2008 Nissan Frontier Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
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
“TRANSMISSION LOCKED DURING DRIVING COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING WITH COOLANT CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURES”NHTSA complaint 11092822 — filed 05/10/2018
“STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION IT STARTED POPPING AS I WOULD BACK UP , SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I TOOK IT…”NHTSA complaint 11075406 — filed 02/28/2018
“TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATER FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND OVERHEATING.BROKE DOWN ON SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED.”NHTSA complaint 11051408 — filed 11/30/2017
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Nissan Frontier have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2008 Nissan Frontier: 51 of 136 complaints on file (37.5%). 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 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 2 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
