Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Frontier. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Unsecured Transmission May Cause Rollaway
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Unsecured Transmission May Cause Rollaway
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (19)
19 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 26.3% |
| Power train | 5 | 26.3% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 21.1% |
| Air bags | 3 | 15.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 15.8% |
| Engine | 1 | 5.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 5.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 5.3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 5.3% |
| Seats | 1 | 5.3% |
How 2021 compares with other Frontier years
Best and worst Frontier years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 38 | 1 |
| 2018 | 25 | 2 |
| 2019 | 28 | 1 |
| 2020 | 23 | 2 |
| 2021 | 19 | 2 |
| 2022 | 112 | 6 |
| 2023 | 66 | 1 |
| 2024 | 22 | 3 |
| 2025 | 8 | 3 |
| 2026 | 10 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Nissan Frontier pu/cc 4wd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 445 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 445 |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 | 469 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Frontier for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Nissan Frontier FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Frontier have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 22V671000 (power train), 22V457000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Frontier problems?
Owners filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (5), Power train (5), Unknown or other (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Nissan Frontier get?
EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 18 city, 24 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Nissan Frontier get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Nissan Frontier pu/cc 4wd 4 stars overall, with 3 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (19.8% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Frontier compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Nissan Frontier model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (19) and the 2017 the most (38). The 2021 drew 19. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.