2010 Nissan Frontier problems

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2010 Nissan Frontier

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Common 2010 Nissan Frontier problems

The 2010 Nissan Frontier has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to transmission issues and paint quality.

  • Radiator Causes Transmission Failure: This issue is caused by a faulty radiator that leaks coolant fluid into the transmission, leading to transmission failure.
  • Radiator Crack Leaked Fluid Into Transmission: Similar to the first issue, this problem is caused by a crack in the radiator that leaks coolant fluid into the transmission, leading to transmission failure.
  • Coolant Leaked Into And Ruined Transmission: This issue is caused by coolant leaking into the transmission, leading to transmission failure.
  • Transmission Cooler Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the transmission cooler, which can lead to transmission failure. This issue is not specific to the 2010 Frontier, but it is a concern that potential buyers should be aware of.
  • Paint And Trim Issues: Owners of the 2010 Frontier have reported issues with the paint and trim, including fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking, loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, and rust. These issues can affect the appearance and durability of the vehicle, and they may require costly repairs.

In summary, the 2010 Nissan Frontier has several common problems, including transmission issues and paint and trim problems. Potential buyers should be aware of these issues and consider the cost of repairs before purchasing a 2010 Frontier.

2010 Nissan Frontier engine

Does 2010 Nissan Frontier have transmission problems?

Owners of 2005 through 2010 Nissan Frontiers, Pathfinders and Xterras are reporting premature transmission failure, according toThe New York Times. The issue is caused by radiator coolant leaking into the automatic transmission, which subsequently destroys it.

Is a 2010 Nissan Frontier a good truck?

The Nissan Frontier is a solid truck built to last. I drove mine for 6 years with zero issues. The lava lining bedliner is nearly indestructible. Got power in all the right places (Windows, locks, mirrors) and none of the unnecessary frills that cost an arm and a leg if they break.

How many miles will a 2010 Nissan Frontier last?

Nissan vehicles are generally known for their reliability and longevity. On average, a well-maintained Nissan can last between 200,000 to 300,000 miles. This means if you drive around 15,000 miles per year, which is the average for most drivers, you can expect your Nissan to last between 13 to 20 years.

What year was a bad year for a Nissan Frontier?

Nissan Frontiers with automatic transmissions manufactured between 2005 and 2008 have a defective radiator design. The fluid lines for the truck's transmission pass through the radiator. Any leaks or problems with the radiator can instantly destroy both the radiator and the transmission on these Frontier models.

2010 Nissan Frontier complaints

The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2010 Nissan Frontier.

You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.

2010 Nissan Frontier recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 6 recalls for different components of the 2010 Nissan Frontier.

2023-02-10
  • Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
  • Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
  • Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s 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.
2010-09-10
  • Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
  • Remedy: 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.
2010-09-03
  • Manufacturer: MARATHON SEAT COVERS, INC.
  • Components: EQUIPMENT
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
  • Remedy: 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.
2010-08-12
  • Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP
  • Summary: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER KING CAB VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 10, 2010 THROUGH JUNE 26, 2010. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE WELD BETWEEN THE TETHER ANCHOR AND THE SEAT GUSSET BRACKET IS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, AND BASED ON NISSAN'S ENGINEERING JUDGMENT, THE TETHER ANCHOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE SEAT WHEN TESTED UNDER THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
  • Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE TETHER ANCHORAGE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE SEAT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CHILD SEAT THAT USES THE TETHER ANCHOR.
  • Remedy: THE SEAT GUSSET CONTAINING THE TETHER ANCHORAGE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
2010-05-20
  • Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
  • Remedy: 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.
2010-05-14
  • Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
  • Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
  • Summary: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. 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.
  • Consequence: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
  • Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Negative 2010 Nissan Frontier car reviews

  1. Herminio Renner 2024-08-12

    I purchased my car in May of 2010. Unfortunately, within a month or 3,000 miles later, my car stalled on the way to California from Phoenix. It was a really scary experience as my whole family was in the car with me. We had to tow the car to the nearest dealer and they replaced a bad crank sensor. However, 7,000 miles and five months later, the same thing happened again. The car stalled and we had to tow it to the dealer once more, only to find out that it was another bad crank sensor. Since then, I have only been driving it for short trips around town as I am still scared. The dealer was not very helpful and just shrugged their shoulders, saying that it was just a couple of bad sensors in a row. I am extremely disappointed that a brand new car like mine has had such a catastrophic failure. This experience has left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. I had hoped to enjoy my Nissan for many years to come, but unfortunately, this recurring issue has made me regret my decision. Perhaps I should have gone with a Toyota instead...

  2. Rocio Borer 2024-08-10

    The Frontier truck has a noticeable 'thump' when taking off from a full stop, which has been reported by other owners as well. Online forums suggest that the issue is axle warp and can be fixed with a helper spring. Despite this, the dealer service department claims that there is nothing wrong with the truck. However, based on my expertise and experience, I can confidently say that the issue can be resolved with the installation of a helper spring. Additionally, I understand that the armrest may be too short for some users, but this is a minor issue that can be easily addressed. Overall, the Frontier truck is a reliable and durable vehicle that can provide a great driving experience with the right modifications.

  3. Cielo Nader 2024-07-05

    The left rear oil seal of my 6-year-old vehicle with only 21828 miles was found to be blown during an inspection at the dealer. Despite the vehicle being out of warranty, Nissan refused to assist with the matter and quoted a replacement cost of $650. However, I am confident in my decision to switch to Toyota given this unexpected and premature issue with my Nissan.

