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Light NHTSA footprint — 48 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier has 48 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 12 complaints, typically surfacing around 50,813 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Frontier | 0 | 6 |
| 2011 Frontier | 64 | 1 |
| 2012 Frontier | 78 | 3 |
| 2013 Frontier (this page) | 48 | 1 |
| 2014 Frontier | 42 | 2 |
| 2015 Frontier | 33 | 0 |
| 2016 Frontier | 43 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2013 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab PU/CC RWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 50,813 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
In Summer 2023 driving on uneven country road in Upstate New York hit a pothole and my airbag warning light came on. Then started to flash. Truck is still drivable BUT now The seatbelts no longer lock in place during a sudden stop Did research online Nissan has a Voluntary…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan frontier. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle overheated and antifreeze spilled from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure…
2013 Nissan frontier consumer writes in regards to vehicle brake malfunction and wants dealership to take vehicle back. *smd the consumer stated when she applied the brake, the pedal went to the floor.
The vehicle would not shift into drive from neutral. After a few minutes of holding it in drive, I managed to get it to move forward. Then, I could not get it out of drive. It only moved forward. The problem fix is described in this youtube video perfectly.…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Nissan Frontier is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Nissan Frontier does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 12 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 50,813 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 48 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 50,813 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 12 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 50,813 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 50,813 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 48 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.