2022 Nissan Frontier Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around driver-assistance electronics: owners most often describe the forward collision/automatic emergency braking system either braking with nothing ahead or dropping out with warning lights, usually well under 20,000 miles. A second cluster covers transmissions that hunt for gears, rev high on cruise control, and in some cases roll after being shifted into park. Many reports are filed within the first few thousand miles, and several describe repeat dealer visits where the problem could not be reproduced.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   False automatic emergency braking and warning-light dropouts

   • 48 complaints (43%)
   • median 6,100 mi at 0.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the truck braking hard or decelerating sharply on open highway with nothing in front of it, sometimes at 60-70 mph. Others report the AEB, forward collision, ABS and traction control warning lights coming on together, after which those systems and cruise control stop working until the truck is restarted. Complaints say dealers cleared codes, replaced parts or could not reproduce the fault, and a few mention parts being on back order. Most sample reports fall under about 5,000 miles, often within the first months of ownership and at highway speeds.

   Recall 22V772000Recall 22V5270005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any AEB or radar/brake-switch service bulletins have been applied, and test-drive at highway speed to see whether warning lights appear. Note that several bulletins and two recalls address infotainment reboots that can also disable the rearview display.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On September 16, 2022 My 2022 Nissan Frontier equiped with 997.00 dollar optional rear automatic braking parking assist failed to work. I was backing out of Somerset, KY shopping center position when a adult woman pushing shopping cart passed by behind, I observed her in mirror and stopped before impact. My truck issued no beep or auto braking as vehicle was supposed to do. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11485039, filed 2022-09

   “Since I purchased my 2022 Nissan Frontier, I have experienced recurring issues where, periodically while driving, all the indicator lights appear on the digital screen (as shown in the attached photo). When this happens, all the advanced driver assistance systems become nonfunctional, including cruise control, ABS brakes and radar detection. These incidents have occurred while driving on the highway. Over time, I brought the vehicle in for service, but the technicians indicated they could not find anything wrong. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11722153, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Harsh downshifts and high revs on cruise control

   • 25 complaints (22%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners say that with cruise or adaptive cruise engaged, a slight incline or small speed loss makes the transmission drop several gears and the engine rev to 5,000-6,500 rpm, sometimes overshooting the set speed. Others describe harsh downshifts when braking for a light, transmission hunting at highway speed, and a howl on deceleration. Some dealers applied a transmission control module update without resolving the behavior. Reported from near-new mileage through the first year, often on hills or during steady highway cruising.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive a route with a moderate hill using cruise control and watch whether the truck downshifts abruptly or over-runs the set speed; ask whether the cruise-control transmission bulletin has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When using adaptive cruise and there is a slight hill and it loses around 1-3 mph it will change 2-4 gears and get as high as 6500rpm just to make up those lost mph. On one occasion I hit a small patch of gravel on a repaired spot on the highway and temporarily lost control of my truck. This is a major safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11580282, filed 2024-03

   “CRUISE CONTROL SURGING VEHICLE BEYOND INITIAL SET LIMIT. I recently purchased my 2022 Nissan frontier 4x4 crewcab from a Texas dealership. After driving it for a week or so, I noticed that while the Cruise Control is engaged, any sort of incline ahead of the vehicle will cause the transmission to down shift and Rev up the engine to 5k+ rpms which causes the vehicle to Surge and speed up way above the set speed (ie: cruise set to 45mph, the consequence is the vehicle will surge up to 60mph at times and then let the vehicle slow back down to …”

   NHTSA complaint #11644162, filed 2025-02
3. 3
   Seats

   Driver's seatback reclines on its own

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 17,050 mi at 1.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2024

   Several owners report the power driver's seatback tilting backward by itself, overnight or while driving, losing the memorized position. Complaints say dealers described it as a known issue with the easy-exit feature and, in one case, told the owner the only workaround was to disconnect the seat wiring. Some owners were told a fix was coming but not yet available. Reported at low to moderate mileage, mostly in trucks with the power driver's seat.

   What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and cycle the easy-exit and recline functions a few times, and ask the seller whether the seat or its wiring has been serviced for this behavior.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was out hunting, and positioned the truck on a down hill slope to look down onto a unit I wanted to watch. When I put the truck into park it started rolling forward. Once I hit the bakes it stopped. Then obviously I moved the truck. Because of concern. Also the drivers seat lays back on its own, after use you get back into the truck, you have to activate the button to set the seat back in its previous position.”

   NHTSA complaint #11551652, filed 2023-10

   “The drivers seat reclines and tilts all the way back on its own , truck has no automatic seat settings , this renders a choking or pinning hazard to rear passengers.”

   NHTSA complaint #11481214, filed 2022-08
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Truck rolls after being shifted into park

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 597 mi at 0.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2025

   Owners report the truck moving several inches, or rolling away entirely, after the shifter was placed in park — including on driveways and slight slopes, sometimes hours later. Some complaints tie this to the parking pawl recalls and note that parts were not yet available at the dealer. Others describe delayed or hard engagements when moving between drive and reverse. Mostly reported on low-mileage trucks, with vehicles ranging from under 200 miles to around 20,000 miles.

   Recall 22V457000Recall 22V6710001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the VIN against recalls 22V457000 and 22V671000 and confirm the remedy was done; also ask the seller to demonstrate that the truck holds still on a slight incline in park with the parking brake off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission is rolling 4-5 inches when moving from drive/reverse to park. I am concerned that the vehicle will roll away since it bounces when it finally catches. There was a previous recall 22V457000 but my specific VIN was not included for some reason.”

   NHTSA complaint #11644490, filed 2025-02

   “The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, she exited the vehicle to place some items in the truck bed however, the vehicle started to rollaway at approximately 2 MPH. The contact stated that her husband jumped back into the vehicle and used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V457000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11473524, filed 2022-07, 195 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Infotainment reboots and cameras not working

   • 25 complaints (22%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the center screen rebooting or staying blank, the backup camera failing to display in reverse, and in some cases all cameras stopping. Owners also report multiple dashboard warning lights appearing and then clearing after a restart. Dealers quoted replacement of camera or infotainment control units, and some owners say the repair was not covered or parts were unavailable. Reported from very low mileage up into the tens of thousands, with several within the first year.

   Recall 22V772000Recall 22V5270004 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the truck in reverse, confirm the backup camera comes on, and ask whether the infotainment software updates or the IVI recall remedy have been completed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-X on 09/12/2021. Since day 1 it had something loose under the hood and was making cracking sounds. Had to bring it in and they tightened something and then had to do a full re-alignment. And before I even hit 1k miles my aerial / backup camera stop working and I’m now waiting on a whole new camera control assembly unit that is on back order and they claim could take months. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11442197, filed 2021-11

   “2022 vehicle, have owned for less than two years. All cameras stopped working, even rear view camera when in Reverse. Went to dealer, and was quoted $5000 to fix issue, replace AVM control unit (Part # 284A1-9BU1A) Not covered under factory warranty due to having too many miles. It is a common issue to that particular model (2022 Frontier Pro-x) from what I've gathered online. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11552556, filed 2023-10

Buying note. This model year draws most complaints from driver-assistance electronics and transmission behavior rather than from the drivetrain wearing out, and many appear early in life. Confirm the open recalls were completed for the specific VIN, check the infotainment and camera function, and drive it on a hill with cruise control set before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.