9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,150
Average Mileage:
65,000 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace compressor (2 reports)
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problem #2

Apr 082015

Frontier 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

Just another problem. Came out of winter, and just out of warranty. NO A/C, checked out myself and found to be the compressor. Contacted Nissan directly, they said it needed to be seen by a dealer to determine if they would warranty the work. $160.00 later for the diagnosis which I already new, they said the would not warranty it. Very disappointing. Just another problem with my Frontier.

- mbonanno, Oak Ridge, NJ, US

problem #1

Jun 012015

Frontier SV 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

My AC stopped working an I had a shop determine the cause and an estimate of over $1300 using after-market parts. I contacted a local Nissan dealership and was given an estimate of approximately $1700 to do the same job using Nissan parts, particularly the compressor, which is locked.

The truck is a 2012 and I still owe a pile of money on it, likely more than I could sell the truck given it had 93,000 at the time the AC stopped working and has over 100,000 on the truck currently. I and extended family members have been partial to Nissan products as they WERE reasonably priced and tended to hold up well. My sister's vehicle is a Nissan and her AC compressor locked up too with approximately 80,000 on it.

After doing a bit of research, I discovered that my AC compressor failure is not unique, and that Nissan AC compressors have had a problem that has affected customers consistently since 2008! I have a 1996 Ford F-250 that I use for recreation and the AC system has NEVER had anything done...and even today, it will freeze you. I had a 2001 Nissan Maxima with approximately 230,000 when I sold it and the AC worked wonderfully!

The idea of Nissan AC compressors seizing with less than 100K given the ever increasing prices and extended loans should be criminal. My compressor seizing as one unit of millions is acceptable QC; however, to find that this problem is widespread and that Nissan has not corrected this issue is poor customer service. Nissan's warranty was 3yrs/36K when my truck was purchased...many manufacturers are providing 100K/5 year warranties.

The situation sucks and I should not have to spend nearly $2K to fix an AC compressor that historically should have lasted the economic life of the truck, certainly more than 93,000! I have no faith that Nissan Corporate will stand behind their product; certainly the dealership where I bought the truck new in Fairfax, Virginia, never stepped forward when I was given the estimate for repair. If I can research the problem and determine that Nissan's AC compressors are subject to failure then I have to believe that Nissan certainly is already aware of this problem...and chooses not to institute a long-term replacement or advisory--heaven forbid a recall so that affected owners like me do not get stuck with their faulty design!

- disgustedone, Warrenton, VA, US