DecodedCarsNissan Frontier
23 model years from 2005 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2005–2027
- Class
- Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
- Latest engines
- 3.8L 6-cyl
- Best MPG
- 20–21 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2022)
- Recalls
- 26 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2007 (230)
- Fewest problems
- 2015
- Interest
- 8,265 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 Frontier in brief
The 2026 Nissan Frontier is a standard pickup truck offered with a 3.8L 6-cyl engine and rear-wheel drive and part-time 4-wheel drive.
It measures about 224 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 140-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,806 lb (Crew Cab).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 24 highway), 2% better than the 2026 standard pickup truck average of 20.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.
The Nissan Frontier has 23 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2027, classed as Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD.
Its most efficient year was 2027 at 21 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 20 to 21 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the power train (470), engine (219), air bags (184).
Buying used? 2015 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2022 is the year to avoid.
2022 has the most recalls (6); all years together count 26 campaigns and 1,320 owner complaints.
How the 2005 Frontier compares
The 2005 Nissan Frontier is a standard pickup truck offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 4.0L 6-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 206 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 126-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,244 lb (Crew Cab 4x2 Se/Le).
About the Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier is a nameplate used by Nissan in several regions as an alternative to the Navara and NP300 nameplates. In North America, the nameplate was used from the 1998 to 2021 model years, replacing the Hardbody. Since 2021, for the 2022 model year, the Frontier sold in the US and Canada has been a separate model distinct from the globally marketed Navara/Frontier. It is larger and more developed to cater to the needs of the North American market.
From the Wikipedia article "Nissan Frontier (North America)", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 Frontier pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2015 Frontier
33 owner complaints · 0 recalls · 1 fire report · 2 crash reports
Year to avoid2022 Frontier
112 owner complaints · 6 recalls · 3 fire reports · 11 crash reports
Most reported: Electrical System
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
Frontier changes by model year
- 2022
- New body dimensions: 18.5 in longer, wheelbase +13.8 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 4 stars overall
- 2020
- Engine added: 3.8L 6-cyl
- Engines dropped: 2.5L 4-cyl and 4.0L 6-cyl
- 2019
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 4 stars overall
- 2017
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 4 stars overall
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 23 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 224 in | 4,806 lb | Not rated | 1 | 11 |
| 2025 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 224 in | 4,806 lb | Not rated | 3 | 9 |
| 2024 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 224 in | 4,806 lb | Not rated | 3 | 22 |
| 2023 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 224 in | 4,806 lb | Not rated | 1 | 66 |
| 2022 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 224 in | 4,806 lb | ★★★★★ | 6 | 112 |
| 2021 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | Not rated | 2 | 20 |
| 2020 | 3.8L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | Not rated | 2 | 23 |
| 2019 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | ★★★★★ | 1 | 28 |
| 2018 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | Not rated | 2 | 25 |
| 2017 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | ★★★★★ | 1 | 38 |
| 2016 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | Not rated | 1 | 44 |
| 2015 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.5 in | 4,597 lb | Not rated | 0 | 33 |
| 2014 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,398 lb | Not rated | 2 | 38 |
| 2013 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,343 lb | Not rated | 1 | 37 |
| 2012 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,343 lb | Not rated | 3 | 61 |
| 2011 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,343 lb | Not rated | 1 | 46 |
| 2010 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,343 lb | Not rated | 4 | 36 |
| 2009 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,244 lb | Not rated | 2 | 20 |
| 2008 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,244 lb | Not rated | 3 | 79 |
| 2007 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,244 lb | Not rated | 0 | 230 |
| 2006 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,244 lb | Not rated | 2 | 190 |
| 2005 | 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 205.9 in | 4,244 lb | Not rated | 1 | 152 |
Alternatives to the 2026 Frontier
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 19 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Ram 1500 | 22 MPG | Not rated | 9 |
| 2026 Rivian R1T | 420 mi | Not rated | 2 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Nissan. How we calculate this →