4WD NISSAN FRONTIER 2021 Owner's Manual

TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. For addi-
tional information, refer to the diagrams in
this section to ensure that your vehicle is
properly towed.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
with automatic transmission
NISSAN recommends that towing dollies
be used when towing your vehicle or place
the vehicle on a flatbed truck as illustrated.

•When driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the TEMPORARY FULL
SIZE spare tire should be used on the
front wheels and the original tire
used on the rear wheels. Use tire
chains only on the drive wheels.
• Do not use the TEMPORARY FULL SIZE
spare tire on other vehicles.
• Do not use more than one TEMPO-
RARY FULL SIZE spare tire at the same
time.
• Do not tow a trailer when the TEMPO-
RARY FULL SIZE spare tire is installed.CAUTION
• Do not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY FULL SIZE spare tire. Tire chains
will not fit properly and may cause
damage to the vehicle.
• Use of the TEMPORARY FULL SIZE
spare tire on a vehicle that has tires
larger than were originally equipped
can affect the 4WD System. This may
result in a circumference difference
between tires on front and rear axles
which can cause the 4WD system to
automatically place the vehicle in
2WD and flash the 4WD light. When
the TEMPORARY FULL SIZE spare tire
is replaced with a tire that matches
all other tires on the vehicle, and all
tires are properly inflated the 4WD
system will operate normally.
8-42Do-it-yourself

STANDARD MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace, L = LubricateMAINTENANCE OPERATION
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or months, whichever comes first. Miles x 1,000
(km x 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
7. 5
(12) 6 15
(24) 12 22.5
(36) 18 30
(48) 24 37.5
(60) 30 45
(72) 36 52.5
(84) 42 60
(96) 48 67.5
(108) 54 75
(120) 60 82.5
(132) 66 90
(144) 72 97.5
(156) 78 105
(168) 84 112.5
(180) 90 120
(192) 96
Air cleaner filter NOTE (1) R R R R
Automatic transmission fluid NOTE (2)(3) I I I I I I I I
Brake fluid RR RR
Brake lines and cables I I I I I I I I
Brake pads and rotors III I I I II
Drive belts NOTE (4) I* I* I* I* I*
Engine coolant* NOTE (5)(6)
Engine oil & oil filter  RRRRRRR RRRRRRRRR
EVAP vapor lines & fuel lines I* I* I* I*
Exhaust system II II
Fuel filter NOTE (7)
In-cabin microfilter R R R R R R R R
Intake & exhaust valve clearance NOTE (8)
Intelligent Key battery I R R R R
Propeller shaf t & drive shaf t boots (4WD models) III I I I II
Propeller shaf t grease (4WD models) L L L L L L L L
Spark plugs NOTE (9) Replace every 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
Steering gear and linkage, axle & suspension parts II II
Tire rotation NOTE (10)
Transfer fluid & differential gear oil NOTE (11) I I I I I I I I
9-8Maintenance and schedules

10 Technical and consumer information
Recommended fluids/lubricants and
capacities...................................... 10-2
Fuel recommendation ......................10-4
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendations .......................... 10-7
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .......................10-8
Specifications .................................. 10-9
Engine ...................................... 10-9
Wheels and tires ............................ 10-9
Dimensions and weights ...................10-10
When traveling or registering in another
country ........................................ 10-11
Vehicle identification ........................... 10-11
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
plate ........................................ 10-11
Engine serial number .......................10-11
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ........10-12
Emission control information label .........10-12
Tire and Loading Information label .........10-13
Air conditioner specification label ..........10-13
Installing front license plate ...................10-14
Installing front license plate with
grommets ................................. 10-14Vehicle loading information
...................10-14
Terms ...................................... 10-14
Vehicle load capacity ....................... 10-15
Securing the load .......................... 10-17
Utili-track® channel system
(if so equipped) ............................. 10-18
Loading tips ................................ 10-22
Truck-camper loading information ............10-23
Crew cab models .......................... 10-23
King Cab® models .......................... 10-23
Special Body vehicles ......................10-23
Location for center of gravity ...............10-23
Vehicle load weight capacity ...............10-24
Measurement of weights ...................10-24
Towing a trailer ................................ 10-25
Maximum load limits ....................... 10-25
Towing load/specification ..................10-28
T
owing safety .............................. 10-29
Flat towing – 4WD with automatic
transmission ............................... 10-36
Flat towing – 2WD with automatic
transmission ............................... 10-37
Uniform tire quality grading ...................10-37
Emission control system warranty ............10-38

