The Lemon Index2011 Nissan Frontier.
The 2011 Nissan Frontier is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 18 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 30, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, and it gets 16 to 21 mpg combined. The best Nissan Frontier year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 64 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Frontier year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
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.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 17K to 82K miles on the car (50 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- airbags 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 110 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Door lock/unlock inoperative with intelligent key
- IF YOU CONFIRM A refrigerant leak at a refrigerant pipe/hose joint location
- The MIL is ON with DTC P0448 (EVAP canister vent control valve close) stored in the ECM
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Frontier King Cab PU/EC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
| Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
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
Driver door locking itself intermittently. Has happened 4 times since I purchased the vehicle in oct of 2012. The key was not left in the ignition and there is not a button that can be pushed that locks only the drivers door.
2011 Nissan Frontier owner · NHTSA complaint 10667709
More owner reports
The airbag light is lit and will not reset. I am not sure if the airbag is operating correctly or not. I have seen several similar complaints online. The vehicle has not been involved in a collision or any other damage.
NHTSA complaint 10659385
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Nissan Frontier reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 30; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Frontier year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2011 Nissan Frontier problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (22%), airbags (22%) and body structure (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Frontier have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Nissan Frontier get?
16 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Frontier problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 17,200 and 82,100 miles. The middle report was at 47,800 miles, from 50 complaints.
Does the 2011 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2011 Nissan Frontier cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $4000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Nissan Frontier have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Frontier year is better than the 2011?
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