Nissan isn’t a name generally associated with pickup trucks but the Nissan Frontier has had a decent share of the midsize truck market. The 2014 Nissan Frontier offers the reliability and practicality that trucks are expected to have and the sales of 74,323 units do suggest that the car is a preferred choice among the crowd. The Nissan does carry some issues and NHTSA has a total of just 36 complaints with 2 recalls. All the numbers are in favor of Nissan and it manages to stand as one of the most reliable options among other trucks like the Chevrolet Colorado, the Honda Ridgeline, and the Toyota Tacoma. Nissan has managed to get the formula right for this vehicle and it abides by the reliability standard that they’ve always maintained.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Infotainment – It was found that the screen went blank multiple times and when this happens, users will not have access to the radio, navigation system, or the reverse camera. The dealers inspected the issue and stated that the system needed to be reprogrammed.
- Wiring – Users reported getting a burning smell while driving and they also found the brake lights to be dead. The vehicle was taken to the dealers and it was found that a fault in the wiring harness caused the bulb to burn out. Both the bulb and the entire wiring harness had to be replaced.
Mechanical Problems
- Transmission – Users were able to hear a rough noise while the vehicle lost power drastically. The users could also smell something burning and it was found that the clutch plate had completely worn out. This was said to be a common issue with the Frontier.
- Fuel tank – It was stated that the fuel would gush out when trying to fill the tank even as if the tank is full. This was reported to the dealers who then stated that the fuel should be filled slowly and that there were no issues to fix.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – Users stated that the airbags failed to deploy during a crash, resulting in multiple injuries to the occupants. The dealers were not able to track down the issue and the manufacturers were made aware of it.
- Seatbelt – The seatbelt buckle was said to not release and there was no physical damage to the buckle themselves. Dealers suggested getting the seatbelts changed and the issue was resolved.
- Door latch – The drivers noticed the hood vibrating while driving and once the vehicle crossed 65 mph, the hood would open and obstruct the view, increasing the risk of a crash. The hood latch was found to be faulty and needed to be replaced.
Miscellaneous Problems
- Headlight – In a certain batch of Frontier, the headlights were said to go very dim during the drive. The dealers were contacted and it was found that the bulb was almost pushed out of the housing. They inspected the retaining ring that held the bulb in place and found that the ring didn’t make a full ¼ turn to tighten. This wasn’t an issue in the later batches of the Frontier.
2014 Nissan Frontier recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
10th July 2014 |
14V418000 |
Rear seatbelt weld nut. |
If the seatbelt anchor bolt is not attached as designed, it increases the risk of injury during a crash. |
The seatbelt anchor will be inspected and repaired if necessary. |
|
2. |
12th February 2014 |
14V052000 |
Circuit breaker installation could cause short. |
A bolt may wear through the wire harness covering and create a short. This can even lead to a fire. |
If the circuit breaker orientation is found to be incorrect, the dealers will repair the vehicle. |
Should you buy the 2014 Nissan Frontier?
There isn’t a single reason to push the 2014 Nissan Frontier away as it managed to sell more numbers than its competitors except for Toyota. This proves and validates the fact that the Frontier is a reliable truck. Almost all the issues had ready fixes available and a major electric short was fixed through a recall. However, one of the early Nissan Frontier batches had a defective headlight retainer ring module that causes the lights to go dim gradually. The only other truck that puts out a good value is the 2014 Toyota Tacoma but our pick is still the Nissan Frontier as the complaints are very limited on this vehicle and maintaining it is one of the easiest as far as trucks go.
