Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2026 Nissan Frontier: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Nissan Frontier, most recently filed January 2026. Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. In NHTSA crash tests it earned 4 stars overall.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 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 ↗
Listed for 2026 Nissan Frontier. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 26V023000 Filed Jan 20, 2026

Improperly Welded Door Strikers/FMVSS 206

Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
Consequence
A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 28, 2026.
69.8% repairedof 26,432 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V023000

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 (10)

10 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Nissan Frontier, by component (top 8). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 10.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2026 compares with other Frontier years

Best and worst Frontier years →
2017201820192020202120222023202420252026
This year (2026)Other yearsStill collecting reports

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

Overall★★★★☆
Frontal crashDriver 3★ · Passenger 4★★★★☆☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 20.4%★★★☆☆
Front seat of a modern car with the seat belt buckled across the passenger seat
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2026 Nissan Frontier pu/cc 4wd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined

21
mpg combined
19
city
24
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,200
CO₂ tailpipe
423 g/mi
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks

What it costs you to run

$3,110per year
$259per month
714gallons a year

Miles ÷ 21 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

2026 Nissan Frontier configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive19 / 24 / 21$3,200423
3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automaticPart-time 4-Wheel Drive17 / 21 / 19$3,550479
3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automaticPart-time 4-Wheel Drive16 / 20 / 18$3,700504

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2026 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.

All Frontier years

Where to next

2026 Nissan Frontier FAQ

How many recalls does the 2026 Nissan Frontier have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 26V023000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2026 Nissan Frontier problems?

Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (3), Unknown or other (2), Electrical system (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2026 Nissan Frontier get?

EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 9-speed automatic version at 19 city, 24 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

What safety rating did the 2026 Nissan Frontier get?

NHTSA rated the 2026 Nissan Frontier pu/cc 4wd 4 stars overall, with 3 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 3 stars rollover (20.4% rollover risk).

How does the 2026 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 2026 drew 10. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

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.
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