2012 Nissan Frontier
small pickup / Crew cab pickup
Moderate overlap front: original test
Tested vehicle: 2008 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab
Rating applies to 2005-12 models
The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab and King Cab were redesigned for the 2005 model year and are significantly larger and heavier than previous models. The Suzuki Equator Crew Cab and Extended Cab were introduced in the 2009 model year. Two tests of the Frontier were conducted, one by the Institute of a 2wd King Cab and the other by Nissan of a 2wd Crew Cab. The overall rating of Good is based on review of both tests, which independently result in overall ratings of Good. The ratings and vehicle specifications based on Nissan's test are shown below because the 2wd Crew Cab is similar to the configuration of other pickups tested more recently.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement | |
|---|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0504 | VTF0812 |
| Footwell intrusion | ||
| Footrest (cm) | 11 | 12 |
| Left (cm) | 12 | 13 |
| Center (cm) | 14 | 15 |
| Right (cm) | 12 | 13 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 7 | 6 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | ||
| Left (cm) | 1 | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 1 | -1 |
| Steering column movement | ||
| Upward (cm) | 4 | 3 |
| Rearward (cm) | 0 | 1 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 2 | 3 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement | |
|---|---|---|
| Test ID | CEF0504 | VTF0812 |
| Head | ||
| HIC-15 | 255 | 252 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact | no contact |
| Neck | ||
| Tension (kN) | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 21 | 19 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 34 | 35 |
| Legs | ||
| Femur force - left (kN) | 1.4 | 2.0 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 13 | 14 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 0 | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.95 | 1.05 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.35 | 0.58 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | ||
| Left | 111 | 140 |
| Right | 117 | 162 |
Side: original test
Tested vehicle: 2012 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
Rating applies to 2012-14 models
The Nissan Frontier was redesigned for the 2005 model year. The Suzuki Equator was introduced in the 2009 model year and discontinued after the 2012 model year. Beginning with 2012 models, design changes were made to the side curtain airbags in both the Frontier and Equator to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan. However, because there were no significant side structural changes, the structure rating of the most recent model is based on both Nissan's test and two earlier Institute tests of 2008 and 2010 Frontier models.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Driver head protection | |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Torso | |
| Pelvis/leg | |
| Rear passenger head protection | |
Technical measurements for this test
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CES0819 | CES0931 | VTS1108 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) | -15.0 | -15.5 | -16.0 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. | |||
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1108 |
| Head HIC-15 | 113 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 48 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 43 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.43 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.64 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.6 |
| Combined force (kN) | 4.0 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.9 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 139 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 25 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1108 |
| Head HIC-15 | 197 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.3 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.9 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 32 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.58 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.49 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.8 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 44 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 50 |
Roof strength
Tested vehicle: 2010 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab
Rating applies to 2005-15 models
Rating applies to both the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (tested) and the structurally similar 2009-12 models of the Suzuki Equator Crew Cab.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,265 lbs |
| Peak force | 17,535 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.11 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Manual cloth seats AHR
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
Technical measurements for this test
| Seat type | Manual cloth seats AHR |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 44 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 48 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 12.4 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 53 |
| Force rating | 2 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 152 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 645 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.