2013 Nissan Frontier: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Nissan Frontier: 1 recall, 48 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V052000 · 2014 · 13,535 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker May have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circuit breaker to face outward, potentially contacting a metal bolt located on the a-pillar.
Why it matters: The bolt May wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (15): the most common themes are warning light on (3).
- Electrical (8): the most common themes are fire / smoke (2), electrical failure (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (6): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (4).
- Other / unknown (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2013 Nissan Frontier has 48 owner complaints, ranking #17 of 29 Frontier model years for complaints (well below the 116 average). Complaints peaked in 2014 (9 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 27,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (79 complaints, 3 recalls), 2014 (42 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 23 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Nissan Frontier.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 2013 Nissan Frontier. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Nissan Frontier problems?
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (15), electrical (8), transmission & drivetrain (6).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Nissan Frontier get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (2.5 L, Manual 5-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Nissan Frontier repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.