2022 Nissan Frontier

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
19–20 mpgcombined; city 17–18, highway 21–24; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$16,240–$17,100U.S. average; Ohio $14,510–$15,280 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
4 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
6over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
112filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Frontier. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Forward collision avoidance33200
Electrical system31111
Power train24400
Unknown or other20321
Service brakes18502
Vehicle speed control13201
Seats9000
Engine6101
Back over prevention4000
Air bags3201
Exterior lighting3000
Latches/locks/linkages3000
12 more parts
Steering3000
Structure3000
Fuel/propulsion system2000
Traction control system2100
Visibility/wiper2000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Lane departure1000
Seat belts1000
Service brakes, air1000
Suspension1100
Trailer hitches1000
Wheels1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006617
  2. 2007520
  3. 2008136
  4. 200937
  5. 201059
  6. 201164
  7. 201279
  8. 201348
  9. 201442
  10. 201533
  11. 201643
  12. 201738
  13. 201825
  14. 201928
  15. 202023
  16. 202120
  17. 2022112
  18. 202366
  19. 202422
  20. 20259
  21. 202611

Every Frontier year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2022 Frontier over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Back over prevention: display function

NHTSA campaign 22V772000 · reported Oct 13, 2022 · 27,388 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Titan, Titan XD, Frontier, and 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The IVI software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R22B8, R22C1, and PC923/25.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 22V671000 · reported Sep 7, 2022 · 197,230 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Back over prevention: sensing system; Equipment: electrical

NHTSA campaign 22V527000 · reported Jul 21, 2022 · 10,477 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue, 2022 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Titan rental vehicles. When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The Infotainment system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 29, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A5 PC901 PC902.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 22V457000 · reported Jun 24, 2022 · 180,176 vehicles potentially affected

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.

Risk: 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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts: critical fasteners

NHTSA campaign 21V958000 · reported Dec 9, 2021 · 425 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Frontier vehicles. The seat belt bracket mounting bolts on the left-rear seat may have been incorrectly tightened. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 207, "Seating Systems," 209, "Seatbelt Assemblies," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk: During a crash, a loose seat belt bracket may break, causing a loss of seat belt restraint and increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts on the left-rear seat and repair any damaged threads as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC856.

NHTSA's record and documents

Fuel system, gasoline: storage; Trailer hitches

NHTSA campaign 21V917000 · reported Nov 22, 2021 · 22 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Frontier Crew Cab Long Bed trucks. The tow hitch was not installed, compromising the structural integrity of the fuel tank in the event of a rear crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Risk: During a crash, the leaf spring could contact the fuel tank, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will install the tow hitch and harness kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC855.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 115 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2022 Frontier, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (65), equipment (17), structure (12), power train (10), engine and engine cooling (8).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2022 Frontier.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: standard pickup trucks. EPA greenhouse gas score: 4 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Frontier
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.8 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S9)Regular Gasoline18 / 24 / 20
Frontier
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
3.8 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S9)Regular Gasoline17 / 21 / 19

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data