2009 Nissan Frontier.

The 2009 Nissan Frontier has too few complaints to score: 14 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about fuel system, gasoline, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 16 to 21 mpg combined. The best Nissan Frontier year is 2019.

Not enough data. Only 14 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.

Best year 2019 · Worst year 2007

Photo shows a 2022 Nissan Frontier. Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Most common problemFuel system, gasoline29% of owner complaints Recalls5Free fix at any dealer Better year to buy20197.7× fewer complaints than average Repair notes from Nissan99Ask a seller if they were done

Owner complaints14first 3 years

Fuel economy16–21 mpgcombined, EPA

Front crash★★★★☆NHTSA, driver

How serious. Out of 37 owner complaints, owners reported:

1crashes

0injuries

1fires

2tows

99 repair notes from Nissan

Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

fuel system, gasoline29%

brakes29%

body structure14%

transmission & drivetrain14%

doors, locks & latches7%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Nissan Frontier year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 60K

0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 100K miles on the car (33 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

Recalls 5

airbags 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
equipment 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
equipment 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES.

Show all 5 recalls

suspension 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 A…
airbags 2008
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…

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Nissan told dealers about

Nissan sent dealers 99 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

Rear axle seal leaks
Door lock/unlock inoperative with intelligent key
IF YOU CONFIRM A refrigerant leak at a refrigerant pipe/hose joint location

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Government investigations

ClosedTransmission failures2012–2016

NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.

Safety

Stability controlOptional

Collision warningNot offered

Lane departure warningNot offered

Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆

NHTSA front crash test of the 2009 Nissan Frontier — Front crash test · NHTSA

Fuel cost and engines

About $3050–4000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.

In owners' words

While driving, service engine soon light appeared with code p0448. After code appeared, cannot fill up gas tank without gas spilling out. Called dealer and they said this is unrelated.
2009 Nissan Frontier owner · NHTSA complaint 10441125

Quick answers

Is the 2009 Nissan Frontier reliable?

There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 14 complaints in its first 3 years.

What are the most common 2009 Nissan Frontier problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (29%), brakes (29%) and body structure (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Frontier have?

5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Nissan Frontier get?

16 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Frontier problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,800 and 100,000 miles. The middle report was at 60,100 miles, from 33 complaints.

Does the 2009 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.

How much does the 2009 Nissan Frontier cost in fuel a year?

About $3050 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2009 Nissan Frontier have?

2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.

What Nissan Frontier year is better than the 2009?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2014.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works