Hey folks, I need some advice! I’m in the market for a used car, but I’ve been hearing from mechanics that Nissans might break down quicker than Toyotas, especially the newer ones. I’m eyeing a Nissan Frontier with a 4-cylinder engine, particularly from 2006 and up. I don’t know much about cars, so I’m hoping you guys can help me out.
For reference, our household already has a 2005 Nissan Xterra that’s been running well. I was also wondering if anyone has thoughts on Frontiers or Pathfinders?
Frontiers and other body-on-frame Nissans are pretty close to Toyotas when it comes to reliability, but they’re usually cheaper. It depends on the model year though; some other Nissans aren’t as reliable.
@Drake
Yeah, Nissans are definitely more affordable. Not sure why Toyotas are priced so high. Maybe it’s always been this way, or could it be the pandemic?
Zia said: @Drake
Yeah, Nissans are definitely more affordable. Not sure why Toyotas are priced so high. Maybe it’s always been this way, or could it be the pandemic?
Toyotas have always held their value well, mainly because of their reputation for reliability, whether it’s fully true or not. It’s kind of like Jeeps—they’re not super reliable, but people still pay top dollar for them. Certain brands just have a strong following. Nissan doesn’t have that, so their cars lose value faster.
I’ve had four Frontiers, and I absolutely loved them! The only reason I sold my last one was to upgrade to a Titan. They were all reliable, and I never had a single issue with any of them. My wife drives a 2021 4Runner (not that impressed), and my son drives our old 2008 Camry (good car).
Zia said: @Lilly
Thanks! Do you know if the 4-cylinder Frontiers are as good as the V6s? Thanks again for sharing your experience!
Three of my Frontiers were 4-cylinder with a 5-speed manual, and they were definitely peppy enough for me. My 2017 was a 4x4 King Cab with an automatic transmission, and I enjoyed that one a lot too.
I’ve owned four Nissans and driven several others (plus a few Infinitis). I now own a Toyota. From what I’ve seen, Nissans tend to have more issues overall. Some Nissans last, and some Toyotas can have problems, but Toyota’s proven history of reliability is why they’re so popular and hold their value better.
I’ve read that 2011 and up Frontiers have fewer coolant and transmission issues. I used to have a 2017 Pathfinder, but I didn’t like the CVT, so I traded it for a GX460. Toyota’s are super reliable as long as they’re well-maintained.
Zia said: @Keats
Couldn’t the same be true for Nissans if they’re taken care of?
You’ve got a point! Nissans without CVTs are probably just as reliable. That’s why I got rid of the Pathfinder. Even though I did CVT fluid changes every 30k miles, the CVT died at 96k. I still liked the car but won’t buy another Nissan with a CVT.
Zia said: @Keats
Thanks for the heads-up! What exactly is a CVT?
It’s the type of transmission used in certain Nissans, and it’s their weak spot. The engines are solid, but the CVTs aren’t. Luckily, the trucks don’t use CVTs—they’re more reliable.