2023 Nissan Frontier Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2023 Frontier most often describe electrical trouble: trucks that stall or will not restart, many warning lights at once, and batteries that test low, with dealers sometimes replacing the battery and reporting no stored fault. A second cluster concerns the Intelligent Cruise Control, which owners say downshifts abruptly and revs high to regain a set speed, and the automatic emergency braking system, which some describe engaging when no obstacle is present. Low-speed transmission hesitation and hard shifting, plus power door locks that will not lock or unlock, account for most of the remaining reports.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalls, no-starts and multiple warning lights

   • 20 complaints (30%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 2.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the dash lighting up with many warnings at once, the engine quitting while driving or at a stop, and the truck then refusing to restart until it is jump started. Several owners report that the dealer found low voltage or a weak battery, cleared numerous stored codes or replaced the battery, and in some cases could not reproduce the problem afterward. One fleet operator reports the same shutdown pattern across several trucks, with batteries replaced as the recurring remedy. Mileage in the sample ranges from a few hundred miles to roughly 58,000, with several reports filed within the first few thousand miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the battery test and any stored-code printout from the last service visit, and confirm the battery and charging system were checked under warranty. Watch for warning lights at cold start and for any history of repeat no-start repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On July 15 2024 my 2023 Nissan Frontier died while running. I had stopped briefly and the entire engine completely died. I attempted to re-stared the truck multiple times. Once the tow truck driver got there he jump started my vehicle which resulted in it finally turning on. I advised my service advisor of this and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. My service advisor had the battery tested and stated everything was normal but they did see a code for “low voltage”. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11602838, filed 2024-07

   “We have a fleet of 2023-2025 Nissan Frontiers. Starting in December of 2024 we began having problems with the vehicles electrical system going wild and shutting the trucks down. It causes all of the lights to come on and the truck to stall and not restart, We did not realize that we had a problem until it happened to multiple vehicles over the last several months. A few of them were brought to the dealership where we were told they could not find any problems and just replaced the batteries. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11689403, filed 2025-09
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control revs high and downshifts hard

   • 13 complaints (20%)
   • median 4,500 mi at 0.7 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the truck dropping several gears and revving to 4,000-6,000 rpm when cruise control tries to regain speed on a hill or after a lane change, with the surge taking several seconds to cancel. Complaints also mention the truck speeding up more than needed to close a gap and rough, abrupt downshifts while the system is engaged. Some report the dealer said the behavior was normal or could not find a fault. Reported at highway speeds on grades and rolling roads, sometimes within the first few hundred miles of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the cruise control on a grade during a test drive and note whether downshifts feel abrupt or the engine holds high rpm. Ask whether any reflash of the engine or cruise control software has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When vehicle in cruise control going anywhere 55 to 70 mph. Coming to slight grade hill, the vehicle down shift so hard from 9 gear to 4th gear and the RPM goes almost to 6000. There was some waters running over the road and almost causes me to lose control. I have complaint to the ORR dealer in Ft. Smith from the beginning and they said nothing wrong. It been a problem since I brought it new.”

   NHTSA complaint #11613954, filed 2024-09

   “Easily repeatable issue. When at highway speeds adaptive cruise control detects a slower vehicle in my lane. My Frontier slows as expected. When the necessary lane change is made, my engine will suddenly accelerate rapidly until it reaches about 6000 rpms. This also will occur when climbing a moderately steep hill in either cruise mode. This is a safety hazard in that it is extremely distracting, because you have to divert your attention to cancel the out-of-control cruise control manually with the cancel button or brake pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11542522, filed 2023-09
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Low-speed hesitation, jerking and hard shifts

