Last updated: 2026-10-10
2019 Nissan Frontier Reliability Report
The 2019 Nissan Frontier has excellent reliability for a midsize truck, though owners report shifting faults and flashing airbag lights.
Recalls
1
Complaints
31
Complaint Rate
4.3per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$470
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,850–$3,500
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Excellent standing, well above average among 2019 trucks, with one recall and complaints centered on shifting faults and airbag warning lights.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (6)
- AIR BAGS (4)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4)
Should You Buy the 2019 Nissan Frontier?
Reliability here is excellent, and it sits well above average among 2019 trucks. Owners filed 31 complaints, about 4.3 per 10,000 sold. Within the Frontier lineup it ranks among the stronger of seven scored years. The 2018 and 2020 models rate good and about the same, so no neighbor clearly beats it. Model-wide repair costs run $470 a year against $548 for the class.
The power train draws the most complaints. Some trucks will not shift out of park, or show a '4' on the dash and refuse to engage a gear. Others drop into limp mode and will not rev, which is dangerous when pulling into traffic. Airbag warning lights flash at 45,000 to 56,000 miles. One dealer found a failed occupant sensor in the passenger seat bottom, and an owner past the basic warranty was told to pay. The single recall covers back over prevention.
Test the shifter in park and drive on a long drive. Make sure the airbag light stays off and the touchscreen holds steady. Ask for brake and airbag service records, and confirm the recall repair was done.
Compared to the 2020 Nissan Frontier, which scored 2 points lower. See also the 2018 Nissan Frontier for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +$78 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize trucks
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (12%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −POWER TRAIN: Shifting and throttle faults lead the reports (6 complaints)
- −2 fire incidents reported in owner complaints
Compare 2019 Nissan Frontier With
2019 Toyota Tacoma
Reliability: 55/100
2019 Ford Ranger
Reliability: 64/100
2019 Chevrolet Colorado
Reliability: 78/100
2019 GMC Canyon
Reliability: 76/100
2019 Honda Ridgeline
Reliability: 65/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (6)
- AIR BAGS (4)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2019 Nissan Frontier carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
4.3
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 20.4
Safety Incidents
2
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2019 Nissan Frontier Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2019 Nissan Frontier. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Buying a used 2019 Nissan Frontier? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2019 Nissan Frontier, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2019 Nissan Frontier NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 19.8%
Safety Technologies
Nissan FrontierRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$470
vs $548 avg for midsize trucks
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.2
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
12%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Nissan Frontier Resale Value
The Nissan Frontier is estimated to retain about 82.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Nissan Frontier model overall and is not specific to the 2019 model year.
- Value Retained
- 82.3%
- Depreciation
- 17.7%
- Listings Analyzed
- 170
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Nissan Frontier depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
17–21 MPG
Running cost: $3,300–$3,950/yr
Fuel + repair
15–19 city / 21–23 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2019 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Manual 5-spd | 19 | 23 | 21 | $2,850 |
| Frontier 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 5-spd | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,150 |
| Frontier 2WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,150 |
| Frontier 2WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 16 | 22 | 19 | $3,150 |
| Frontier 2WD FFV 4.0L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,300 |
| Frontier 4WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,300 |
| Frontier 4WD 4.0L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 5-spd | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,500 |
| Frontier 4WD FFV 4.0L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 5-spd | 15 | 21 | 17 | $3,500 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2019 Nissan Frontier.
Shift from park into drive several times and confirm the lever moves freely and the gear engages without showing '4'.
Inspect the high-pressure AC line near the serpentine belt for cracks or oily residue on the belt.
Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after startup, and have a scan run for occupant sensor code B00A0.
Accelerate firmly from a stop into traffic and watch for limp mode or an engine that will not rev.
Press the brake pedal hard on a test drive and reject trucks with long, soft pedal travel or weak stopping.
Check that the ABS light stays off and the speedometer works through the whole test drive.
Let the truck idle fully warm and confirm the heater blows hot air and the defroster clears the windshield.
