Pros and Cons of a 2005+ Frontier.

[Caoboy]

Hi all, I am in the market for a truck.

Looking at some Nissan Frontiers currently. I cannot find much information on them. My GoogleFu has not been working well.

I turn to you guys, as people who actually use their trucks would know the nitty gritty!

I have a budget around 10k. Looking for a truck 100k miles or less.

What issues should I be looking for?

What factory options should it be looking for?

I believe I've seen a factory rear locker option.

Was 05 the year/model they uodated to IFS?

What's the average MPG?

How is the aftermarket support?

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Not sure if the SMOD affects the Frontier, but it does the 05-09 Xterra. Rear locker is on the Pro4x model. They've been IFS since forever. Aftermarket support is ok. It's not a Jeep or Toyoya, but just enough to put on what you need.

 

[Triplesnake]

Yes, the Frontier is subject to the dreaded SMOD. They use the same rad as the Xterra and Pathfinders of the same year range, so you would want to check and see if the radiator has been replaced at some point (and possibly the transmission too), and plan to do the radiator bypass for security. Aftermarket isn't too bad especially since a lot of the Xterra parts will work on the Frontier (and the Pathfinder too). They are good capable trucks and the 4.0 motor has a great reputation.

 

[Obrianmcc]

The SMOD issue was resolved in 2010 ... if the truck your looking at checks out ... check the P/N of the radiator. If it is a current P/N ... it has been replaced and I'd look into it further. If not, and no evidence of any cross contamination ... replace the radiator with a new P/N and adventure on. (I tow with my Frontier, so I'm not a fan of the bypass)

 

[Caoboy]

What does SMOD? I'm assuming something something Of Death..

Sounds like the strawberry milkshake problem some 4runners had.

Anything else?

Most trucks I'm looking at are 05-09ish...

 

[TheOneKnownAsMe]

What does SMOD? I'm assuming something something Of Death..

Sounds like the strawberry milkshake problem some 4runners had.

Anything else?

Most trucks I'm looking at are 05-09ish...

That's precisely what it is: Strawberry Milkshake of Death.

That's the worst of the issues though. A few frontiers/pathfinders/xterras here and there had issues with the timing chain guides, though I can't remember what year it was officially fixed.

Otherwise they're very solid mechanically. MPG for the 4.0L VQ40DE isn't the best, I currently get around 19-20 MPG highway with 285/75r16 tires, around 15-16 city in my Pro-4x. They're not lacking in torque or horsepower at all, and can zip around pretty quickly. I didn't notice much of a power loss going from 265/75r16 to 285/75r16, and I'm not planning on re-gearing at all.

 

[Mo4130]

You should check out clubfrontier.org, they have a ton info on the Frontier.

The big plus:
Reliable drive train/power train
Stout frame construction
Rear disc, better braking and lower maintenance
Much lower initial cost of ownership

Some of the downsides depending on how you look at it
Interior fit and finish
Lack of aftermarket support
In need of an update, should be coming 2017


Realistically you will be fine as long as you confirm there was not issues with the tranny or stick with a 6spd.

 

[JWP58]

10k would be a good down payment for one. But at least near me, you're not going to get close to 100k miles or less for 10k.

After owning a two 2001, a 2009, and 2010 trd offroad Tacomas I would go with a frontier (or Equator) every time. Stronger frame, more power, better brakes, etc. I also like how the frontier seems smaller than the newer Tacos. I would go for a pro4x for the locker, and 2010 or newer to make sure you're clear of the radiator issues. I have taken my stock Equator down some two tracks it didn't belong, and its been a great pickup. I don't know that you could go wrong with one if its been well cared for.

Also if you're looking to spend as little as possible, you might look at the Suzuki equator. Its the exact same truck, made by Nissan for Suzuki. They are usually a few grand cheaper than the exact same (year/mileage) frontier.

 

[justbecause]

the frontier is so much more truck than the same year tacoma. Interior is more comfortable, frontiers drive better (IMHO) seats are better, we have an arm rest...

