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2018 Nissan Frontier · keep 3 yr

Configuration unresolved · configuration-scoped issues are withheld, never guessed.

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2018 Nissan Frontier
Image: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See source file
Buy with conditionsEvidence: Medium confidence

Proceed only after the named candidate-verification and record checks pass.

Main regret risk

Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign

High severity · condition to clear with the named verification

Safer move

No supported substitute yet.

No published alternative cleared the evidence-authority gate for this candidate; broaden the model or year constraint to keep comparing.

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2018 Nissan Frontier · keep 3 yr

Buy with conditionsEvidence: Medium confidence

Main risk: Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign

Text this verdict

The link and text carry only the car and non-sensitive context, never price, risk, or VIN.

Configuration applicability

Unresolved · not yet pinned

This model year was built in 6 reviewed configurations (4L Part-time 4-Wheel Drive; 4L Rear-Wheel Drive; 2.5L Rear-Wheel Drive); configuration-scoped findings can differ between them.

To verify: Enter the VIN, or read the engine/drivetrain from the door-jamb label or window sticker, to pin the exact configuration.

Ownership headache outlook

The stated ownership horizon enters the observed band for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign; this is a scenario band, not a failure probability.

Most inspection-relevant: Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign — this is the issue to focus the pre-purchase inspection on.

What each horizon reaches

  • 1 yrAbout 12,000 mi — reaches the observed onset band for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign, which your window is inside.
  • 3 yr (yours)About 36,000 mi — reaches the observed onset band for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign, which your window is inside.
  • 5 yrAbout 60,000 mi — reaches the observed onset band for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign, which your window is inside.
12,000 annual miles · 3-year ownership horizon · Service history is unknown unless verified by the buyer. These are observed report bands, not failure probabilities.
Ownership-headache outlook: observed onset bands for each named issue.
IssueSeverityOnset p25MedianOnset p75Relation to your window
Electrical System:Ignition safety campaignHigh severity20 mi30 mi25,145 miYour window enters the onset band

Why this answer

  1. 1Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign intersects the ownership horizon; verify the condition and mitigation before purchase.

Conditions to clear first

  • Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign: Check the VIN for open NHTSA actions, then ask the inspector to test the named system and document the result.

Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign

official recall record

High severity
Whole generationSingle sourceEvidence: Medium confidence

The cited record is bound to model year 2018; no broader incidence claim is made.

Symptom
Nissan North America, Inc.
Why it matters
The official record describes a potential crash, fire, injury, or loss-of-control consequence.

Observed complaint mileage band; not an incidence probability

Reported onset roughly 2025,145 mi (median 30 mi).

Your window enters the onset band.

Based on 3 usable reports (5 censored). Complaint mileage is an observed report band, not a population incidence estimate.

What to inspect

  • Check the VIN for open NHTSA actions, then ask the inspector to test the named system and document the result.

Pro check: Independent pre-purchase inspection.

Mitigation

  • Verify the campaign status by VIN and retain the completion receipt if the remedy was performed.

Verified remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

1 evidence receiptShow ▾
clm_nissan-frontier-2018-recall-recall-18v551000-obs-80192018 Nissan FrontierEvidence: Medium confidence

The official record describes a potential crash, fire, injury, or loss-of-control consequence.

“Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.”
NHTSArecallOpen source record

What would change this answer

verified remedy

A newly verified completed remedy with configuration-specific eligibility for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign could improve the recommendation.

contradictory source

A reviewed official or independent source that materially contradicts the claims for Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign would force confidence and verdict review.

changed applicability

Reviewed evidence that includes or excludes a different year, engine, drivetrain, trim, or VIN population would change which issues apply.

lost exposure eligibility

A verified production denominator and eligible time-at-risk cohort are required before normalized comparative year guidance can strengthen.

Applied assumptions

  • · 12,000 annual miles
  • · 3-year ownership horizon
  • · Service history is unknown unless verified by the buyer.

Sharpen it further

  • Add mileage — it places the onset bands against your ownership window.
  • Add the asking price — it weighs the findings against what you would pay.
  • Set your annual miles — assumed 12,000; it sizes the window.
  • Choose a horizon — assumed 3 years; it sets the window length.

Better options

Inspection brief

Mark each check as you go. Progress saves on this device, works offline, and prints cleanly.

Saved on this device — no account needed. Copy link shares the safe URL only (no price, risk, or VIN).

Mark the checks to see where they point: a single Walk away outweighs the rest.

Required checks

  • Check the VIN for open NHTSA actions, then ask the inspector to test the named system and document the result.

    Electrical System:Ignition safety campaign: Nissan North America, Inc.

    Passes when: No matching symptom during inspection

    Test drive: On the test drive, watch for: nissan north america, inc..

    Specialist: Independent pre-purchase inspection

    Records to request: VIN-specific recall status; Dealer repair order or completion receipt

    Pass / Concern / Walk away

Ask the seller

  • Has any named issue here ever been diagnosed or repaired on this car?
  • Can I see the maintenance and any recall-remedy records?
  • Will you allow an independent pre-purchase inspection?

Records to request

  • Service and oil-change history
  • Completed recall / campaign paperwork
  • Any dealer diagnostic reports

Full evidence

Every conclusion above traces to one of these source records.

clm_nissan-frontier-2018-recall-recall-18v551000-obs-80192018 Nissan FrontierEvidence: Medium confidence

The official record describes a potential crash, fire, injury, or loss-of-control consequence.

“Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.”
NHTSArecallOpen source record

What we could not verify

Every dimension is listed — including the ones we do not have — each with the concrete next step to close it.

  • ConfigurationPartial

    This model year was built in 6 reviewed configurations (4L Part-time 4-Wheel Drive; 4L Rear-Wheel Drive; 2.5L Rear-Wheel Drive); configuration-scoped findings can differ between them.

    Next: Enter the VIN, or read the engine/drivetrain from the door-jamb label or window sticker, to pin the exact configuration.

  • VIN recall & historyNot verified

    A VIN recall check was not handed to this page, so recall status and title/odometer history for this exact car are unchecked.

    Next: Run this VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup and request a title/history report to confirm open recalls and past events.

  • Repair costNot verified

    No sourced repair-cost range is available for the named issues in this release.

    Next: Get a written repair estimate for the named issue from an independent shop before you negotiate.

  • Market price contextNot verified

    No asking price was entered and no licensed market-value feed is integrated, so price fairness is not assessed.

    Next: Compare the asking price against recent local listings for the same year and configuration.

  • Onset evidencePartial

    Onset bands rest on a limited number of usable reports; treat the band edges as approximate.

    Next: Weigh the onset band as a reported-onset range, not a failure probability, and confirm condition by inspection.

Coverage & methodology

Evidence: Medium confidence— Enough evidence to decide; some sources are thin or single-origin.

5 of 5 expected sources present · methodology m1-v4-authority-cohort.

  • · Public complaints and recalls do not estimate failure probability.
  • · Observed mileage bands describe reported onset only.

Methodology m1-v4-authority-cohort →

2018 model-year authorityGeneration guide

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