2021 Nissan Frontier

small pickup / Crew cab pickup

2021 Nissan Frontier Crew cab pickup
2018 Nissan Frontier shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Not available
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2017-21 models built after February 2017

Tested vehicle: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2005 model year. Beginning with 2013 models, design changes were made to the frontal airbags and seat belts. Beginning with 2017 models built after February 2017, the side curtain airbags were lengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver’s survival space was not maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Extensive intrusion of the footwell and brake pedal (not visible in photo) contributed to a high risk of injuries to both lower legs and a significant risk to the left foot and right knee.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1715
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 14
Footrest (cm) 42
Left toepan (cm) 36
Brake pedal (cm) 31
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 11
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 9

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1715
Head
HIC-15 313
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 3.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 16
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 1
Maximum tibia index
Left 1.77
Right 1.37
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 4.7
Right 1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 206
Right 126

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2017-21 models built after February 2017

Tested vehicle: 2018 Nissan Frontier S Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2005 model year. Beginning with 2013 models, design changes were made to the frontal airbags and seat belts. Beginning with 2017 models built after February 2017, the side curtain airbags were lengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but slid off the right side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was not maintained well.

The dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but then slid off the right side.

Extensive intrusion of the dashboard and toepan contributed to a likely risk of injury to the right lower leg and a significant risk to the right foot.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1820
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 17
Footrest (cm) 43
Right toepan (cm) 35
Center toepan (cm) 19
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 9
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Upper dash (cm) 12
Right lower dash (cm) 15

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1820
Head
HIC-15 182
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 4.5
Right 2.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 7
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 2
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.57
Right 2.28
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.8
Right 6.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 102
Right 233

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1820
Head
HIC-15 178
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 1.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 8
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.50
Right 0.51
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 1.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 37
Right 50

How the passenger-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Nissan Frontier SV King Cab 4wd

The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab and King Cab were redesigned for the 2005 model year. Beginning with 2013 models, design changes were made to the frontal airbags and seat belts.

Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan as part of frontal crash test verification. (The vehicle tested by Nissan was designated as a 2012 model but included the airbag and seat belt changes of the 2013 models.) Because the vehicle structure did not change after 2005, structure ratings are based this test as well as two earlier tests of the Frontier, one a 2005 model and the other a 2008 model.

The moderate overlap frontal ratings apply to both the Crew Cab and King Cab models.

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

Test ID CEF0504 VTF0812 VTF1216
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 11 12 12
Left (cm) 12 13 20
Center (cm) 14 15 16
Right (cm) 12 13 17
Brake pedal (cm) 7 6 5
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1 0 -1
Right (cm) 1 -1 -2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 4 3 4
Rearward (cm) 0 1 -2
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 2 3 2

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1216
Head
HIC-15 333
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 19
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 36
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 3.5
Femur force - right (kN) 2.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 13
Knee displacement - right (mm) 7
Maximum tibia index - left 1.01
Maximum tibia index - right 0.78
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 4.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 137
Right 163

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was redesigned for the 2005 model year. Beginning with 2012 models, design changes were made to the side curtain airbags to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Beginning with 2015 models, design changes were made to the side torso airbags and front door trim panels to further improve protection for front seat occupants.

Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan as part of side crash test verification. However, because there were no significant side structural changes since the 2005 model year, the structure rating of the most recent model is based on this Nissan test and an earlier test of a 2012 Frontier model plus two Institute tests of 2008 and 2010 models. Rear passenger dummy injury and head protection ratings are based on the two Nissan tests (2015 and 2012 models), because no changes were made affecting rear seat occupants since 2012.

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 VTS1415
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -15.0 -15.5 -16.0 -14.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1415
Head HIC-15 131
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 35
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.50
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.73
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.6
Combined force (kN) 4.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 20
A-P moment (Nm) 115

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1108 VTS1415
Head HIC-15 197 205
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.9 1.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 32 34
Lateral force (kN) 1.5 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 37 41
Average deflection (mm) 32 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.58 4.46
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.49 0.51
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.5 1.1
Combined force (kN) 1.4 1.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 44 18
A-P moment (Nm) 50 120

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-21 models

Tested vehicle: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV Crew Cab

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,224 lbs
Peak force20,487 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.85

How the roof strength test is conducted

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

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-21 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSV Crew Cab
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSV Crew Cab
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 45
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 44
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 45
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 53
Tether anchor
Location Back wall
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

How child seat anchors are evaluated