When I really tried I could get 20mpg on the highway. We average high 15s driving in town. I usually get 18mpg on the highway, my wife gets a little less. Someone told me putting skinnier tires greatly improve fuel economy and help with turning. This is the worst turning vehicle I have ever driven. I'v had full size trucks that would turn circles around the frontier, 2 years of ownership and I still overshoot parking places some times. But this isnt my DD.

the only thing I do not like about my frontier (and this would be true of any midsize truck) is the bed. 5 foot is just too short for me, but my next vehicle will be a 3/4 or 1ton. Your mileage may vary.

Aftermarket has all the essential accessories, lift, bumpers, sliders, skids, tool boxes, camper shells, etc. We just do not have the cheap options toyota does.

 

[SnowedIn]

I have about 22k miles on my 2015 now, with several hundred of that in the dirt.

It does indeed turn like a boat. 18 mpg on the highway wasn't hard to get even hauling 1000 lbs of people and gear at 70-80 mph, but 15-16 around town is normal. I like how much power the 4L gives you.

I personally like the interiors, but it's subjective.

I like the factory Utilitrack tie down rails in the bed. There are a pair in the bottom of the bed, not just around the top like on the Tacoma. They're the same dimensions as the common size of Unistrut, so it's easy to bolt your own stuff to it.. just make sure not to use the side of the nut with the teeth, they'll dig into the aluminum.

If I had a Tacoma, I probably would have gotten something like the Decked drawer system. Instead, I have less than 2/3 the cost of one of those sunk into some large new-in-box surplus Hardigg cases and some Safari Straps tiedowns. Not as convenient as drawers, but it works.

 

[broncobowsher]

It's a miniature version of a Titan, with a V6. For the hard core wheeler the Titan suspension can be bolted on up front to give a wide track, long arm suspension, or a small body Titan. Lots of parts are the same or nearly so. The off-road/Pro4x models have the same basic rear axle as the Titan (just a little narrower and different wheel bolt pattern.
The VQ40 engine is on of Nissan VQ engines that has powered nearly everything V6 since the death of the VG engines. The 4.0 has pretty good torque and will make a fair bit of it at pretty low revs. I can lug mine pretty low and it is still happy. The output is about the same as many smaller V8s. It gets fairly decent mileage as well. I run an Xterra (same thing but in a wagon version) because I needed more interior volume than the Frontier I was driving. Few years before that I had a BroncoII. They all got about 20MPG in the same driving. But going from that BroncoII (crap, is it really almost 30 years old now!) to the Xterra I have WAY more power, I can tow the same boat without struggle, double the interior room, huge improvments. I remember looking (and driving someone elses) last generation Frontier (2002? the same from '98 to '04) and the V6 was a thirsty dog. The power of a 4-cylinder and the economy of a V8. Avoid those pre '04 if you want any gas mileage out of a V6.

The current version is 10 odd years old. Nothing has really changed. The bugs have pretty much been worked out. The early ones had an apatite for chain guides and the radiator cross contamination. That has been solved for years. The early off-road versions would eat spider gears but that was updated in '08 and that problem went away. Pretty much anything '10 and newer has been de-bugged and should be a good choice.

The '10 Xterra I bought new was at the dealer once after purchase (besides the couple years of free oil changes), that was for a leaky shock after 6 months. Now 6+ years and almost 80k later it has had nothing but the routine stuff. A set of tires and a battery along with several oil changes. Oh, I did put a key fob battery in it because the range was getting a little short (and I had a spare brand new one in my desk drawer).

 

[justbecause]

Ahhhh yes. The OEM battery. I had forgotten about that little guy.
I think they may have run out of truck batteries the day they put mine together and snagged a battery out of a Honda lawnmower they had parked out back.

 

[Mo4130]

The battery was replaced I think faster than the garbage tires that come on the truck.

 

[SnowedIn]

Thankfully they've since switched to Dynapros on the Pro4X's.

 

[JakeH]

I got 2 years out of the factory battery, only 18 months (30k miles) to kill the stock BFG tires. Everything else on this truck has been pure bulletproof perfection!