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2010 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Nissan Frontier, most often about the air bags (32% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2010 Nissan Frontier problems
Air bags
19 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Vehicle has flashing air bag light on. Dealer tells me the fix costs $2,500 dollars to repair! The vehicle has 59,757 miles on the odometer. The problem is a weight seat sensor in the passenger seat. The air bag light continues to flash when the vehicle is in motion. There has been a recall on this vehicle for the…
Passenger side airbag is not in the on position (light stays on) when small stature female is sitting in seat; she tried various positions to activate it (turn off light) but was unsuccessful; it appears that the sensors are not sensitive enough to pick up the weight of a person under 125 to 130 pounds; vehicle was in…
Transmission
15 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: transfer case (4-wheel drive), driveline.
The rear axle seals are leaking. There is a service bulletin at Nissan for this issue. So this is a known issue. Rear differential fluid is leaking on the rear brakes. This will cause rear brake failure. I think there has been numerous cases of this problem. Nissan best to my knowledge will only take care of this…
We have had the rear u joints replaced 3x on our truck and have rear axel fluid leak etc obviously the driveshaft is misaligned and eventually will fail. Also the transfer case and transfer case motor is failing. The first u joint incident happened in6/01/11 at mileage 41,638. The transfer case issue began 10/26/12 at…
Electrical
9 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Frontier. While attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition would not turn over and the gauges on the instrument panel vibrated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was taken to an auto part…
Vehicle would crank but not start. Took to repair shop where they cleaned the battery posts. Replaced battery. Vehicle still showed resistance before slowly cranking. Vibration of RPM and speedometer needles. Cleaned the posts again, now motor will hardly turn over, numerous lights on dash flash intermitantly.
Engine
9 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to waxahachie Nissan (w highway…
I have trouble shot the airbag light I have that has been blinking for a week now. I can not figure it out. I have noticed many posts on forums about this issue. I do not have a recall. The second issue is the truck idles rough, I have also seen many forums about this issue as well.
Brakes
5 complaints · 9%Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) I was driving my 2010 Nissan Frontier truck. Coming towards a stop sign, I had already started to slow down. About 200 feet,before the stop sign, when I applied the brakes, the brakes did not work,the pedal stayed down with no…
Noticed e-brake no longer holding. Took to local shop. Told me need new e-brake pads and rear axle bearings, seals. Apparently bearing seals failed and gear oil saturated brake pads. Took to dealer to fix bearings and seals under warranty (though they charged me for the brake pad replacement that was a direct result).…
Body and structure
3 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
(1) the trucks spray-on bedliner has holes and cracks that extend the width of the box, parallel to the tailgate (about 50cm from the tailgate). The issue became apparent because white salt rings formed on the surface of the bedliner (box is covered) due to salt migrating up from the roadway. Per the dealer, the box…
Fuel system
3 complaints · 5%When the low fuel gauge light came on my daughter put $40.00 in gas. However the gauge only showed 1/4 of at tank [email] per gal) I thought it was a problem at the gas station pump. The next morning I stopped to put gas in the tank fearing I would run out. I put an additional $25.00 and the gauge never moved. Being a…
After driving a short distance to exit a parking lot and waiting for an opening in traffic on a busy four-lane road with a speed limit of 50 MPH, I hit the gas to accelerate into an opening and nothing happened, no forward motion. And there have been subsequent incidents; one involved trying to cross a busy street…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 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.
Child Seat: connector/clip
Risk: In the event of a crash, the tether anchorage could separate from the vehicle seat increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in a child seat that uses the tether anchor.
Fix: The seat gusset containing the tether anchorage will be replaced with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 30, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 nissan frontier king cab vehicles manufactured from june 10, 2010 through june 26, 2010. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the weld between the tether anchor and the seat gusset bracket is out-of-specification. As a result, and based on nissan's engineering judgment, the tether anchor could separate from the seat when tested under the conditions required by the standard.
Suspension: lower arm
Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, qx56, frontier, xterra, and pathfinder vehicles manufactured from november 19, 2009 through march 3, 2010. The lower control link assembly has two cylindrical collars forming the inboard attachment points to the chassis. Due to an improper welding process some collars may contain welds that do not meet strength specifications.
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 2010 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (19 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); transmission (15 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles); electrical (9 complaints, typically around 26,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Nissan Frontier have?
- 4 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 2010 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is 14th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints, with 59 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.