Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

2022 Nissan Frontier pre-purchase inspection checklist

What to check before you buy, built from NHTSA recall data, owner-reported failures, and mechanic intel. Print it or bring it to your mechanic.

Pre-purchase inspection · 2022 Nissan Frontier
Check another vehicle
2022 Nissan Frontier
S / SV / Pro-4X / PRO-X / SL (3rd gen D41, 2022–present)
Low Risk

The 3rd-gen Frontier is a complete redesign — new 3.8L V6, 9-speed automatic, and proper truck capability at a lower price than Tacoma or Colorado. The VQ38 is a strong engine with no known failure modes. Outstanding towing capacity for the class. Main checks: transmission fluid service history, off-road use on Pro-4X, and recall status.

Items to check
8
Open recalls
1
NHTSA complaints
65
Top concern
Minimal

Powertrain

3.8L VQ38DD V6 — reliable

Low Risk
New-generation Nissan V6. No widespread failure modes.
Cold-start and oil check. Smooth idle expected.
Est. cost: Routine maintenance Source: Nissan VQ38 reliability data

9-speed automatic — solid

Low Risk
Aisin 9AT is a major improvement over the old 6AT.
Test smooth shifts and tow/haul mode.
Est. cost: $200 fluid service Source: Nissan 3rd gen Frontier drivetrain

Off-Road & Towing

Pro-4X underbody inspection

Monitor
Off-road capable Pro-4X attracts buyers who use it. Inspect underside.
Inspect skid plates and underbody. Check CV boots.
Est. cost: Varies Source: AutoVetting editorial

Documentation

Service records + recall check

Low Risk
Young vehicle. Standard checks.
Request records and run nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Est. cost: n/a Source: AutoVetting editorial

What the VIN tells you

The 3rd-gen Frontier (D41, 2022+) uses a single engine — the 3.8L VQ38DD V6 (310 hp) paired with a 9-speed automatic — so there is no engine fork to decode. Note the Nissan VIN quirk: the engine is encoded at the 4th VIN digit (E = VQ38DD), not the 8th. The decode that actually matters to a buyer is the 10th-digit model year, because the 3.8L+9AT first appeared on the carryover old-body D40 for 2020-2021 and only the 2022 redesign (10th digit N) rides on the all-new D41 platform; any 2019-or-earlier Frontier instead uses the older 4.0L VQ40DE V6 with a 5-speed automatic. Confirm the model year and 4x2-vs-4x4 (Pro-4X) configuration by running the full VIN at vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov before purchase.
After you buy: common DIY repair guides
Planning the upkeep this car will need? Our step-by-step guides cover oil changes, brake pads & rotors, battery replacement, transmission fluid, coolant flushes, and spark plugs — each with the tools, parts, torque specs, and common mistakes that matter. Browse all repair guides →

More Nissan checklists

2013 Altima · 2017 Armada · 2017 Pathfinder · 2017 Rogue · 2017 Sentra · 2017 Titan · 2018 Frontier · 2018 Maxima · 2018 Murano · 2018 Rogue Sport · 2019 Altima · 2019 Kicks · 2019 LEAF · 2021 Rogue · 2022 Pathfinder
Want this exact car professionally vetted?
Independent pre-purchase inspection — we arrange it and walk you through the findings.

Send us the listing and we reply within 1 business day. Nothing due until we confirm a mechanic and a time. Piloting in Phoenix; other US metros by arrangement.

Get an inspection quote Get the full Vetting Report
The Vetting Report: this VIN’s full recall status, known-failure cost ranges, negotiation talking points, and inspection priorities — delivered within 24 hours.