Nissan Frontier Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 203 of the 892 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Nissan Frontier (22.8%) name the transmission, 1.8× the median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2008, 2022 and 2012.
Transmission complaints
203
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
22.8%
of 892 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Nissan Frontier transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 54 | 39.7% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 21.6% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2010 | 15 | 25.4% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2011 | 9 | 14.1% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2012WORST | 20 | 25% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 | 12.5% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 14.3% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 15.2% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 6.8% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 15.8% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 8% | 0 | — | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 | 25% | 0 | — | 5 |
| 2020 | 12 | 52.2% | 3 | 22V67100022V457000 | 16 |
| 2021 | 5 | 23.8% | 0 | 22V67100022V457000 | 14 |
| 2022WORST | 24 | 21.4% | 4 | 22V67100022V457000 | 10 |
| 2023 | 13 | 19.1% | 0 | — | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 26.1% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 18.2% | 0 | — | 0 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Nissan Frontier transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 203 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Nissan Frontier years to avoid for the transmission
2008 Nissan Frontier
54 transmission complaints (39.7% of the year's 136). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating.
2022 Nissan Frontier
24 transmission complaints (21.4% of the year's 112). Most often described: slipping or revving without accelerating. Covered by transmission recalls 22V671000, 22V457000.
2012 Nissan Frontier
20 transmission complaints (25% of the year's 80). Most often described: will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Nissan Frontier years to avoid.
Nissan Frontier transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Nissan Frontier model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 22V671000 · 2022-09-07 · 2020–2022 models
The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
- 22V457000 · 2022-06-24 · 2020–2022 models
The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 54 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Frontier, 39.7% of all 136 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (6 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2022 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 24 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2022 Nissan Frontier, 21.4% of all 112 complaints for that year. The most common description is "slipping or revving without accelerating" (2 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 22V671000, 22V457000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2012 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 20 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Frontier, 25% of all 80 complaints for that year. The most common description is "will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse" (10 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Nissan Frontier years have the most transmission complaints?
2008 (54), 2022 (24) and 2012 (20), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Nissan Frontier transmission problems?
In the 203 transmission complaints, owners most often describe will not shift, stuck in gear or no reverse (10.8%), slipping or revving without accelerating (10.3%) and jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (10.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Nissan Frontier model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration