#1

in Compact Pickup Trucks

Based on analysis of 55 reviews and test drives.

MSRP: $19,260 - $32,990
Invoice: $18,264 - $30,560
MPG: 14 City / 19 Hwy
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Nissan Frontier Recalls & Reliability

Scorecard

Overall: 2012 Nissan Frontier U.S. News Best Cars 8.6
Critics' Rating: 8.9
Performance: 8.4
Interior: 6.8
Safety: 9.1
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Powerful optional V6
  • Good four-cylinder fuel economy
  • Relatively agile for the class
  • Comfortable front seats
  • Cramped passenger space
  • Low-grade interior materials
  • Few standard features for the class

Research Other Years

Recalls

There has been 1 safety recall issued from NHTSA.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGRecall Date: 12/19/2011
  • Consequence: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 11V592000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 14,718
  • Summary: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
  • Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Predicted Reliability Score
  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

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Warranty

Nissan provides a limited warranty for the first three years or 36,000 miles and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The almost-identical Suzuki Equator, which is basically a rebadged Frontier, comes with a much longer seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. If a long warranty is important to you, the Equator makes more sense than the Frontier.

Next Steps: Nissan Frontier

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