The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2022 2022
The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
Radiator leaked antifreeze into the transmission. Transmission has to be rebuilt/ replace and radiator has to be replaced.
2005 Nissan Frontier owner · NHTSA complaint
Vehicle shaking and complete turn off. A/t cont fuse blows out. Known issue in internet regarding transmission and coolant leak.
2005 Nissan Frontier owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Nissan Frontier years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Nissan Frontier years are 2005, 2007, 2006.
What are common Nissan Frontier transmission problems?
Owners most often describe slipping, lost power while driving, shudder.
Which Nissan Frontier years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Nissan Frontier years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2016, 2025, 2015.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Nissan Frontier reliability by year. How we count