Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 9% | 3,000 miles |
| 2024 | 3 | 14% | — |
| 2023 | 30 | 45% | 41,000 miles |
| 2022 | 31 | 28% | 1,000 miles |
| 2021 | 6 | 30% | 36,000 miles |
| 2020 | 3 | 13% | 32,000 miles |
| 2019 | 5 | 18% | 70,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 20% | 50,000 miles |
| 2017 | 6 | 16% | 30,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 9% | 60,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 14% | 60,000 miles |
| 2013 | 8 | 17% | 60,000 miles |
| 2012 | 7 | 9% | 28,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 9% | 17,000 miles |
| 2010 | 9 | 15% | 26,000 miles |
| 2008 | 13 | 10% | 98,000 miles |
| 2007 | 28 | 5% | 72,000 miles |
| 2006 | 31 | 5% | 106,000 miles |
| 2005 | 38 | 7% | 91,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 8% | 83,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 4% | 4,000 miles |
| 2002 | 13 | 10% | 40,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% | 70,000 miles |
| 2000 | 14 | 7% | 58,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 4% | 134,000 miles |
| 1998 | 23 | 18% | 118,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. So, when some of the others did it, we just replaced the batteries ourselves. This week asked again if there was a known issue and were told Nissan only knows of a battery drain issue. These vehicles are shutting down sometimes while our people are driving them. They also try to restart themselves sometimes. They are automatically applying the breaks when this happens wile the ABS light comes on. …
My 2024 Nissan Frontier has experienced repeated intermittent shut off and no-start failures. The problem began in late 2024 and continued through January 2025, throughout 2025, 2026, and is still occurring. The truck has randomly shut off while driving and has failed to restart at different times. This creates a serious safety risk in traffic and on the freeway because loss of power can cause an accident or leave me stranded in unsafe areas. I brought the vehicle to Nissan dealership service in January 2025 for diagnosis, but they stated no issue was found. The same problem continued afterward. Auto parts stores also checked battery/charging systems and did not identify the cause. Most recently, the vehicle would not start at CarMax and required roadside assistance / jump start / towing. The issue is intermittent and difficult to predict, which makes it more dangerous. …
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH and reversing(R) out of a parking spot, the messages "Key Malfunction" and "Crash Detected" were displayed. The contact pulled over and attempted to turn off the vehicle; however the vehicle failed to turn off. Additionally, when the contact shifted to park(P) the gear shift indicator failed to indicate that the transmission was in park(P). The contact attempted to shift to drive(D), and the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact stated that a passerby helped to turn off the vehicle by disconnecting the battery terminals. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and it was determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the same messages were displayed, and the transmission slipped out of gear. …
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that on one occasion, while stopped at a traffic light at a busy intersection, the Auto START/STOP system turned off the engine, and the engine failed to restart as designed. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile mechanic jump-started the vehicle, and a handheld diagnostic machine was unable to retrieve a fault code. The failure could not able to be replicated. The contact stated that during a second occasion, the shifter was able to shift out of park(P) into neutral(N), and the vehicle was pushed off the road to safety with the assistance of a State Trooper. The contact attempted to jumpstart the vehicle, and while there was power, the Push to Start button was pressed, but the power shut off. …
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance system suddenly activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop although no other vehicles or objects were nearby. Also, while operating the vehicle the collision avoidance system warning message and display continued to erroneously appear on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who cleared the failure codes but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Also, the contact indicated that the door chimes would not always alarm when needed and the front driver's side and passenger's side door latches would malfunction and the doors could not be immediately opened from inside the cabin of the vehicle. In addition, the battery randomly lost power and the vehicle could not be restarted. The cause of the failure was not determined. …
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, an incorrect fuel mileage reading would appear on the instrument panel. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle the instrument panel read 320 miles until empty; however, recently, the instrument panel read 470 miles until empty. The contact also stated that the instrument panel also read 180 miles until empty however, the fuel gauge would show a quarter tank of fuel remaining in the vehicle. The contact noted that the reading was incorrect. The dealer had been notified of the failure and stated that they were unaware of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
My husband and I bought a new truck. My husband pulled the truck into our garage, once in the garage the back tires started to spin out of control, he looked down and saw he had his foot on the brake only, but truck surged forward causing no injuries but have minor truck and property damage. Have a picture of where there is stationary tire marks on our epoxy garage floor showing the black tire marks of the tires spinning out of control just before the truck surged forward. After this incident we found articles about sudden unintended acceleration which we feel is what happened to my husband. The dealership we bought the vehicle from has been derogatory from the start of this incident. We have contacted several attorneys to only be turned down saying we don't have a case because my husband wasn't injured (thank God). …
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. After several attempts, the contact was able to start the vehicle, after which the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The contact also stated that when the failure occurred, the exterior lights would not function properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake light switch. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system › Ignition
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018.
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Frontier V6 vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to March 7, 2016. The starter motor wire harness may have been installed in an incorrect position, allowing the starter harness terminal to contact the heat shield and result in an electrical short.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the starter wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Frontier years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (38), 2006 (31), 2022 (31), 2023 (30) and 2007 (28) model years. Electrical complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Nissan Frontier electrical problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 18V-551 (ignition, Aug 21, 2018); 16V-181 (front underhood, Mar 31, 2016); 14V-052 (fuses and circuit breakers, Feb 12, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Frontier electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 30% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument cluster/panel (12 mentions), followed by the 12v/24v/48v battery (8).
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.