  4. Damian Altenwerth 2024-04-05

    At around 60k miles, both rear axles failed. The replacement axles were different, indicating that the originals were defective. Unfortunately, the local dealers gave us a big runaround, so we decided to go to our personal mechanic instead. We paid $1,500 for new replacements, which was a much better deal than the $2,000+ that the dealer wanted. Interestingly, the same mechanic just completed another replacement with the same year Frontier, and the owner also had a bad experience with the dealer. When we took it to the dealer, we assumed a bearing and seal replacement, but they stalled and told us they did not have the parts, even though they had told us they did when we made the appointment. It was a frustrating experience, but we were able to resolve the issue with the help of our private mechanic. Although the dealer refused to offer any financial support because we used a private mechanic, we are satisfied with the outcome. We will consider other options in the future, but for now, we are happy with our decision.

Positive 2010 Nissan Frontier car reviews

  1. Jean Welch 2024-11-26

    Hello! I just wanted to share my experience with the Nissan Frontier 4X4. I recently purchased it and drove it home from the dealership, which was a 200-mile journey. The last 20 miles were quite challenging as I had to drive through a snow-packed, icy, steep dirt road through a forested and mountainous area. Despite the difficult conditions, I felt completely safe and secure in the truck. As a 71-year-old great grandmother, this was really important to me. Although it's still quite new, I already trust this truck. If you're in the market for a smaller, rugged all-terrain pickup, I highly recommend checking out the Nissan Frontier. It's an impressive vehicle that performs really well!

  2. Deonte Crooks 2024-11-07

    I traded in my Jeep Compass for this new Frontier and I love it. It handles snow, ice, mud, steep, rocky mountain roads as well as town driving with ease. My biggest impression was with the sturdiness of this truck. It feels very durable. Despite gas mileage estimates, I get 25/21 mpg, even in 4X4.

  3. Gillian Waters 2024-11-03

    Total comfort. The towing power is just as advertised. You have a quality product.

  4. Madyson Hintz 2024-11-03

    This truck is absolutely stunning both inside and out. Not only does it have a great appearance, but the v6 engine is incredibly powerful and can outperform some v8s. It's an amazing driving experience, and it comes with some fantastic features as standard, such as the bedliner and bedrail system. I completely fell in love with this truck, and with safety ratings that make the Ranger and Colorado look like bicycles, it's the obvious choice. It's spacious, masculine, and just plain cool.

  5. Bertrand Robel 2024-09-26

    Hi there! Congrats on your second Nissan Frontier! It's great to hear that Nissan has come a long way since your last purchase 10 years ago. I'm glad to hear that you're getting 20 hwy with recommended 91octane and 17.5 hwy with 87. It sounds like you made a smart choice by going with the Frontier, especially with the Nissan and dealer rebates making it about $5k cheaper for the loaded versions. I'm happy to hear that you have no complaints so far. The Pro 4x has a stiff suspension which is perfect for what you wanted, but it's not like riding in uncle Earl's town car. It's interesting to hear that your Avalanche 2500 and Silverado 1500 have smoother rides. It seems like Nissan has put a lot of thought into the seat configurations. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2010 Nissan Frontier problems:

2010 Nissan Frontier, what to look for? | Grassroots Motorsports ...
2010 Nissan Frontier, what to look for? | Grassroots Motorsports ...
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/2010-nissan-frontier-what-to-look-for/133257/page1/

The only real problem I discovered was some years(I think 2012 though) had issues with the radiator failing internally, causing a cross ...

So I just got a 2010 Nissan frontier can anybody tell me is there any ...
So I just got a 2010 Nissan frontier can anybody tell me is there any ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/Trucks/comments/a77do4/so_i_just_got_a_2010_nissan_frontier_can_anybody/

Dec 18, 2018 ... Once you chance the radiator /bypass, you should be good as far as known problems. The rest depends on how well it was maintained and you ...

2010 Nissan Frontier Problems and Complaints - 5 Issues
2010 Nissan Frontier Problems and Complaints - 5 Issues
https://repairpal.com/2010-nissan-frontier/problems

Top 2010 Nissan Frontier Problems · Check Engine Light Due to Faulty Fuel Level Sensor · Noise From the Front of the Engine · No Start, Engine Stalls · Check ...

Transmission problems 2010 PRO-4X... | Nissan Frontier Forum
Transmission problems 2010 PRO-4X... | Nissan Frontier Forum
https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/transmission-problems-2010-pro-4x.71047/

May 26, 2011 ... These are funky transmissions. Out of 4 frontiers that i test drove ... after hammering them off the line and just before shifting into 2nd, if ...

Q&A: 2010 Nissan Frontier SE - Troubleshooting Common Problems
Q&A: 2010 Nissan Frontier SE - Troubleshooting Common Problems
https://www.justanswer.com/nissan/el0kr-2010-nissan-frontier-4-0-running-rough-i.html

Jul 3, 2020 ... What is to do next then? Nissan Mechanic: Roy Sheidenberger.

Other years of Nissan Frontier

nissan frontier 2011 photo
Frontier 2011
Nissan

62

1

23

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
nissan frontier 2012 photo
Frontier 2012
Nissan

76

3

13

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
nissan frontier 2013 photo
Frontier 2013
Nissan

46

1

14

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
nissan frontier 2014 photo
Frontier 2014
Nissan

40

2

27

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
nissan frontier 2015 photo
Frontier 2015
Nissan

29

0

19

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
nissan frontier 2016 photo
Frontier 2016
Nissan

40

1

23

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

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2010 Nissan Frontier photo