   • 12 complaints (18%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the truck hesitating and lurching when pulling away from a stop, hunting between gears below about 30 mph, and hard downshifts with a clunk that can be felt in the cabin. A few reports mention the shifter failing to register Park, with one dealer diagnosing that the transmission needed replacement. Complaints note that dealers were sometimes unable to duplicate the behavior. Typically reported below 25,000 miles, with some owners noticing it within the first few thousand miles of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at low speed in stop-and-go conditions and feel for hesitation, clunks or delayed engagement, and check that Park engages and displays correctly. Ask whether the transfer case range sensor campaign or the park function configuration has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck jerks while shifting between 0 and 30 mph. This also happens when stopping at stop signs and lights or even just slowing down. I fear that the jerky shifting could cause significant internal damage to the transmission, more specifically teeth breaking off the gears. The power driver seat moves by itself when driving and after it is shut off. I always have to move the seat and adjust when I get in to drive. To test, I have set the seat to the position I use before I get out to see if it adjusts on its own after I shut the truck off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11527906, filed 2023-06

   “When setting remote control and the vehicle needs to speed up there are times when the vehicle will lunge forward. When in lower gears there are times when the vehicle is like trying to find a gear. No accident at this time. I have asked if there have been any recalls on this through the company and they said no.”

   NHTSA complaint #11535904, filed 2023-08
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Automatic emergency braking engages on its own

   • 9 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 1.1 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the truck braking hard with nothing in its path, or warning chimes and a distance message appearing while driving past parked vehicles and roadside equipment. Some owners report the system slowing or stopping the truck in traffic and then moving forward again on its own after a stop. Dealers are described as checking sensors and codes, and in some cases found nothing to repair. Most reports do not state mileage; incidents are described at highway speeds, near stopped roadside vehicles, and in slow stop-and-go traffic.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the forward camera and radar have been inspected or recalibrated and whether any related software updates were applied. On a test drive, watch for the AEB or forward collision warning light blinking or a radar obstruction message.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in the right hand lane on Interstate 95 with my cruise control on. My speed was approximately 65 mph. In the distance I could see a tow truck stopped in the breakdown lane with it's warning lights flashing. I proceeded to move into the next lane to my left. All of a sudden my vehicle began to brake hard by itself and a message that included 25 mph began flashing on my dash in the middle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11528380, filed 2023-06

   “April 2 I was driving to an appt got off on access road and as I pulled up behind another vehicle the acceleration was faster than the pressure on the pedal warranted and the emergency stop-braking warning came on. After it was safe to proceed to my destination I proceeded to a parking spot as I turned to pull in the vehicle rapidly accelerated on its on and jumped the side walk. I attempted to brake but the pedal went to the floor with no braking and the engine was red lining as we crashed. My passenger pushed the engine off button. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11729979, filed 2026-04
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Power door locks fail to lock or unlock

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 1,000 mi at 0.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe doors that will not lock or unlock with the fob, the interior switch or the outside handle, and in some cases a door that stays stuck shut or the truck locking itself with the keys inside. Owners report actuator replacements and, in one case, a fractured keyhole, with the problem returning afterward in some instances. Several describe repeat dealer visits without a lasting fix. Mostly reported on low-mileage trucks, some within the first few thousand miles.

   What to check: Cycle every door lock with the fob, the interior switch and the outside handle during a test drive, and ask whether any lock actuators or the key cylinder have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Some mechanism in the door is bad. I get locked out of the vehicle when the truck is unlocked. On multiple occasions this door and truck will try to lock itself with the keys still inside (the warning alarm will go off). To get back into the truck I have to lock the door and unlock it even though the door was unlocked to begin with. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11593632, filed 2024-06

   “Door locks don't work. Had it serviced twice to try fixing the problem and the locks still don't work. I have to crawl in and out of the windows several times a day as this is my work truck. This is a very dangerous safety hazard should I get trapped inside.”

   NHTSA complaint #11549867, filed 2023-10

Buying note. Check the service history for battery and charging-system repairs and for repeated warning-light visits, since that is the most frequently described pattern in these complaints. Also drive the truck at low speed and on a grade with cruise control on, and cycle all the door locks, so you can see for yourself how the transmission and driver-assistance systems behave.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 59 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.