Thousands of Nissan Trucks Require Repairs Due to a Brief but Critical Issue | Carscoops

      A brief lighting issue that occurs for a fraction of a second has led to a significant recall, requiring thousands of Frontiers to return for a quick software update.

      The problem affects nearly 14,000 vehicles and was caused by a glitch in the automatic stop-start system that causes the daytime running lights (DRLs) to dim momentarily.

      This issue has been linked to a software update applied to the Engine Control Module for the 2025.5 Frontier model. Affected owners will receive a complimentary update of the Engine Control Module software from their dealers.

      While the automatic stop-start system aims to enhance fuel efficiency, it has inadvertently caused a minor but noticeable problem with the LED daytime running lights on the 2025 Nissan Frontier. Due to this glitch, the vehicle fails to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, prompting the recall of nearly 14,000 trucks across the United States.

      Nissan has disclosed that each time the Frontier’s Idle Stop-Start (ISS) system restarts the engine, the brightness of the DRLs temporarily decreases for around 0.3 seconds. Although this change is minor and not deemed a serious safety threat, it contravenes federal lighting regulations.

      The company asserts that this momentary dimming is unlikely to confuse other drivers or be mistaken for a turn signal; however, the inconsistency is significant enough to necessitate action.

      The glitch is linked to the Engine Control Module software update made during the release of the 2025.5 Frontier. A Nissan engineer first detected the issue while conducting a routine vehicle assessment on April 21, 2025.

      A total of 13,719 vehicles are included in the recall, and Nissan believes that all of them have the same DRL issue. The affected Frontiers were manufactured between December 14, 2024, and June 17, 2025.

      Dealerships were informed of the recall on August 8, and vehicle owners will receive notification via first-class mail starting September 17. The solution is simple: dealerships will update the Engine Control Module software at no charge to owners. The update process is expected to take less than an hour, though it might still pose an inconvenience for some.

      This is not the first instance of a recall for the current-generation Frontier in the United States. In mid-2024, nearly 6,000 vehicles were recalled due to the possibility of oversized front right-hand ball joints that could affect drivability and increase crash risk.