NissanFrontier2020Overview/nissan/frontier/2020/base/

2020 Nissan Frontier

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Frontier.

Transmission Automatic (S9)

The 2020 Nissan Frontier carries the nameplate forward with an Automatic (S9) transmission and EPA ratings of 18/24/20 mpg city/highway/combined. Owner-reported reliability data logs 23 complaints for the year, led by Power Train issues and accompanied by two recalls. Set against the model's 1998–2025 complaint history — which crests at 210 complaints for the 2000 model year and falls to 7 for 2025 — the 2020 Frontier sits well below that peak and near the lower-complaint end of the range, signaling a relatively uneventful year for the line.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

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 / turnSTOPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520831U1E
Engine air filter165469BT1A
Spark plug22401EW61C
Front wiper blades288909CA0B alt 288909CA0A
Serpentine belt117209BU0B
Thermostat212009BT0A
Cabin air filter27277VR00A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S9)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length205.5 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height70.1 in
Wheelbase126 in
Curb weight4597 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.

7.3–7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2020 PRO-4X V6 Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020PRO-4X V6 Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.30 sec15.60 sec310 hp4x4
2020PRO-4X V6 Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 3.8L V67.50 sec15.80 sec310 hp4x4
2017PRO-4X V6 Crew Cab (4'11.5" Bed) 4.0L V67.30 sec15.80 sec261 hp4x4
2012PRO-4X V6 King Cab (6.1 ft. Bed) 4.0L V67.20 sec15.70 sec261 hp4x4
2005LE V6 Crew Cab (4.9 ft. Bed) 4.0L V67.60 sec16.10 sec265 hp4x4
2005NISMO Off-Road V6 King Cab (6.1 ft. Bed) 4.0L V67.60 sec15.80 sec265 hp4x4
2005NISMO Off-Road V6 King Cab (6.1 ft. Bed) 4.0L V67.60 sec16.00 sec265 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)825 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43-1.65 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Oil Capacity6.10 oz

Service checks

RPM51.0

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 11,250 miKeyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
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 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (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 2020 Nissan Frontier’s immediate predecessor (2019) logged 28 complaints and 1 recall, while its successor (2021) logged 17 complaints and 2 recalls, both among the lowest complaint volumes of the generation. In contrast, the 2022 model year surged to 110 complaints and 6 recalls, indicating a recent upward trend that the 2020 model does not exhibit, as its top complaint area—Power Train—accounted for 8 of the recorded issues. Across the full generation, complaints have fallen from a peak of 210 in 2000 to single‑digit levels in recent years, positioning the 2020 model at the low‑end of that decline. The 2020 model recorded no fire‑related complaints and only 3 crash‑related complaints, with Service Brakes contributing 2 complaints and other categories each adding a single complaint. Given the historically low complaint volume and the absence of fire or major crash trends, the 2020 model represents a solid choice, making it a good year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
66
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
23
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 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 23 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train8
Service Brakes2
Steering,Power Train,Engine1
Engine,Back Over Prevention1
Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1
Exterior Lighting1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

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 66 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…
NTB20-077A2024-08-07Power Train9 SPEED A/T VALVE BODY (CONTROL VALVE TCM) REPLACEMENT This bulletin is no longer active…
NTB17-127C2024-05-21Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE STOPS OR WILL NOT CONTINUE This bulletin has…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…

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

Does the 2020 Frontier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 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.