Most common 2009 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of the 37 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Frontier complaints by model year
Best Frontier years: 2015, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007, 2005. Compare all years →
2009 Nissan Frontier recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's 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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on January 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Nissan Frontier:
Transmission Failures
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.
What 2009 Nissan Frontier owners say
Air bags
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated the air bag warning light had been illuminated for two years. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 55 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, there was no assistance provided. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. While driving 55 MPH, the contact detected smoke underneath the hood. The vehicle was towed to king windward Nissan (45-568 kamehameha hwy, kaneohe, hi 96744, [phone]) where the contact was informed that the radiator, transmission, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
My 09 Nissan Frontier se (automatic transmission) grinded a bit when changing gears. I noticed it was between 3rd and 4th gears. Sometimes it was louder and longer than other times. Sometimes it didn't happen at all. I noticed it happens when I accelerated slowly with the gas only slightly pressed. It didn't happen at all when accelerating to get on the freeway, for example.I had purchased my Frontier as a used truck with about 113K miles on it from the Nissan dealership in everett, wa and nothing was said of any transmission issues (as you'd expect from a dealer). Only about 3 weeks later after purchasing it the transmission started doing very strange things. While I was driving on the road, my truck was shifting like normal. …
Fuel & propulsion system
Nissan frontiers of are experencing many problems with their emission systems. EVAP control values are failing at various mileages. The dealers blame dust in the system. The dealers are charging very high prices to repair the system. Nissan has already changed the EVAP control vent switch design 3 times. This means they know they have a problem and are refusing to recall the trucks.
"I had 1/4 of a tank of gas and went to fill up. After filling up my gas tank, I turned on the car, at which point the needle did not register the full tank. After driving a couple miles, the check engine light came on. I went directly to the dealer and was told that it was a fuel sending unit/sensor and that it was no longer covered after 30K miles. After returning home and doing research, I went online to x.nissanhelp.com after performing a search, I came across many others who have experienced the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the fuel sending unit. A similar problem was found on the 2000-2004 xterra models and a recall was performed when the vehicle would stop after not getting any fuel, posing a great danger. It seems that something in the unit is faulty and will corrode over time. …
2009 Nissan Frontier engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 23 / 21 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 20 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Nissan Frontier a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Frontier rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Frontier at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan Frontier?
The air bags — 9 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (8) and fuel & propulsion system (5).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Frontier have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2009 Nissan Frontier, the most recent from February 10, 2023 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Frontier?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2018 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007 and 2005. See the full Nissan Frontier years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Frontier problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.