moved the post a couple of inches into the farm. Only the side air bags deployed. The air bag indicator illuminated. The contact sustained some cuts, bruises, and soreness to his entire body. The contact was unconscious briefly and sustained a concussion.
Myself and three kids and dog had been on a mild 4 wheel drive road having a little cook out and hike. We were coming home on a smooth maintained county road going and coming to stop by a stream. I think my foot was on the brake, we were maybe going 20 miles an hour when my side airbags exploded. Seat air bags and front airbags fortunately did not explode. I received mild burns and bruises on my face. My 6 y.o. Red, hurt on his chest. 11 y.o. Lost his hearing temporarily and red stinging ear.
I was driving along the 805 freeway when my airconditioner lights started flashing. Shortly thereafter all the lights started coming on the dash board. Then I lost power to the engine and brakes. All power was lost. I had to merge on to the 8 west freeway and I was lucky to be able to use my handbrake to slow down and come to rest on the shoulder. After exiting the vehicle, we could smell burning and then noticed there was flames coming from under the front right tire area coming from under the engine.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan frontier. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine rpms increased and the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently to approximately 80 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle would not respond. The contact shifted into neutral and continued to apply excessive pressure to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The contact was eventually able to stop the vehicle on the shoulder of the road. The failure recurred intermittently.
My clutch keeps wearing out after approximately 25,000 miles. I bought this truck used with 60,000 miles and replaced the clutch at 81,893 miles, 107,179 miles and it is now slipping again at 131,521 miles. I have owned and driven primarily manual transmission vehicles since 1975 and never had this problem before. I have driven nearl one million miles in vehicles with manual transmissions and replaced only one clutch. There is obviously a defect in the clutch that nissan uses.