4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shif t the transmission into P (Park).
6. Make sure the
indicator light (if so
equipped) indicates the transfer case is
in 4H, 4L, or 2H and that the ATP light is
off. If the
indicator light is flashing,
or the ATP light is ON, make sure the
transmission is in P (Park) (A/T) and turn
the 4WD switch to 2WD or 4H. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Automatic
transmission park warning light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section and
“Using 4-wheel drive (4WD)” in the “Start-
ing and driving” section of this manual.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shif t the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal. 7. Have someone retrieve and store the
blocks.
• While going downhill, the weight of the trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may
decrease overall stability. Therefore, to
maintain adequate control, reduce your
speed and shif t to a lower gear. Avoid
long or repeated use of the brakes when
descending a hill, as this reduces their
effectiveness and could cause overheat-
ing. Shif ting to a lower gear instead pro-
vides “engine braking” and reduces the
need to brake as frequently.
• If the engine coolant temperature rises to a high temperature, refer to “If your ve-
hicle overheats” in the “In case of emer-
gency” section of this manual.
• Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal circumstances.
• Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle's first 500 miles (805 km).
•
For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h).
• Have your vehicle serviced more of ten than at intervals specified. For additional
information, refer to “Maintenance
Schedules” in the “Maintenance and
schedules” section of this manual. • When making a turn, your trailer wheels
will be closer to the inside of the turn than
your vehicle wheels. To compensate for
this, make a larger than normal turning
radius during the turn.
• Crosswinds and rough roads will ad- versely affect vehicle/trailer handling,
possibly causing vehicle sway. When be-
ing passed by larger vehicles, be pre-
pared for possible changes in crosswinds
that could affect vehicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to
sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions
allow. This combination will help stabilize
the vehicle
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the
road in a safe area.
Technical and consumer information10-35

3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it isbalanced as described in this section.
• Be careful when passing other vehicles. Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember, the length of the
trailer must also pass the other vehicle
before you can safely change lanes.
• Downshif t the transmission to a lower gear for engine braking when driving
down steep or long hills. This will help
slow the vehicle without applying the
brakes.
• Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in re-
duced braking efficiency.
• Increase your following distance to allow for greater stopping distances while tow-
ing a trailer. Anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
• NISSAN recommends that the cruise control not be used while towing a trailer.
• Some states or provinces have specific regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits. • Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts
af ter 50 miles (80 km) of travel and at
every break.
• When launching a boat, don't allow the water level to go over the exhaust tail
pipe or rear bumper.
• Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights before backing the trailer into the
water or the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission oil/
fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, refer
to the “Do-it-yourself ” section in this
manual.FLAT TOWING – 4WD WITH
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Towing a vehicle behind a recreational ve-
hicle, such as a motor home, is sometimes
called flat towing.

WARNING
A vehicle equipped with Four-Wheel
Drive (4WD) should never be tested us-
ing a two wheel dynamometer (such as
the dynamometers used by some
states for emissions testing), or similar
equipment. Make sure you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle
is equipped with 4WD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in transmis-
sion damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal injury.
Due to legal requirements in some states
and Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may
be required to be in what is called the
“ready condition” for an Inspection/
Maintenance (I/M) test of the emission
control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition”
when it is driven through certain driving
patterns. Usually, the ready condition can
be obtained by ordinary usage of the ve-
hicle. If a powertrain system component is re-
paired or the battery is disconnected, the
vehicle may be reset to a “not ready ” condi-
tion. Before taking the I/M test, check the
vehicle's inspection/maintenance test
readiness condition. Place the ignition
switch in the ON position without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds
and then blinks for 10 seconds, the I/M test
condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink af ter 20 seconds, the I/M test condi-
tion is “ready ”. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer to set the “ready con-
dition” or to prepare the vehicle for testing.
This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an
EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a ve-
hicle's systems performed. The EDR is de-
signed to record data related to vehicle dy-
namics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to re-
cord such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depress- ing the accelerator and/or brake pedal;
and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
• Sounds are not recorded.
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
10-40Technical and consumer information

Using 4-Wheel Drive (4WD)..........5-23
V
Vanity mirror..................3-17Variable voltage control system......8-15Vehicle dimensions and weights.....10-10Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF
switch......................2-36Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system. .5-35Vehicle identification.............10-11Vehicle identification number (VIN). . . .10-11Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate...................... .10-11Vehicle immobilizer system.....2-27,5-13Vehicle loading information........10-14Vehicle recovery................6-16Vehicle security system...........2-25Vehicle security system
(NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System),
engine start
...............2-27,5-13Ventilators...................4-22Visors......................3-16Voice Prompt Interrupt........4-82, 4-99Voice recognition system.........4-106
W
Warning
4WD warning light.............2-15Air bag warning light........1-85, 2-20Anti-lock brake warning light......2-15Battery charge warning light......2-17
Brake warning light............2-16Door open warning light.........2-17Engine oil pressure warning light. . . .2-17Hazard warning flasher switch......6-2Loose fuel cap warning..........2-6Low fuel warning light...........2-18Low tire pressure warning light.....2-18Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-19Passenger air bag and status light. . .1-79Seat belt warning light.......1-18,2-20Supplemental air bag warning
light................. .1-85, 2-20TPMS..................... .2-4Vehicle security system.........2-25Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-85Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders..................2-21Warning lights.................2-21Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders...............2-14Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders....................2-21Audible reminders.............2-21Indicator lights...............2-21Warning lights................2-21Weights
(See dimensions and weights)......10-10Wheel/tire size................10-10Wheels and tires............8-30, 10-10When traveling or registering in another
country.....................10-11Windows....................2-49Locking passengers' windows.....2-51
Manual windows..............2-49Power windows..............2-50Rear power windows...........2-51Rear sliding window............2-52Windshield wiper blades...........8-18Windshield-washer fluid...........8-12Wiper
Wiper blades................8-18Wiper and washer switch..........2-28
11-8