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2013 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Frontier, most often about the air bags (31% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles). It is 15th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2013 Nissan Frontier problems
Air bags
15 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
While the vehicle is running, the airbag warning light on the dashboard flashes, whether or not there is a passenger in the passenger seat. There was no damage to the vehicle or any initiating factor that I can determine. One day when I turned the vehicle on, the warning light also turned on. The light does not turn…
Takata recall. Dash light for air bag flashes while driving with or without someone in passenger seat. When starting vehicle air bag light comes on and then starts flashes.did not take to garage yet.
Electrical
8 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: integrated trailer brake control, instrument panel.
I have issues with the postive terminal coming lose on my Nissan Frontier on various occasions. One was while driving. My safety and others have been put at risk due to nissans loose cable. I almost hit a family of four with my truck.
The electronic control module went out on my vehicle after only 60,000 miles. I tried every possible solution such as replacing sensors, replaced spark plugs, crank and shift sensors, etc until my local Nissan dealership ran a diagnostic and determined it to be the ECM. They found it strange to have the ECM go out so…
Transmission
6 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles.
Transmission shifter will not go into drive driver and vehicle were stranded on the side of the road. Multiple documented failures for this shifter assembly.
My clutch has prematurely failed at 20500 miles. The truck is less then 2 years old and I have had continuous issues with the clutch including a service appointment at 3000 miles. The dealer ship told me this is not covered because the part is considered normal wear and tear. I have driven a clutch my entire life and…
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles.
Traction control can snap the drivers neck. With traction control on the vehicle can apply the brake on the drive wheel that is spinning. This happening if you are not going in a straight line can snap your neck if driver is not looking straight ahead. Note when the brake is applied it is not slowly, it is snapped on…
Vehicle rolls-not slides out of driveway while vehicle in park and not running while on snow and ice does not do so when in 4 wheel drive. Nissan dealer has seen videos but says nothing wrong. Lived in house since 1985 and no car has ever rolled out. Only under certain winter conditions does this happen such as wet…
Seat belts
5 complaints · 10%My son had an accident, driving at 65 MPH and hit a parked car on the freeway. He hit the windshield so hard with his head that the windshield has a cup shaped dent even with seat belt on and deployment of airbags. I contacted Nissan, and was dismissed. I was told by [], the person assigned to the case by Nissan, that…
One morning I arrived at work and my seat belt would not disengage after struggling with it for 10 minutes I had to cut it to get out I had no prior problems with seatbelt until that morning I took my vehicle to Nissan but they are saying they will not cover it apparently because I had cut it and they are also saying…
Speed control
4 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I was driving in a parking lot approximately 15 20 miles per hour, I applied the brake to slow down to an appropriate speed in order to go around a corner, the truck then accelerated causing me to jump the curb and hit the mail boxes. The truck accelerated to approx. 30-40 MPH.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Frontier. After depressing and releasing the brake pedal in traffic, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The failure recurred ten times. The vehicle was taken to dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 8%While changing the passenger side rear tire of the 2013 Nissan Frontier, one of the wheel lug studs was found to be loose and went half way in. I tried to pull the wheel lug stud with my finger and it won?t come out. I tightened the other four nuts on the wheel lug studs and started to drive to the dealer. While…
I own a new Nissan Frontier sv 2013. With only 25,000 miles on the vehicle I was traveling down the highway then with a very short notice the vehicle started a right hard turn, then the low tire pressure light came on. I pulled within a minute to the shoulder of the road got out of the vehicle smelled burning rubber…
Engine
4 complaints · 8%The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Frontier. While driving approximately 30 MPH and approaching a stop, there was an abnormal sound from the front of the vehicle. The contact also smelled exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the intake…
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Frontier. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle overheated and antifreeze spilled from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Nissan Frontier recalls
Electrical: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on march 17, 2014. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 frontier vehicles manufactured from november 28, 2012, through december 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the a-pillar.
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.
Questions about the 2013 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (15 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); electrical (8 complaints, typically around 55,500 miles); transmission (6 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Frontier have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 12, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is 15th of 27 Frontier model years by number of complaints, with 48 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.