2008 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

26Engine complaints

19.1%Of all 136 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN51 · 37.5%

ENGINE26 · 19.1%

AIR BAGS21 · 15.4%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13 · 9.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 · 8.8%

Share of the 136 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Nissan Frontier overview page.

What owners report

“THE COOLER TUBES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR CRACKED, ALLOWING FOR FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN RAPID DEGRADATION OF THE…”NHTSA complaint 11162276 — filed 12/18/2018

“THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN TIMING BELT ISSUES. THE VEHICLE STARTS MAKING A LOUD NOISE(WHINING) THAT GETS LOUDER AS I DRIVE FASTER ON ANY ROAD. THIS…”NHTSA complaint 11161312 — filed 12/14/2018

“TRUCK STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 45MPH. ENGINE OFF.”NHTSA complaint 11054139 — filed 12/12/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Nissan Frontier have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Nissan Frontier: 26 of 136 complaints on file (19.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Nissan Frontier have in total?

136 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 2 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.