2016 Nissan Frontier Problems, Recalls & Reliability

56 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Nissan Frontier, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 9/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2016 Nissan Frontier has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

56Complaints
9/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Better year

Where 2016 sits among all Frontier years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 10 complaints (18%)
Other 10 complaints (18%)
Fuel system 8 complaints (14%)
Engine 8 complaints (14%)
Body & structure 4 complaints (7%)
Transmission & drivetrain 3 complaints (5%)

Recalls (1)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16V181000 2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016 Frontier V6 vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to March 7, 2016. The starter motor wire harness may have been installed in an incorrect position, allowing the starter harness terminal to…

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and reposition the starter wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer…

Technical service bulletins

119 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Nissan Frontier. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Frontier TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2015peak 11 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Nissan Frontier reliable?

The 2016 Nissan Frontier drew 56 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 9/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2016 Nissan Frontier problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Nissan Frontier are airbags (10 complaints), other (10), and fuel system (8).

Does the 2016 Nissan Frontier have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2016 Nissan Frontier. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.