NissanFrontier2023Overview/nissan/frontier/2023/base/

2023 Nissan Frontier

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Frontier.

Transmission Automatic (S9)

The 2023 Nissan Frontier features an S9 automatic transmission and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 18/24/20 mpg. Maintenance for the vehicle requires 5.25 quarts of 0W-20 viscosity engine oil. With one recall and 63 total owner complaints—primarily regarding the engine, service brakes, and electrical system—this model year sits well below the historical high of 210 complaints in 2000 and trends toward the 2025 low of seven complaints.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.25 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque98.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520831U1E. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnBACKUPOEM · verified
Tire size265/70R17 115SOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520831U1E
Engine air filter165469BT1A
Spark plug22401EW61C
Front wiper blades288909CA0A alt 288909CA0B
Serpentine belt117209BU0B
Thermostat212009BT0A
Cabin air filter27277VX01A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S9)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length224 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height72 in
Wheelbase139.8 in
Curb weight4806 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Frontier of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.3–8.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2025 PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2022PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.30 sec15.60 sec310 hp4x4
2022PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.50 sec15.70 sec310 hp4x4
2022PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.90 sec16.00 sec310 hp4x4
2022PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V68.59 sec16.67 sec310 hp4x4
2025PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.30 sec15.70 sec310 hp4WD
2025PRO-4X Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.60 sec15.80 sec310 hp4WD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.25 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 · synthetic · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 98.0 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90 · synthetic · 75W-90
Engine Coolant Capacity3.13 Gallons
Engine Oil0W-20 · Synthetic
Engine Oil Capacity5.25 qt
Transfer Case FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.63 qt
Windshield Washer Fluid Capacity1.25 Gallons oz

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts98.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miKeyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier is not directly listed in the year-by-year federal record, but the surrounding years reveal a clear trend: 2022 saw a dramatic spike with 110 complaints and 6 recalls—significantly higher than the 17 complaints in 2021—while 2025 shows dramatic improvement with only 7 complaints. This suggests 2023 likely falls somewhere in that arc of elevated issues, possibly still reflecting the problems that caused the 2022 spike. The target year complaint areas indicate multiple system concerns, with electrical system issues combined with service brakes and engine problems being the most frequent (9 complaints), followed by steering (6) and electrical system alone (6). Additionally, there were 4 crash-related complaints and 2 fire-related complaints reported. The absence of 2023 in the federal data makes definitive assessment difficult, but given the 2022 spike and the improvement by 2025, the 2023 model year may carry residual issues from the previous year's problems. A buyer should verify what specific recalls or TSBs apply to this model and consider a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the electrical, braking, and steering systems before committing.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
82
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
63
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 63 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System,Service Brakes,Engine9
Steering6
Electrical System6
Power Train4
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other3
Seats2
Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Power Train,Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 82 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB25-0422025-09-10StructureEXCESSIVE WIND NOISE FROM WINDSHIELD AREA YOU CONFIRM The customer states there is a…
NTB19-042F2025-02-20Electrical SystemAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped…
NTB19-033G2025-02-20Forward Collision AvoidanceINTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Frontier. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2023 Frontier take?

5.25 qt of Genuine NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SP or Equivalent. If not available Synthetic 0W-20 GF-6 SP may be used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2023 Frontier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Frontier get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.