NISSAN FRONTIER · model year

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER

106 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999NISSANFRONTIER carries 106 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 FRONTIER is tires with 12 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (10) and tires:tread/belt (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1999 FRONTIER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

106
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

106 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES12
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL10
TIRES:TREAD/BELT7
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER5
AIR BAGS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
TIRES:SIDEWALL3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2

Recent Complaints

20230807FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 1999 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the sending unit and fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V230000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20190904CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS (WEAKLEY COUNTY MOTORS, 841 N LINDELL ST, MARTIN, TN 38237, 731-587-3141) AND (PREMIER NISSAN, 300 HIGHWAY 77, PARIS, TN 38242, 731-642-0601) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT END BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20190330FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TRUCK STARTED DYING RANDOMLY. FINALLY IT DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING NO FUEL PRESSURE. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRUCK (NTB04-062C) THAT COULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO STOP WORKING. I VERIFIED WITH NISSAN OVER THE PHONE THAT THE TRUCK WAS DEFINITELY INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP (SOUTHLAKE NISSAN IN MERRILLVILLE, IN). AFTER KEEPING THE TRUCK THERE FOR A WEEK AND TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME TODAY. THIS RECALL IS SPECIFICALLY FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN TO CAUSE A NO START CONDITION. HOW CAN I GET THE RECALL PERFORMED IF THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT IF IT WON'T START? I NOW HAVE PAID OVER $300 IN TOWING CHARGES AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE.

Mileage: 213,530

20100421AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE AS FOLLOWS,FRONT AIRBAGS CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES,FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE AMOUNT OF FUEL AFTER FILLING.,SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,009

20100421FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE AS FOLLOWS,FRONT AIRBAGS CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES,FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE AMOUNT OF FUEL AFTER FILLING.,SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,009

20100421SUSPENSION:FRONT

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE AS FOLLOWS,FRONT AIRBAGS CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES,FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE AMOUNT OF FUEL AFTER FILLING.,SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,009

20070330FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER , AND DISCOVERED THAT RECALL 04V230000 WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDER, BUT THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE. WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FAILURE, BUT A RETURN PHONE CALL WAS NEVER RECEIVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,900.*AK

Mileage: 45,900

20061219TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TRAVELING SOUTH ON TX 130 NEAR MANOR AT 65 MPH. BRIGHT COOL, SUNNY WEATHER, DRY ROAD. RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD CAME OFF IN ONE LONG STRIP, WHICH THRASHED THE CAR. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL CAR OFF ROAD, BUT DAMAGE TO RIGHT REAR PANEL, WHEEL WELL, AND FUEL FILLER ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN $1500 AND $3000. THE CAR HAD BEEN VIBRATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A WHILE, BUT I SUSPECTED A SUSPENSION PROBLEM RATHER THAN A TIRE PROBLEM. NOW I NOTICE ALL TIRES APPEAR ROTTEN ON OUTSIDE; THEY HAD NOT BEEN HOLDING AIR WELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HAVE REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES. CAR: 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER PICKUP. TIRE: WILDERNESS HT, P215/65R15 95S, DOT #W2VF NNA 129. TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH TRUCK, 42000 MILES ON IT, TREAD WEAR MINOR. COMPLAINT FILED WITH FIRESTONE, AND TIRE SENT TO THEM AT MY EXPENSE. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY, AND CLAIM LOW INFLATION AND AGE ARE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM (NOT SURPRISING SINCE THE TIRE NEEDED INFLATING EVERY WEEK). THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO HAVE

Mileage: 41,979

20061018EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAIL LIGHTS BULB CONSTANTLY FELL OUT THE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED THE VIN # TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS UNDER ANY RECALLS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #99V347002 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 80,000

20060303FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

1999 FRONTIER STALLED WHILE DRIVING. FUEL SENDING UNIT CORRODED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER LEARNED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED ON HIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMEBR 2004. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO CORROSION. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

20050930VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRUCK GOT DOWN TO 30 MPH. VEHICLE KEPT GOING, ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. ONE DAY IT WILL RUN FINE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WILL MESS UP AGAIN. IT WAS TAKEN 2 YEARS BEFORE BY CONSUMER'S HUSBAND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER OF ROAD TO GET HER VEHICLE HOME .CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CODES THAT WERE SHOWING UP WERE EGR SYSTEM PROBLEM. AFTER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER VEHICLE RAN WELL FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE HAD A NEW TUNE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE FIRST YEAR THE CUSTOMER HAD THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ARM LINKAGE . NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORTS. WERE TAKEN. NO FIRES. NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 10015857 ISSUED. *AK

Mileage: 14

20050930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRUCK GOT DOWN TO 30 MPH. VEHICLE KEPT GOING, ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHER THAN USUAL. ONE DAY IT WILL RUN FINE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY IT WILL MESS UP AGAIN. IT WAS TAKEN 2 YEARS BEFORE BY CONSUMER'S HUSBAND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER OF ROAD TO GET HER VEHICLE HOME .CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CODES THAT WERE SHOWING UP WERE EGR SYSTEM PROBLEM. AFTER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE TOTAL CAR CARE CENTER VEHICLE RAN WELL FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE HAD A NEW TUNE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE FIRST YEAR THE CUSTOMER HAD THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ARM LINKAGE . NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORTS. WERE TAKEN. NO FIRES. NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 10015857 ISSUED. *AK

Mileage: 14

20050907POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH CHANGING GEARS.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED SOON AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. *JB

20050615POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

1999 NISSAN FRONTIER EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS ON THE FIVE SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*MR THE TRANSMISSION ALSO PROGRESSIVLEY BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER THROUGH SURVIES BUT THEY NEVER REPLIED. *NM

20050531ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANAFOLD LEAK/CRACK. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, HE STATED CRACKS EXHAUST MANAFOLDS WERE COMMON, AND HE HAS FIXED SEVERAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THAT THAT EXHAUST GAS MAY LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Mileage: 90,000

20050401AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WAS REPAIRED ONCE BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK

Mileage: 85,000

20050225ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK ON RIGHT OF THE ENGINE. LOUD CLICKING NOISES DUE TO HOLE IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD/HEADERS. I SPOKE WITH A MIDAS EMPLOYEE AND HE SAID THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER SE'S. NOT ONLY IS IT AN EMISSION PROBLEM BUT COULD VERY WELL HARM THE ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 42,600

20041101AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *NM

Mileage: 94,000

20041022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST LEAK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CAST IRON MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. NOT COVERED AS EMISIONS PROBLEM, CAST IRON MANIFOLDS ARE DEFECTIVE ON MY 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER SE-V6 TRUCK.*AK

Mileage: 114,000

20040927FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED THE NIPPLE WHICH WAS WELDED TO THE TANK RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. *NM THE PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO LEAKING GASOLINE. RECALL#04V230000. *SC *JB

Compare 1999NISSANFRONTIER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER have?
The 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER has 106 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER?
The most-complained component for the 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER is TIRES with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1999 NISSAN FRONTIER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.