Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Nissan Frontier, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 21 | 23% |
| Air bags | 14 | 15% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 8% |
| Power train | 7 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 3% |
| Structure | 3 | 3% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 towe
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 S
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I HAVE MADE PRIOR REPORTS IN REFERENCE TO AIRBAG NON DEPLOYMENT /SEAT BELTS NOT LOCKING IN 3 HEAD ON COLLISIONS FROM 2004 WHICH LEFT ME DISABLED I WAS AN RN FOR 20 YRS IN 2 SUBSEQUENT HEAD ON COLLISIONS NO AIRBAG DE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH WHAT I'M INTERPRETING AS TO REPORTING OF EWR & SAFETY RECALLS MANDATES HERE IN THE USA I PRAY I MISINTERPRETED THE DOCUMENTS COULD THIS BE RIGHT RE.... REPAIRS FOR COMPLAINTS ONLY REPO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
AIRBAGS/SAFETY RESTRAINTS/ON-OFF SWITCHES & OTHER MODIFICATIONS I AM AGAIN STATING GREAT CONCERN OVER LEGAL REGULATIONS REGARDING VEHICLE/&/OR COMPONENTS -MODIFICATIONS/COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMSETC & THE REPORTING STATUTES TH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NISSAN/INFINITI -ISSUES IM SICKENED WHEN WILL ANYTHING BE DONE WITH THE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES -WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE! EG..AIRBAGS,SEATBELTS, STRUCTURE,STEERING,BRAKE SYSTEMS,ACCELERATION
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1999 Nissan Frontier. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. THE TAIL LIGHT SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED, RESULTING IN THE LOCKING TAB HAVING INSUFFICIENT FORCE TO RETAIN THE BULB.
Risk: IF THE BULB FALLS OUT OF THE SOCKET, THE BRAKE OR TAIL LAMP FUNCTION CANNOT OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TAIL LAMP SOCKETS.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and tires is the most reported area with 21 of them (23%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.