Photo: Cutlass / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
2009 Nissan Frontier: common problems and reliability
An average Frontier year.
74 owner complaints, most about air bags. 5 recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Frontier?The 2009 Nissan Frontier has 74 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and power train. Owners most often flag smod (strawberry milkshake of death) - coolant contamination in transmission: catastrophic failure specific to 2005-2010 models with automatic transmissions.
Safety record for the 2009 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2009 Nissan Frontier vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Frontier years only. How we score it
Is 2009 a good year for the Frontier?
Across the 29 Frontier model years we track, complaint volume runs from 25 (2018) to 1,234 (2006). With 74 complaints, the 2009 Frontier sits about the same as the model's median of 74.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2009 Frontier
suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Campaign 10E019000NISSAN 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.
equipment
Campaign 10E043000MARATHON 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.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 08V690000NISSAN 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.
equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
Campaign 10V401000NISSAN 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.
Show 1 more recall
air bags:frontal
Campaign 23V067000Nissan 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.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is bifurcated by generation and is generally positive for well-maintained, post-2010 models.
- Very frequentSMOD (Strawberry Milkshake of Death) - Coolant contamination in transmission
Catastrophic failure specific to 2005-2010 models with automatic transmissions.
- IsolatedTiming chain/guide complaints (2005+ models)
Mentioned as a potential maintenance item.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Frontier. See the full Frontier owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Frontier listings typically run $13,127–$32,339.
Other Frontier model years
Compare every Frontier year side by side to see how 2009 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Frontier against its rivals
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