What Are The Best Years For The Nissan Frontier? (Here Are The 3 Best Years!)

Choosing the right Nissan Frontier model is crucial; our article “What Are The Best Years For The Nissan Frontier?” highlights the peak years of this durable truck. Dive into our analysis to discover which models stand out for their performance and reliability.

The Nissan Frontier is a popular, reliable vehicle. While it’s not the most popular brand in North America, it has earned a reputation for durability.

Most consumers agree that buying a used Nissan Frontier is a good purcharse. However, some years stand out above the others as the best model years.

What are the best years for the Nissan Frontier? They are 2015, 2017 and 2019. Let’s find out why.

What Are The Best Years For The Nissan Frontier?

The best model years for the Nissan Frontier were the 2015, the 2019, and the 2017 models. The 2015 model is one of the only Frontiers without a safety recall.

Meanwhile, the 2019 and 2017 models only have one NHTSA recall issued and have received minimal complaints from drivers. 

There’s one factor that potential buyers must consider and it’s that the Frontier is a rudimentary truck. So, even the best years for the Nissan Frontier lack some of the amenities that other brands have.

However, while newer vehicles include more safety features, older vehicles tend to be more durable. If you’re looking for a used Nissan Frontier, keep reading to learn more about the best model years.

The 2015 Nissan Frontier

Drivers consider the 2015 Nissan Frontier one of the best years for the Nissan Frontier because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued no recalls for it. This sign is a testament of its durability.

With 7-years of operation under their belt, most vehicles have gathered a long list of recalls. Many vehicles develop a long list of issues within the first year or two of production. 

Though the 2015 model is one of the best years for the Nissan Frontier, it’s not perfect. While the 2015 Nissan Frontier has no recalls, the NHTSA has received 26 customer complaints. 

The most common area complained about is the airbags. According to several customers, the airbag sensor light came on. 

No matter how many mechanics they visited, they could not clear the code. 

Another customer reported that when they crashed their vehicle, the airbags did not deploy. 

Since this is a serious issue, have a mechanic look over the vehicle before purchasing it. 

If the airbag light comes on, it’s best to avoid that vehicle. 

Don’t let this problem turn you away from a 2015 Nissan Frontier. 

Only seven customers complained about experiencing this issue. 

That’s only seven of the 62,817 2015 Frontiers that Nissan sold. 

In other words, the chances of your vehicle doing this are minimal.

Though the NHTSA did not issue a front or side crash rating for this model year, they did give the 2015 Nissan Frontier a 4-star rollover rating.

One can assume that this rating would carry over in other types of crashes too.

The 2015 Nissan Frontier received a quality and reliability rating of 85 out of 100 from J.D. Power, a great rating. 

While the 2015 Nissan Frontier is fairly reliable, you still have to spend a fair amount to use and maintain it. 

According to U.S. Car News, it costs $5,584 a year for the 2015 Nissan Frontier’s fuel, repair, and insurance costs. 

That said, you can purchase a 2015 Nissan Frontier for anywhere between $14,500 and $27,800. 

The lower price off-sets higher ownership costs.

The 2015 Nissan gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 23 miles per gallon on the highway, according to J.D. Power.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier

The next candidate in our list of what are the best years for the Nissan Frontier is the 2019 model. While the NHTSA has issued one recall for the 2019 Nissan Frontier, this vehicle only received seven customer complaints. 

More so, the recall issued is hardly life-threatening. In September of 2019, the NHTSA issued a recall for the 2019 Nissan Frontier’s backup camera because it failed to display an image. 

More than one million vehicles were potentially affected by this recall.

Meanwhile, the area that received the most complaints was the 2019 Nissan Frontier’s power train. 

There were two reports that the vehicle went into limp mode for no reason and two of a clunking sound while shifting. 

With so few reports of either of these issues, you can rest assured that a 2019 Nissan Frontier will get you down the road.

The NHTSA gave the 2019 Nissan Frontier an overall safety rating of 4 stars. 

Other safety ratings for the 2019 Nissan Frontier are as follows:

• Overall Front Crash Rating: 3 stars
  • Frontal Driver Side: 3 stars
  • Frontal Passenger Side: 2 stars
• Overall Side Crash Rating: 5 stars
• Rollover Rating: 4 stars

While this vehicle received outstanding safety ratings, the NHTSA noted that the driver’s door might open in some side crashes. However, they still gave the side rating of 5 stars meaning that you can feel safe driving this vehicle down the road.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier received an average reliability rating of 80 out of 100 from J.D. Power. 

J.D. Power also notes that drivers can expect to pay anywhere from $24,500 to $38,000 for this vehicle. Compared to other modern trucks, this is a steal.

According to U.S. Car News, drivers can expect to spend $5,780 a year on fuel, maintenance, and insurance for the 2019 Nissan Frontier.

The 2019 Nissan Frontier gets 15 to 19 miles per gallon in the city and 21 to 23 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2017 Nissan Frontier

Like the 2019 Nissan Frontier, the 2017 model only has one recall and has received only a handful of customer complaints. The only recall issued for this model affected 153,047 vehicles. 

This recall applied to vehicles that suddenly stalled due to the ignition switch turning off. This problem was reported across many of Nissan’s 2017 models. 

The area that the NHTSA received the most complaints about is the vehicle’s fuel and propulsion system. 

Several customers complained that fuel would spit out of the fuel tank while refueling. However, you can replace the fuel tank to stop the problem if this occurs in your vehicle.

The 2017 Nissan Frontier received an overall safety rating of 4 stars. This model year gets the same gas mileage as the previous two models. 

However, you can expect to pay less in fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs. 2017 Nissan Frontier drivers can expect to pay $5,360 for annual ownership costs, according to U.S. Car News.

The 2017 and the 2015 models tie for the most reliable Nissan Frontier. Therefore, we can nominate as a candidate for the best years for the Nissan Frontier.

Both models received a great reliability rating of 85 out of 100 from J.D. Power. The 2017 Nissan Frontier could be yours for as little as $18,000 or as much as $32,000. 

While it’s not as cheap as the 2015 model, you can enjoy some of the newer, more luxurious features of modern trucks.

Closing Thoughts On What Are The Best Years For the Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier is an unrefined yet reliable option for those who want a work vehicle. There are three years that fall into the category for the best years for the Nissan Frontier.

So, what are the best years for the Nissan Frontier? They are 2015, 2017 and 2019. These are the models with the fewest complaints, recalls and overall issues.

It’s important to note that, though these are reliable, they do have problems, as with any vehicle. However, most of the problems aren’t severe, which is always positive.