There are 7 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2008 Nissan Frontierin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TRUCK STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AROUND 45MPH. ENGINE OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND FLAMES AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ *AS
WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WILL DROP TO THE BOTTOM (EMPTY SETTING) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE GAUGE WILL GRADUALLY MOVE UP. THE PROCESS WILL REPEAT ITSELF WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOMETIMES REMAINING ON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL TURN OFF.
MY HORN STOPPED WORKING BACK IN DEC. 2014. THEN COME TO FIND OUT IF I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IT WILL WORK. IF YOU PUSH ON THE RIGHT OF THE WHEEL. SO I FINALLY PUT IT IN THE SHOP ON 02-17-2015. THEN TODAY I WAS TOLD ON 02-20-2015 IT IS ELECTRICAL. IT HAS TWO PARTS TO THE HORN. PLUS GETTING NO ELECTRICAL TO THE AIRBAGS. I WAS TOLD IF I HAD GOTTEN IN A WRECK THEY WOULD NOT DEPLOY. SO THAT REALLY MADE ME MAD. I HAD TO FINALLY BREAK DOWN AND GET A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. PLUS I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS ABOUT THERE HORNS AND AIRBAGS. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALLS ON THESE ITEMS. *TR
HORN ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU TURN STEERING TO THE RIGHT. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
6- DAYS AFTER BUYING A BRAND NEW 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER 2WD/SE CREW CAB THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT STAY ON .ON THE DAY I WENT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START, I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WORKED ON IT FOR A WEEK.THEY STATED THAT SOMETIMES IT WOULD START AND OTHER TIMES IT WOULDN'T ,THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CALL THE NISSAN TECH LINE THAT INSTRUCTED THEM TO CHECK SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT START SO THE TECH LINE TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE -"IPDM E/R".THEY SAID THE TRUCK WAS THEN FIXED AND TO PICK IT UP. I PICKED UP THE TRUCK AND WENT APPROXIMATELY 2-MILES TO A STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AGAIN,I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE NISSAN DEALER AGAIN.THIS TIME THEY WORKED ON IT FOR 6-DAYS AND THEY SAID --"CHECKED WIRING GOING INTO IPDM BOX,FOUND WHEN WIGGLING WIRES THEY COULD HERE A CLICK AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK ,THEY UNPLUGGED WIRING AND TRACED WIRE BACK INTO MAIN ENGINE HARNESS,FOUND WIRE WAS SPLICED TO ITSELF AND HAD A LOOSE CONNECTION,REPAIRED WIRING AND CONFIRMED OPERATION,PROGRAMMED ALL KEYS TOGETHER, CLEARED ALL CODES,CLEARED SELF LEARNING CONTROL,RELEARNED IDLE AIR VOLUME AND RECALIBRATED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR".THEY HAD ME PICK UP THE TRUCK AGAIN ON 9/10/08 AND SO FAR IT IS OK. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026