As I mentioned in an earlier thread back in June my wife and I bought a new 2024 Nissan Frontier. With one exception we are very happy with everything about it thus far. The one exception concerns the new 9 speed automatic transmission they have used in this model year. To get to our home you have to drive up two short hills. Neither are exceptionally steep; my wife and I walk them every day on our daily walk. The issue is the Frontier struggles to make it up these two hills. It will take off up the first hill like a normal transmission would, and after maybe the first hundred feet, it will lose its momentum and practically stall, then it will jump back into gear. Any other vehicle we have owned while living here has had no issue in making these short ascents. The transmission is just fine otherwise. I took it back to the dealership and they and agreed there was an issue with it lagging on inclines. They checked the programming and it was as intended from the factory. They actually grabbed a new Frontier on the lot and drove it and admitted it was also doing the same thing I brought ours in for. I asked them to check for any updates that might have been issued for this issue thinking I can't be the only one concerned about this. There wasn't one. Has anyone experienced a similar problem with this, or any other, transmission? Is it possible to re-program a transmission so it holds on to 1st gear longer while under the stress of going up a hill? Nissan is of no help at this time. Is there some other programming that could be used to help? If anyone is interested and needs more info please ask. TIA
Need help with the transmission in our new 2024 Nissan Frontier
- Thread starter Sierra048
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
You shouldn't have to do anything to make a new, stock truck get up a hill. Sounds like you need to get this escalated past the dealer level techs and get Nissan corporate involved.
I tell the service writer you want to take them out for a demonstration ride. If it's too far to your hills, perhaps you can find some close to the store. Something isn't right. Hopefully they can datalog this with their computer and transmit to factory tech service.
Start the paper trail early, take it back often until its right. Papertrail in case you have to lemon law it.
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2022
- Messages
- 172
You should get this checked immediately at Nissan, posting a video here would help you and let us help you. Also, this is not normal, I had a 2023 Nissan frontier Pro VX model brand new truck, I guess it has the nine speed Transmission. I always thought the transmission in these was funky. They shifted hard.
Get this checked out immediately while it is under warranty
Get this checked out immediately while it is under warranty
Last edited:
I would say let it "learn" for a thousand miles and see if it improves, although it may not. Contacting Nissan and escalating isn't a bad idea either. These 9 speeds have complaints of funky programming. In the Titans, many have complained of a very hard shift from 2-1 coming to a stop. Some trucks have improved after a thousand or so miles and others have not.
Good luck, frustrating I'm sure!
Good luck, frustrating I'm sure!
Do you have an ECO and NORMAL switch for programming? I have to always manually select a lower gear on hills near me, as the eco programming tries to keep the trans in a higher gear as long as possible, and this can cause timing retard, EGR actuation and lugging to almost a stop. I have seen this is many cars. My wife has the last MT so she gets to "
row her own boat" lol.
Typical Problem with fuel eco target programming on a very high compression engine running regular octane fuel.
What RPM is the engine struggling trying to make it up the hill? 1500 rpm 1200 rpm?
- Arco
row her own boat" lol.
Typical Problem with fuel eco target programming on a very high compression engine running regular octane fuel.
What RPM is the engine struggling trying to make it up the hill? 1500 rpm 1200 rpm?
- Arco
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
This is not a transmission problem. It's the traction control, vehicle dynamics/stability control these trucks use.
I own a 2022 Nissan Frontier S-model crew cab 4x4. ANY wheel spin will activate the vehicle stability control on these trucks. When VSC activates it takes throttle away from you. You can sit there with the go pedal mashed to the floor and at best it will creep along, trying not to spin wheels. This happens to mine at the end of my driveway, which is quite steep, when it's snow/ice covered. If I have to stop there. I'm going no where, even in 4x4 unless you disable the VSC.
What you are describing sounds like this. You need to disable the VSC during these conditions. On my 2022, the button is down low on the dash, by where your left knee would rest. Try it.
I own a 2022 Nissan Frontier S-model crew cab 4x4. ANY wheel spin will activate the vehicle stability control on these trucks. When VSC activates it takes throttle away from you. You can sit there with the go pedal mashed to the floor and at best it will creep along, trying not to spin wheels. This happens to mine at the end of my driveway, which is quite steep, when it's snow/ice covered. If I have to stop there. I'm going no where, even in 4x4 unless you disable the VSC.
What you are describing sounds like this. You need to disable the VSC during these conditions. On my 2022, the button is down low on the dash, by where your left knee would rest. Try it.