Test the touchscreen, Bluetooth pairing, rear camera, and backup parking beeps before buying.
2019 Nissan Frontier Common Problems by Component
31 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
6 complaintsShifting and throttle faults lead the reports. Some trucks will not shift out of park, or show '4' on the dash and refuse to engage the selected gear until the lever goes back to park. Others drop into limp mode and will not rev with the pedal floored, which is dangerous when pulling into traffic. Clunking from the transmission shows up on both automatic and manual trucks. In one case, a high-pressure AC line cracked repeatedly and sprayed oil onto the serpentine belt, causing jerking and poor acceleration.
AIR BAGS
4 complaintsSafety-relatedA flashing airbag warning light is the most common problem, reported at 45,000 and 56,000 miles. One dealer traced it to a failed occupant sensor inside the passenger seat bottom. Once the basic warranty ran out, owners were told they would pay for the repair. Another airbag light at about 24,540 miles ended with the airbags being replaced. A single crash report describes airbags deploying with flames and smoke, a passenger seatbelt that did not retract, and two injuries.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4 complaintsThe touchscreen radio switches off and on by itself. Restarting the infotainment system several times sometimes brings it back. Bluetooth can stop working with no warning, and the backup proximity beeper may go silent. One more serious report describes the engine and all electrical power cutting out while driving, taking power steering and power brakes with it. That fault happened repeatedly and was blamed on the battery current sensor. Infotainment trouble has been reported at around 70,000 miles.
SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
3 complaintsA soft, mushy pedal with too much travel and weak stopping in an emergency is the main complaint. Pressing harder does not add braking force, and dealers call this normal for the truck. Front calipers have stuck and squeaked as early as 17,600 miles, which led to a brake rebuild. An ABS fault can light up the dash and kill the speedometer. In that case the replacement part was unavailable due to high demand, and the truck sat undriven while waiting.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 complaintsThe heater blows cold air at idle and only warms up once the truck is moving. The defroster may fail to keep the windshield clear, leaving drivers to wipe it by hand while driving. That cuts visibility in cold weather, and a stranded truck may give no heat at all. The rear view camera is also reported to give false readings.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsTrucks with the Rocky Ridge package and its larger mud tires vibrate and feel sloppy on the road. Rebalancing helps only partly. Raising tire pressure improves handling but triggers the tire pressure warning light, and the dealer sets it back to the door-jamb figure. A single report, never diagnosed, describes the steering wheel moving by itself, the brakes applying without the pedal, and the engine revving at around 12,000 miles.
BACK OVER PREVENTION (1 complaints)
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was gray and then blank. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted even after the rearview camera system had been replaced. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,062.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintWe have three 2019 Nissan Frontier pickups in our fleet that have all recently had the same problem. A engine valve misfire on cylinder 3 on all three trucks. This has caused the trucks to shake, idle rough, and have loss of power while driving. Two independent mechanics have inspected the trucks and have replaced multiple parts to try and fix the problem, however, it has been recommended that all three trucks have the engine replaced. The check engine light did activate on the dash when the problem first began in each truck.
SUSPENSION (1 complaints)
SUSPENSION
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while an independent mechanic was performing an oil change on the vehicle, the contact was informed that the front passenger's side axle housing mount was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintThe paint is peeling off from the front fenders. I have kept this vehicle well maintained and kept this vehicle out of adverse conditions as much as possible.
When Do 2019 Nissan Frontier Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Nissan Frontier Years
Best Nissan Frontier Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2021
2019
(Current Model)
2018
Nissan Frontier Years to Avoid
No Nissan Frontier years are statistical outliers in our data.
Scores stay between 77 and 84 across 7 scored model years.
Nissan Frontier Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 77/100 | Good |
Nissan Frontier Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2019 Nissan Frontier reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Nissan Frontier?
Does the 2019 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Has the 2019 Nissan Frontier been recalled?
Is the 2019 Nissan Frontier cheaper to repair than other trucks?
Don’t buy a 2019 Nissan Frontier without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2019 Nissan Frontier
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2019 Nissan Frontier does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (75/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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