Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Nissan Frontier, and it carries 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 9 | 21% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 10% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 10% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
| Power train | 3 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Air Bag light is constantly on. So the diagnosis was air bag sensor is not working. so the air bags will not deploy in an accident
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The air bag light warning light illuminated and remained constantly illuminated since the day
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Non functioning passenger side airbag requiring replacement of passenger side seat and airbag. Diagnosis made at Authorized Nissan dealer, Eugene Oregon
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The Air Bag Clock Spring Spiral Cable failed on 6-29-2022. Nissan replaced the component 6-30-2022 at a cost to me of 852.72. I spoke with several service technicians at this dealership and I quote... yep, this happens a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start as needed. The traction control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mecha
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE HOOD LATCH FAILED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN, BLOCK OUR VIEW AND SMASH OUR WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WAS BENT, THE ROOF WAS DENTED AND THE INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AND OVERHEAD LIGHT
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
FROM A STAND STILL, WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER INTO TRAFFIC. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE TRUCK ONLY MOVES INTO TRAFFIC BUT THEN THE TRUCK FAILS TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS A FLAT SPOT. NO ACCELERATION AT TIMES. I HAVE T
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER STEERING WHEEL, FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACTS VIE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2014 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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012 through 2014 Frontier vehicles manufactured from November 28, 2012, through December 17, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly causing the main wire harness connected to the circ
Risk: The bolt may wear through the wire harness covering, resulting in an electrical short which could cause a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the circuit breaker orientation. If the circuit breaker orientation is incorrect, dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall bega
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Frontier Crew Cab vehicles manufactured June 11, 2014 to June 26, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with an out of specification anchor nut installed on the weld nut plate where the rear seat belt anchor is attache
Risk: If the seat belt anchor bolt is not attached as designed, that increases the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt anchor attachment and repair it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan custom
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 65 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 9 of them (21%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) 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 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2014 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 72/100. 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.