Last edited:
I would pull the + battery cable for a few min, reconnect and drive it a few heat cycles in the environment you use it in.
I think the o.p. is talking about dry conditions.
True on my wifes older mt subaru forester you have to shut of the ESC/TC to make it up our drive way "ski slope" with any good amount of snow or ice. And dont get me going about the horrendous problems with thier "hill holder" line-lock if you start sliding backward down a hill. Death trap nanny intervention! Argghh!
Yes it gets really challenging up here in the Winter some days.
True on my wifes older mt subaru forester you have to shut of the ESC/TC to make it up our drive way "ski slope" with any good amount of snow or ice. And dont get me going about the horrendous problems with thier "hill holder" line-lock if you start sliding backward down a hill. Death trap nanny intervention! Argghh!
Yes it gets really challenging up here in the Winter some days.
Yes and it's actually worse when choosing 1st gear.
Last edited:
I'm seventy years old and I've never had to do this. How would I go about doing this?
They actually took a new Frontier off the lot and test drove it and found it was doing the same thing. They even noted that on my paperwork.
That's why I took it in last week. The nearest dealership is two hours away (we live in the mountains) and I don't want to make four hour plus round trips each time to deal with this. That's why we bought a new vehicle. But I do understand what you're getting at.
Taking a video is a great idea. I will do that the next time we have to go out.
Very frustrating. Truck just turned over 3500 miles with many trips up the hill. Nothing has improved.
No idea about ECO mode but I will be checking that today. Nothing but 93 octane gas has been used since we purchased it. Never thought to check the RPMs when this happens. I will check the next time we have it out. Thanks.
I will check this out too. The road is asphalt paved and it happens when it's wet or dry.
If you think that might help I will certainly give it a try.
Ah yes at 3500 miles should be fine on the programming.
I agree with the paper trail, if you want to get out of it in the future it will help.
I agree with the paper trail, if you want to get out of it in the future it will help.
Low/no bottom torque little Asian 4V smog motor in a heavy truck? No surprise. Torque peak is tuned near 5000 rpm!! Stupid.
That's why the last real truck I bought I grabbed a 5 speed manual with the torquey pushrod vortec 4300 sixer
2007 Silverado std cab short box 4WD W/T Yeah, baby! That thing jumped.
No excuses, Nissan!. You have a 9 speed a/t. Get your act together.
Software development team to Management, "We are only a few weeks into beta!" Mgt: "Sorry got to release it now"
And there you are. I would suggest the O.P peruse the OM section regarding the transmission and controls.
That's why the last real truck I bought I grabbed a 5 speed manual with the torquey pushrod vortec 4300 sixer
2007 Silverado std cab short box 4WD W/T Yeah, baby! That thing jumped.
No excuses, Nissan!. You have a 9 speed a/t. Get your act together.
Software development team to Management, "We are only a few weeks into beta!" Mgt: "Sorry got to release it now"
And there you are. I would suggest the O.P peruse the OM section regarding the transmission and controls.
Last edited:
MolaKule
Staff member
After you check the VSC and your Owners Manual, and that doesn't fix it, here is what I did with a seat heating issue in a 2015 Pathfinder.
I drafted a letter to Nissan
https://www.nissanusa.com/contact-us.html?msockid=3ba18cbd4ee563811b9e9f584ff76226
with a CC to
https://www.nhtsa.gov/about-nhtsa/contact-us
A letter is hard document that the internet cannot trash or lose.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
As suggested above, for the area this is happening in, please try disabling the vehicle stability assist (push the button on the dash) to see if this resolves the problem and please post back. IIRC, three different amber icons will light up on the dash when VSC is disabled.
Nissan's system on these trucks is way too sensitive and intrusive IMO. What I've found with my 2022 is, in a loss of traction situation, the truck will just sit there and not move unless you press the VSC button to disable it, to get the wheels to spin and to get throttle control back. The system also looks heavily at the truck's pitch, yaw and steering angle, which may be what's effecting you.
Nissan's system on these trucks is way too sensitive and intrusive IMO. What I've found with my 2022 is, in a loss of traction situation, the truck will just sit there and not move unless you press the VSC button to disable it, to get the wheels to spin and to get throttle control back. The system also looks heavily at the truck's pitch, yaw and steering angle, which may be what's effecting you.
Last edited:
Thanks for that information. Did it end up working out for you?
JTK, Is VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) the same as VSC? That's the only thing similar I can find in our truck/manual. I haven't had the truck out since my initial post yesterday but I will check this as soon as we drive it again.
Similar threads
