2016 Nissan Frontier problems and recalls

Owners have filed 43 complaints on the 2016 Nissan Frontier, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Air Bags (10 complaints).

43
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
3
Injuries
72.0
Severity index

Severity index 72.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 48 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 66% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 10 complaints (23.3%)10 23%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 9 complaints (20.9%)9 21%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (18.6%)8 19%EngineEngine: 8 complaints (18.6%)8 19%StructureStructure: 4 complaints (9.3%)4 9%Power TrainPower Train: 3 complaints (7.0%)3 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 3 complaints (7.0%)3 7%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (4.7%)2 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS1023.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER920.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM818.6%
ENGINE818.6%
STRUCTURE49.3%
POWER TRAIN37.0%
SERVICE BRAKES37.0%
WHEELS24.7%

Complaints filed per year

0472015: 12016: 52017: 52018: 62019: 62020: 72021: 12022: 12023: 42024: 52025: 12026: 1 (partial year)1516171819207212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
20165
20175
20186
20196
20207
20211
20221
20234
20245
20251
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (10 against 9).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V18100031/03/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOODNissan 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

Other Nissan Frontier model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 10 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.