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2016 Nissan Frontier

Gas

Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical1

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA43

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA21 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Nissan Frontier is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Frontier 2WD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 43 complaints, most often about the air bags.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Frontier 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.5L 4-cyl	19	23	21	$2,950
Frontier 2WD	Gas	RWD	4.0L 6-cyl	17	22	19	$3,300
Frontier 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.5L 4-cyl	17	22	19	$3,300
Frontier 2WD	Gas	RWD	4.0L 6-cyl	16	22	18	$3,450
Frontier 4WD	Gas	4WD (part-time)	4.0L 6-cyl	16	21	18	$3,450
Frontier 4WD	Gas	4WD (part-time)	4.0L 6-cyl	15	21	17	$3,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36939, 36917, 36938, 36916, 36921, 36920.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

1,554 vehicles

ProblemNissan 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 contact the heat shield and result in an electrical short.RiskAn electrical short increases the risk of a fire.FixNissan 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 service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA campaign 16V181000reported Mar 31, 2016Nissan North America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

43complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Air Bags10

Unspecified9

Fuel/Propulsion System8

Engine8

Structure4

Power Train3

What owners describe

“I am experiencing a fuel pump issue that stalls the engine while driving. The issue will sometimes go away if I first loosen the fuel cap on the gas tank to relieve built up pressure but after driving for 10 to 15 minutes or so the vehicle will begin to jerk while accelerating then it will stall and cut off. I have to …”Oct 17, 2025 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

“A loud squeaking has developed during every day driving. After inspecting - the front right truck bed mounting location has cracked and failed.”Nov 11, 2024 · Structure · NHTSA owner report

“The airbag warning light is blinking and has been for approximately 9 months. I live in Salida, CO which does not have a Nissan Dealership to take my vehicle into for servicing. I recently saw an article on Fox 31 News pertaining to the same airbag malfunction and would like to know what to do about my problem.”Aug 14, 2024 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
PU/CC 4WD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★☆	20%
PU/CC RWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★☆☆	21%
PU/EC 4WD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★☆	20%
PU/EC RWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★☆☆	21%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2016 Frontier with

2016 Chevrolet Silverado →2016 Ram 1500 →2016 Toyota Tacoma →

Other Frontier model years

2026 Nissan Frontier

1 recalls · 7 complaints

2025 Nissan Frontier

3 recalls · 7 complaints

2024 Nissan Frontier

3 recalls · 21 complaints

2023 Nissan Frontier

1 recalls · 64 complaints

2022 Nissan Frontier

6 recalls · 110 complaints

2021 Nissan Frontier

2 recalls · 17 complaints

2020 Nissan Frontier

2 recalls · 23 complaints

2019 Nissan Frontier

1 recalls · 28 complaints

2018 Nissan Frontier

2 recalls · 25 complaints

2017 Nissan Frontier

1 recalls · 38 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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