Nissan Frontier vs Toyota Tacoma
Midsize pickups · head to head, 2010–2027
The Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Frontier's own years, its best bet is 2018; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Tacoma's own years, its best bet is 2023; years to avoid: 2024–2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2023.
Nissan Frontier
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2018
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2022–2023
Toyota Tacoma
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2023
- Avoid 2024–2025
- Be careful 2012, 2016, 2018–2019
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Frontier year says nothing about whether it beats a Tacoma. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Nissan Frontier | Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes | Side by side |
| 2023 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly brakes and power train | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.9× usual, mostly collision avoidance and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly power train and engine | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.8× usual, mostly fuel system and brakes | Side by side |
| 2018 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly brakes and fuel system | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and fuel system | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2025: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2025. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2025 Nissan Frontier | 2025 Toyota Tacoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | GOOD BUY | AVOID |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $31,590 to $64,135 base price by trim, 8 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 3.8L 6-cyl | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl turbo hybrid manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 18–21 mpg | 20–23 mpg |
| Seats | — | 2–5 |
| Third row | — | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | — | 6,400 lb |
| Bed length | — | 60.3–73.5 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | 4 of 5 stars | 4 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 3 · 8 | 5 · 100 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2025 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Frontier S first listed | Frontier SL last listed | Tacoma SR lowest price, $31,590 | Tacoma TRD Pro highest price, $64,135 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | No | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | — | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | — | — | Standard |
| Heated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | — | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | — | — | Standard |
| Remote start | No | Standard | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2025 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2025 page (Frontier, Tacoma).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Nissan Frontier
16 manufacturer programs on file: 2 extended coverage, 14 repair programs.
- Extended coverage OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. (2010–2016 models)
- Extended coverage Nissan has decided to further extend the warranty for the Radiator Assembly on all 2005-10 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. (2010 models)
Toyota Tacoma
27 manufacturer programs on file: 15 extended coverage, 12 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to the condition described above. (23TE08, 2016–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received a number of reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (Z1, 2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage Toyota has received reports regarding vehicle frame corrosion perforation on certain 2011-2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to vehicle frame corrosion perforation. (2011–2017 models)
- Extended coverage On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with… (23TE04, 2017–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010–2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2020–2021. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2025: the Frontier is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.6× usual), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly structure and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2024: the Frontier is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.0× usual), while the Tacoma is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.1× usual, mostly power train and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2023: the Tacoma is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.4× usual), while the Frontier is rated careful (serious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly brakes and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Tacoma 2024–2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Frontier 2025; Tacoma 2023.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2025: Tacoma at 23 mpg (Frontier: 21), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.