2022 Nissan Frontier — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $24,000–$36,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Nissan Frontier years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The 3rd-gen Frontier is a massive upgrade — finally a modern platform with a capable 3.8L V6 and real competition to the Tacoma and Colorado. Too new for a long reliability track record, but early reports are positive.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 110 owner complaints for the 2022 Nissan Frontier, and 6 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 30% of them are about one thing — the driver-assist and automatic braking systems. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
6 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the driver-assist and automatic braking systems (33 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (24 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2022 Nissan Frontier
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The 9-inch infotainment responds slowly to inputs. Software updates help but haven't fully eliminated it.
Repair cost (estimate): $0 software update
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (30).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Towing history above rated capacity — Frontier maxes at 6,720 lbs
- ✗Missing service documentation on a near-new truck
Good Signs
- ✓3.8L V6 with regular oil changes — proving itself so far
- ✓Low mileage with full service history
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Found a specific Nissan Frontier?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2022 Nissan Frontier in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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