Nissan · Frontier · 2009
5
Recalls
37
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Nissan Frontier has 5 recalls and 37 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (9 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Remedy Status
Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Remedy Status
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy Status
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
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 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
Remedy Status
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Airbag warning light blinking and won't go off. Was not able to reset. Diagnostic Code 12.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated and shut off. The failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that it took a while for the vehicle to regain full power. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle had to be towed after shutting off. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft and crankshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated the air bag warning light had been illuminated for two years. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO AN ALREADY FILED CLAIM. COMPLAINT # 11331805 CLAIM # [XXX]. DEALERSHIP NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THE WAY TO FIX THE AIRBAG ON MY 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER PRO 4X WAS TO REPLACE EACH PART UNTIL THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NISSAN HAS A VERY INTERESTING WAY TO FIX SOMETHING EVEN AFTER THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
THE DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS BAD. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE AIR BAG IS A TAKATA. VEHICLE IS A 2009 FRONTIER PRO 4X WITH 117,000 MILES. CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE MILEAGE AND AGE DOES NOT WARRANT ANY ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN IN MAKING THE REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON TAKAT AIR BAGS.
MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. MY MECHANIC NOTICED A RECALL, CAMPAIGN ID R0807, BUT THE RECALL ONLY AFFECTS VEHICLES REGISTERED IN 'SALT' STATES. I LIVE IN VA BUT TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN PA, MARYLAND, DC FOR WORK FOR MANY YEARS. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR, MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO BORDERING STATES TO ACCOUNT FOR FREQUENT TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE FRONT AIR BAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL IN EFFECT, BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES IN 'SALT' STATES. MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN VA, BUT I TRAVELED IN PA, MD, AND DC FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR WORK, SO MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED ON THE EXISTING WARRANTY RECALL.
MY CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN AND I ONLY HAVE 55,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. MY TIRES ARE WEARING AND THE FRONT END POPS, AND IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT.
NISSAN FRONTIERS OF ARE EXPERENCING MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR EMISSION SYSTEMS. EVAP CONTROL VALUES ARE FAILING AT VARIOUS MILEAGES. THE DEALERS BLAME DUST IN THE SYSTEM. THE DEALERS ARE CHARGING VERY HIGH PRICES TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM. NISSAN HAS ALREADY CHANGED THE EVAP CONTROL VENT SWITCH DESIGN 3 TIMES. THIS MEANS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE REFUSING TO RECALL THE TRUCKS.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THIS WARNING.
2009 NISAN FRONTIER 114K MILES SAME SINGS AS MANY OTHERS VIBRATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR START HAPPENING IN THE MORNING SPECIAL WINTER PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND NOW HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
MY 09 NISSAN FRONTIER SE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) GRINDED A BIT WHEN CHANGING GEARS. I NOTICED IT WAS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. SOMETIMES IT WAS LOUDER AND LONGER THAN OTHER TIMES. SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. I NOTICED IT HAPPENS WHEN I ACCELERATED SLOWLY WITH THE GAS ONLY SLIGHTLY PRESSED. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE.I HAD PURCHASED MY FRONTIER AS A USED TRUCK WITH ABOUT 113K MILES ON IT FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN EVERETT, WA AND NOTHING WAS SAID OF ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES (AS YOU'D EXPECT FROM A DEALER). ONLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER AFTER PURCHASING IT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING VERY STRANGE THINGS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD, MY TRUCK WAS SHIFTING LIKE NORMAL. HOWEVER, ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD THUMP FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE TRUCK SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS IN A VERY HIGH GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV VERY LOUDLY WHILE I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT MY TRUCK WASN'T ACCELERATING AT ALL. IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF MY TRUCK, THEN RESTART T TO DRIVE AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED BUT THIS TIME IT WAS AFTER I HAD GOTTEN ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING ALL THROUGH EACH GEAR (AROUND THE 4TH/5TH GEAR RANGE). I HAD TO PULL OVER 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE FINALLY GETTING TO WORK.
FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR. AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS, DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED CENTER CRASH ZONE SENSOR IS FAULTY. BEING TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, DESPITE BEING AN INCLUDED MODEL/YEAR AND BEING DRIVEN IN AN INCLUDED STATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KING WINDWARD NISSAN (45-568 KAMEHAMEHA HWY, KANEOHE, HI 96744, (808) 235-6433) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE NUTS ON THE AIR SENSORS ON TIRES CORRODED AND CRACKED . THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LED TO A NISSAN RECALL OF 2008-09 MURANOS AND FIT MODELS. ( LIVING IN MARYLAND FROM 2009 UNTIL 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RINGING PINION HAD FAILED AND THE REAR END ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,709.
MY WIFE AND I OWN NISSAN VEHICLES. 2 YEARS AGO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON HER 2005 PATHFINER. IN OCTOBER OF 2015 MY 2009 FRONTIER TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL BECAUSE OF COOLANT MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH NISSAN
TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFTER ONLY 64,000 MILES. RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION OIL WHICH IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. QUOTED $4200 IN REPAIRS-THEY WILL NEED TO RE-MANUFACTURE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE AT VALVE. I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER SINCE I AM JUST OUTSIDE OF THE 5 YR 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY (5 MONTHS OVER 5 YRS). THEY ADVISED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY WILL HELP WITH. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR NISSAN TRANSMISSIONS TO NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT 64K THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER SIMPLY STATED HE IS NOT A MECHANIC. AT 40MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO POWER AND NEEDED TO PULL OVER. THIS PUT MY PROPERTY AND WELL BEING IN SEVERE DANGER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT THIS MAY NOT BE THE CASE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE HANDLED RESPONSIBLY BY NISSAN. EXTEND MY WARRANTY AND FIX THE TRANSMISSION FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
ON JULY 8, 2014 MY A/C STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO LATER INFORMED ME THAT COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND SHOT METAL PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE A/C SYSTEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM REPLACED. NISSAN REFUSED TO REIMBURSE MY $2500 EXPENSE BECAUSE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. PLEASE, INVESTIGATE HOW THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM WOULD FAIL ON AN 82,000-MILE VEHICLE OF A RESPECTABLE BRAND LIKE NISSAN. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2009 Nissan Frontier has 5 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 37 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Nissan Frontier.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Nissan Frontier.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Nissan Frontier are air bags (9 reports), power train (5 reports), fuel system, gasoline (3 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 5 recalls on record for the 2009 Nissan Frontier. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.