Which is cheaper to maintain, the Nissan Frontier or the Nissan Frontier?

Based on 5-year routine maintenance labor at a $150/hr indie shop rate, the Nissan Frontier is cheaper to maintain — about $1,533 less over 60,000 miles. Parts cost is not included.

What's the labor difference between the 3.3L V6 VG33E and the 4.0L V6 VQ40DE?

Across 37 common maintenance jobs, hours vary by drivetrain and engine layout. See the side-by-side table on this page for each job's labor hours and estimated cost.

Are there any active recalls on the Nissan Frontier or Nissan Frontier?

The Nissan Frontier has 4 open NHTSA recalls. The Nissan Frontier has 2 open recalls. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

2004 Nissan Frontier vs 2021 Nissan Frontier — Labor Times, Costs & Recalls

Specifications

Year

2004

2021

Engine

3.3L V6 VG33E

4.0L V6 VQ40DE

Drivetrain

4WD

Transmission

automatic

Fuel

gas

Cost of Ownership

5-Year Maintenance

$13,359

0.22 $/mi

★ WINNER

5-Year Maintenance

$11,826

0.20 $/mi

🏆

ADVANTAGENissan Frontier — Saves you $1,533 over 5 years (11% less in routine maintenance labor)

Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.

Maintenance Breakdown

Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.

Supercharged VG33ER Timing Chain Guide Failure (SC V6 only)

— hrs$3,250 / 5yr

— hrs

VQ40DE Timing Chain Stretch and Guide Failure

— hrs

— hrs$2,275 / 5yr

Oil & filter change

0.3 hrs$1,020 / 5yr

0.4 hrs$1,200 / 5yr

Differential fluid

2.0 hrs$680 / 5yr

Tire rotation

0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr

Front brake pads

1.0 hrs$460 / 5yr

Rear brake pads

1.0 hrs$440 / 5yr

Radiator/Transmission Cooler Failure ('Strawberry Milkshake of Death')

— hrs$650 / 5yr

— hrs

Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (Strawberry Milkshake of Death)

— hrs

— hrs$650 / 5yr

Rear Main Seal and Oil Pan Gasket Leaks

— hrs

— hrs$630 / 5yr

Exhaust Manifold Cracking (V6 models)

— hrs$585 / 5yr

— hrs

Spark plugs

1.2 hrs$260 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$305 / 5yr

Intake manifold gasket

5.5 hrs$275 / 5yr

12V battery

0.3 hrs$245 / 5yr

Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure

— hrs$488 / 5yr

— hrs

Wiper blades

0.2 hrs$240 / 5yr

Timing belt service

5.0 hrs$460 / 5yr

— hrs

Water pump

3.2 hrs$210 / 5yr

3.8 hrs$241 / 5yr

Brake fluid flush

0.8 hrs$270 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$180 / 5yr

Cabin air filter

0.3 hrs$210 / 5yr

Fuel filter

0.5 hrs$210 / 5yr

Valve cover gasket

2.5 hrs$174 / 5yr

Coolant flush

0.7 hrs$155 / 5yr

0.8 hrs$170 / 5yr

Engine air filter

0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr

Transmission Mount Deterioration

— hrs

— hrs$293 / 5yr

Oil pan gasket

3.5 hrs$144 / 5yr

Alternator

1.2 hrs$120 / 5yr

Serpentine belt

0.5 hrs$110 / 5yr

Fuel Level Sender/Gauge Inaccuracy

— hrs

— hrs$210 / 5yr

Starter motor

1.5 hrs$85 / 5yr

2.5 hrs$115 / 5yr

Rear Leaf Spring Shackle and Bushing Wear

— hrs$193 / 5yr

— hrs

Power steering flush

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

Thermostat

1.2 hrs$77 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$93 / 5yr

Fuel Gauge Sending Unit Failure

— hrs$158 / 5yr

— hrs

PCV valve

0.3 hrs$65 / 5yr

Ignition coil

0.8 hrs$80 / 5yr

— hrs

Radiator Cap and Overflow Tank Pressure Failures

— hrs

— hrs$46 / 5yr

Active Recalls

Open NHTSA Recalls

4 open

★ WINNER

Open NHTSA Recalls

2 open

🏆

ADVANTAGENissan Frontier — 2 fewer open recalls from the NHTSA

Fluid Capacities

Nissan Frontier

ac_refrigerant · R-134a

brake0.75 qt · FMVSS 116 DOT 3

coolant11.25 qt · Nissan L248 spec

engine_oil3.75 qt · API SJ or higher

front_diff1.38 qt · API GL-5

power_steering1.00 qt · Dexron III/Mercon

rear_diff2.75 qt · API GL-5

transfer_case2.13 qt · API GL-5

transmission_auto10.25 qt · Nissan Matic D

washer1.00 qt · Windshield washer fluid

Nissan Frontier

ac_refrigerant · R-134a

brake0.75 qt · FMVSS 116 DOT 3

coolant11.75 qt · Nissan L248 Type A

engine_oil5.40 qt · API SN

front_diff2.90 qt · API GL-5

power_steering1.10 qt · Nissan PSF

rear_diff2.75 qt · API GL-5

transfer_case2.10 qt · Nissan Matic-S

transmission_auto10.80 qt · Nissan Matic-S

washer1.25 qt · windshield washer fluid

The Verdict

🏆

THE WINNER

2021 Nissan Frontier

4.0L V6 VQ40DE

Nissan Frontier is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$1,533 over 5 years)
Nissan Frontier has 2 fewer open NHTSA recalls

Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.

Open the full dashboard for either truck

Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.