Last updated: 2026-10-10
2020 Nissan Frontier Reliability Report
The 2020 Nissan Frontier has a good reliability standing, but owners report trucks rolling away in Park, including crashes and an injury.
Recalls
2
Complaints
20
Complaint Rate
3.6per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$470
Annual Fuel Cost
$3,000–$3,150
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
Strong standing among 2020 trucks, but complaints about rolling away in Park and two power train recalls set it apart from other Frontier years.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (10)
- SERVICE BRAKES (2)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2)
Should You Buy the 2020 Nissan Frontier?
Good reliability, with one serious exception. This truck stands well above average among 2020 trucks, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $470 against $548 for its class. It sits in the middle of the seven scored Frontier years. The 2019 rates about the same, and the 2021 rates better, though its empty complaint file mostly reflects less time on the road.
The exception is rollaway. Ten of the 20 owner complaints are power train reports, and the main one is a truck rolling with the shifter in Park. Three involve crashes and one an injury. Owners hit a garage door, a fence, an RV and a tree stump. Others describe jerky low-speed takeoffs, the transmission dropping into neutral, and a driveshaft that came apart. Two brake complaints, at roughly 55,000 to 59,834 miles, describe grinding or braking on its own.
Federal recall records list two power train recalls. Ask for proof that both were completed. Some owners say dealers had no parts, and one says the rolling returned after repairs.
Compared to the 2021 Nissan Frontier, which scored 6 points higher. See also the 2019 Nissan Frontier for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$78 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize trucks
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (12%)
Cons
- −POWER TRAIN: Trucks roll away with the shifter in Park (10 complaints)
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues reported (2 complaints)
Compare 2020 Nissan Frontier With
2020 Toyota Tacoma
Reliability: 65/100
2020 Ford Ranger
Reliability: 71/100
2020 Chevrolet Colorado
Reliability: 81/100
2020 GMC Canyon
Reliability: 76/100
2020 Jeep Gladiator
Reliability: 49/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (10)
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2020 Nissan Frontier carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
3.6
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 11.9
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2020 Nissan Frontier Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Nissan Frontier. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
POWER TRAIN
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Consequence
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission Control Module (TCM) Model Year 2020-2022 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM and Engine Control Module (ECM) Model Year 2023 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM Model Year 2023 Z vehicles: reprogram TCM. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
POWER TRAIN
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Consequence
A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A2 R22A3.
Buying a used 2020 Nissan Frontier? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2020 Nissan Frontier, and 2 recalls were 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
2020 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 2020 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
19–20 MPG
Running cost: $3,450–$3,600/yr
Fuel + repair
17–18 city / 23–24 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 2020 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier 2WD 3.8L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,000 |
| Frontier 4WD 3.8L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,150 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2020 Nissan Frontier.
On a gentle slope, shift into Park, release the brake pedal and confirm the truck holds without the parking brake.
Run the VIN through a recall lookup and get dealer paperwork showing all recall work was completed.
Pull away gently from a stop several times and feel for jerking, hesitation or sudden surging.
Scan for stored transmission codes such as P0729 and ask whether the TCM software update was done.
At highway speed, listen and feel for grinding or violent shaking from under the truck.
Drive at highway speeds and watch for the brakes grinding or applying on their own.
Check the dashboard lights after dark and confirm the speedometer is easy to read.
Test the alternator's output and confirm the cooling fans run when the engine is warm.
2020 Nissan Frontier Common Problems by Component
20 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
10 complaintsSafety-relatedTrucks roll away with the shifter in Park. This is the main pattern, and 3 of the 10 complaints involve a crash, with 1 injury. Owners report hitting a garage door, a fence, an RV and a tree stump. Several say dealers had no parts for a recall repair, and one says the rolling came back after dealer visits. Other reports describe jerky takeoffs at low speed, hesitation, no-start conditions, the transmission dropping into neutral with warning lights on, and a driveshaft that came apart with violent shaking.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaintsTrucks slip out of Park or roll while the shifter shows Park in both reports. One truck slipped out of Park even with the parking brake set, then would not start because it did not detect Park. Another rolled backward more than 15 feet with the shifter still in Park, one of 3 such incidents on that truck. Neither report mentions damage or injury. Both match the rollaway pattern in the power train complaints.
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsThe brakes grind loudly or apply on their own at highway speeds. Both complaints come from trucks at roughly 55,000 to 59,834 miles. For the grinding, an independent shop and then the dealer replaced the brake pads, but the noise came back. In the other case, the brakes kept slowing the truck unexpectedly even after the dealer replaced the front and rear brake assemblies. No crashes or injuries are reported.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 complaintsDashboard lights are too dim to read the speedometer in one report, starting almost from new, and the dealer offered no help. In another, the alternator failed at 79,000 miles. The engine kept running but the cooling fans shut off, and the engine overheated during diagnosis. Only 2 complaints are on file, so there is no repeat pattern yet. Neither report involves a crash or injury.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintUNKNOWNI want to report my repossessed car and hold Santander Consumer USA responsible because they sold my car without my consent and not only that, report the fraud of the sale of the same car that I bought and that neither the DMV Nissan of Orange nor Santander Consumer USA informed me of the debt that I still had on that car and Santander was charging me with a contract where they add the cost of the car with interest after I had paid a down payment and financed the car at a cost of 30,659.14 and then they charged me another 17,390.78 in interest which the dealership hid from me and they also knew about the debt that was still owed on the car by Santander Consumer USA and they did not inform me what they call fraud by selling a car with a lien holder I ask for a refund of all my money $ 15,538.10 amount to the principal balance + 18,022.23 interest payments + 8,000 downpayment that makes the total of $41,560.33 which I have lost all my money invested in that car and they took my vehicle and are advertising it on this page for sale
EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2020 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, and the contact became aware that the brake lights were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2020 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger’s side seat belt pretension sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger’s side belt assembly tongue pretension and the passenger seat belt retractor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,624. The contact stated that this failure has occurred 4 times while both the driver and the passenger was occupied.
SEATS (1 complaints)
SEATS
1 complaintTHE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK WHEN MOVED. ON ONLY ONE SIDE. WE TOOK IT IN AN THE DEALER SAID THAT IS WAS KNOWN TO THEM BUT WAS NOT SAFETY RISK. IF I HAD TO STOP FAST AND THE SEAT WAS NOT LOCKED ON ONE SIDE THE TORQUE WOULD HAVE BENT THE BAR AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER. THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT BUT I CANNOT BE SURE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE THERE WERE MULTIPLE OTHERS THEY HAD FIXED. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE DEALER SHIP IS NISSAN AT 1333 SOUTH ACADEMY BLVD., COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80916. YOU MAY REACH ME AT [XXX]. IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. THE NISSAN CORP. OFFICE TOLD ME TO REPORT IT HERE. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Best & Worst Nissan Frontier Years
Best Nissan Frontier Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreNissan 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 2020 Nissan Frontier reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Frontier?
Does the 2020 Nissan Frontier roll away in Park?
Does the 2020 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Is the 2021 Nissan Frontier better than the 2020?
Don’t buy a 2020 Nissan Frontier without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2020 Nissan Frontier
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2020 Nissan Frontier does best on how many systems draw complaints (82/100) and worst on complaint severity (72/100). 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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