CarComplaints.com Notes: In a very limited selection on small pickup trucks, the Frontier is one of the best options except -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- for one problem that makes it an avoid-at-all-costs pain in you know what: the radiator ruptures and leaks coolant into the transmission, killing it. Such a buzzkill.
I have another complaint posting about how I had to have my rear passenger's side axle assembly replaced. About six months later I have just had my rear driver's side assembly replaced. Once again fluid leaked all over the brake assembly which I noticed as I removed the wheel for routine brake maintenance. Luckily I have all new brake parts on hand because I was replacing them anyways, I am just replacing them after the fix so the new parts won't get fluid on them. This includes buying new emergency brake shoes as they were soaked as well. The truck is a good truck in ways, but has serious design/quality issues that are highly likely to occur for anyone. If you are going to buy this truck you need to have a serious warranty on it with a reputable dealer! Biggest things I know and hear are the cracking radiator that ruins your transmission, these rear axle assemblies needing replacement, and the timing chain which is the only one I haven't done yet but that I can hear thwacking around from being too loose, great!
Took my '05 Frontier in to get the front brakes redone as they had started squeaking. Shop called and told me that during the vehicle inspection that they had found the right rear axle seal had leaked and ruined the brake pads too. What started as a $280 brake job ended up costing over $900. This was just the beginning of my spending way too much for what should have been "normal" up keep.
- Richard E.,
Folsom, CA, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have another complaint posting about how I had to have my rear passenger's side axle assembly replaced. About six months later I have just had my rear driver's side assembly replaced. Once again fluid leaked all over the brake assembly which I noticed as I removed the wheel for routine brake maintenance. Luckily I have all new brake parts on hand because I was replacing them anyways, I am just replacing them after the fix so the new parts won't get fluid on them. This includes buying new emergency brake shoes as they were soaked as well. The truck is a good truck in ways, but has serious design/quality issues that are highly likely to occur for anyone. If you are going to buy this truck you need to have a serious warranty on it with a reputable dealer! Biggest things I know and hear are the cracking radiator that ruins your transmission, these rear axle assemblies needing replacement, and the timing chain which is the only one I haven't done yet but that I can hear thwacking around from being too loose, great!
- Christopher S., Ellington, CT, US