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2008 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Frontier, most often about the transmission (40% of complaints, typically around 95,500 miles). It is 5th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2008 Nissan Frontier problems
Transmission
54 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 95,500 miles. Parts named most often: axle assembly, automatic transmission.
Started to notice heat not working at an idle but when accelerated heat was working fine. I didn't think anything about it seeing as it was cold outside. Then I received a notice for a suit against Nissan for transmission problems caused by transmission cooling line leaking causing coolant and transmission fluid to…
First long trip since I bought the used truck, a trip to oakridge, 90 mile round trip from home. The truck made it back to our driveway, then when I put on the break for my husband to get out, it would not move and all the dash lights came on. I couldn't budge the truck. It was locked up. Couldn't move the stick. The…
Engine
35 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 87,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at speeds over 40 MPH, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the radiator fluid had leaked into the transmission causing severe damage to the transmission. The contact was…
Known defect by Nissan. Radiator fluid leaks into transmission causing complete failure of transmission. They have extended warranty for new transmission but comes with a $2500 deductible. Why should I have to pay anything when they know they made a defective product.
Air bags
21 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles.
One day, all of the sudden, the flashing red airbag indicator light started flashing on the dash. I noticed there is major safety recall on my vehicle model and year for this exact problem, I've called the dealer where I bought this truck new, bill rapp Nissan, syracuse, ny and another local dealer , burdick Nissan…
Ref recall 08v690000. Why would our truck not be part of this recall?. We live in an area which is surrounded by ocean so salt corrosion is common. I know several others that have similar issue not only frontiers. I understand the front crash sensor corrosion is common. Please do something about this before someone…
Fuel system
16 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
Having the same issue that other frontiers were recalled for. Gas gauge is unreliable and the engine light stays on. Other frontiers manufactured just three months before ours are on recall but not ours. This is obviously a Nissan issue as well documented on various boards and websites.
Receive notice of a recall. Pco42 10v-075 2008 Nissan fuel sender recall. Contact Nissan as directed. They informed me that it will two to six months to get parts for the repair. What kind of recall is this?
Electrical
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
Ref recall 08v690000. Why would our truck not be part of this recall?. We live in an area which is surrounded by ocean so salt corrosion is common. I know several others that have similar issue not only frontiers. I understand the front crash sensor corrosion is common. Please do something about this before someone…
My horn stopped working back in dec. 2014. Then come to find out if I turn the steering wheel to the right it will work. If you push on the right of the wheel. So I finally put it in the shop on 02-17-2015. Then today I was told on 02-20-2015 it is electrical. It has two parts to the horn. Plus getting no electrical…
Brakes
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. While driving approximately 5-10 MPH approaching a stop sign he engaged the brakes and the brakes popped. When he depressed the brakes they failed to operate, he then engaged the emergency brake. He continued to drive to his destination. He called a tow company and had the…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that when depressing the brake pedal, the pedal would seem loose and extend to the floorboard. The failure was intermittent when in traffic and when the contact was braking a lot. The dealer replaced the master cylinder but the failure continued. The failure…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 4%On the 22nd of july 2016, my 2008 Nissan Frontier deployed both sides of its curtain airbags. I was traveling at roughly 3-5 MPH on freest road 618 outside of camp verde, arizona. The road had a slight inclin of maybe 1-2%, with slightly muddy ground due to it raining. My frontiers front left tire rolled onto a…
Ref recall 08v690000. Why would our truck not be part of this recall?. We live in an area which is surrounded by ocean so salt corrosion is common. I know several others that have similar issue not only frontiers. I understand the front crash sensor corrosion is common. Please do something about this before someone…
Steering
4 complaints · 3%Tl contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. While traveling 25 MPH the contact noticed that the steering wheel had suddenly stopped moving and could not be turned. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the steering shaft needed to be repaired. There were no prior warnings and the…
While driving the truck will shut off just like the key was turned off. This happened one or two times a day over a ten day period, I swapped my old key with my wife's key and the problem went away. I took it to a Nissan dealership and they wanted to do $7000 of repairs and nothing about the key and ignition switch…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Nissan Frontier recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driverâs airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed december 8, 2023. Owners may contact nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are pc944, pc945, and pc946.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 titan, frontier, xterra, pathfinder, armada, and 2008-2009 quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat.
Fuel system: auxillary tank
Risk: This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank with a new one that has a modified float arm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2006 and model year 2008 frontier, xterra and pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument panel fuel gauge to show that the vehicle has approximately one quarter tank when the fuel tank is empty.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, a mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the front crash zone sensor (czs) housing. If this occurs, the czs may internally rust resulting in a signal interruption. If this happens, the red air bag warning light will illuminate to alert the vehicle operator.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This standard specifies requirements for tire selection to prevent overloading.
Fix: Nissan will mail a correct tire placard and installation instructions to owners of the affected vehicles. The recall began on february 25, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling 5,523 my 2008 titan, frontier and xterra vehicles for failing to comply to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, 'tire selection and rims for motor vehicles.' the tire placard lists an incorrect vehicle capacity weight.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Transmission failures
Summary
On february 29, 2012 the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into my 2005-2010 nissan pathfinder, frontier, and xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.it will also be published in the federal register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfa
Questions about the 2008 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (54 complaints, typically around 95,500 miles); engine (35 complaints, typically around 87,500 miles); air bags (21 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Frontier have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 10, 2023 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is 5th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints, with 136 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.