[trongod05]

As mentioned in my introduction thread I now own a 2010 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab. All in all I am pretty disappointed in the performance. I used to own a 2004 Nissan Xterra with a 3 liter V6 and I currently own a 2007 Nissan Altima 2.5L 4cyl. Both of these vehicles have more power and acceleration speed than my 4 liter V6.

I have no confidence that I could ever pass another car in this truck. I have noticed if I am in the 40 to 45 MPH range and try to accelerate quickly, I get lots of engine rev noise but it translates in to very little in the power and speed department. In fact, if I tried to gun it at these speeds, it seems the truck takes about 3-4 seconds to actually make up its mind as to what it wants to do.

I've read reviews of how fast it accelerates and how much power it has. The problem is that I just don't see it.

The second problem is that I seem to have to overcompensate on the steering wheel. If I take a turn, then start to straiten out, I have to worry about how far I go with the steering wheel because at times it feels like I go to far or not far enough. It's like there's too much play in the wheel.

I'm taking it back to the dealership tomorrow to have them look at it.

Anyone else have this type of problem with their 2010 Frontier Crew Cab.

 

[mbvw2.8l]

Hmm thats interesting, because I have mine lifted on 33's and it is definitely faster than the old xterra or a 4cyl altima. Mine is an 05' but still its the same motor. I wonder is something is wrong. That or they have the computer dummied down.

 

[trongod05]

Yea, I'm thinking it has something to do with the computer myself. It's like everything is off, timing, shift points, etc... Hopefully they're able to tune it. I am notorious for service departments tell me "that's just the way they work." I had a problem on the 2004 Xterra where the main pulley was bent, so it would make a knock noise. Even though they could hear the noise, they tried to tell me that's just the way they sound. After talking to a service manager after months of dealing with the problem, then same guy that told me "that's just the way they work," later said "oh, no the problem is the main pulley is bent." Of course it was covered under warranty but 2 months later it wouldn't have been. Kind of a bad experience. Don't want to have to deal with that again.

This is more or less a feeler to get assurance that other Frontiers don't have those characteristics.

 

[mbvw2.8l]

I had my fronty in for the timing chain issue and they seriously fudged up the computer after. I don't know if they did it to protect the engine so they didnt have to cover anything else or what but when I left the dealership it was slower than ever. I got a superchips programmer though and got all that power back and some.

 

[mwnaylor]

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but here, I noticed about a year ago, my '05 was acting sluggish and not wanting to take off. I got to checking around and found out that the 87 octane gas in this area (regular) had increased levels of ethanol. While this may not affect some vehicles, my truck didn't like it at all. I started running either 89 octane or 93 octane in it and I can tell a difference, and even get 1-3mpg better. Give that a try and see if it helps.

 

[Jordo]

NO MAN!!!! YOUR TRUCK IS SCREWED UP! I drove in a friend of a friends 2010 Frontier and it was every bit as fast as my 05. Something is wrong with your truck. You said this.....

"I have noticed if I am in the 40 to 45 MPH range and try to accelerate quickly, I get lots of engine rev noise but it translates in to very little in the power and speed department."

That right there is down right WRONG! Our trucks are wicked fast (for a mid-sized 4.0) and thats where they do the best work! I can whip-lash my self if I stomp on it at 40mph.

Get them to fix it! Or got to a diffrent dealer!

 

[nisracer]

NO MAN!!!! YOUR TRUCK IS SCREWED UP! I drove in a friend of a friends 2010 Frontier and it was every bit as fast as my 05. Something is wrong with your truck. You said this.....

"I have noticed if I am in the 40 to 45 MPH range and try to accelerate quickly, I get lots of engine rev noise but it translates in to very little in the power and speed department."

That right there is down right WRONG! Our trucks are wicked fast (for a mid-sized 4.0) and thats where they do the best work! I can whip-lash my self if I stomp on it at 40mph.

Get them to fix it! Or got to a diffrent dealer!

+1

Maybe not whip lash at 40 but definitely 50-55. Our trucks are really quick stock for what they are. Just ask my buddy with a B16 swapped Civic hatch that I beat when my truck was stock lol. He just did an Integra Type-R swap and now I have a Superchips, but I still hang on his 1/4 panel 'till about 80mph and I beat him when he misses a gear lol --"after 80 aerodynamics kill me and he leaves me in the dust lol". You should be able to hit 60 a lot quicker than the majority of vehicles in traffic without breaking a sweat --but if you are used to a sports car over 300hp, then yes, our trucks are slow. Compared to your average performance of normal cars and mid sized trucks, though, we will blow them away. If you can't, there must be something wrong with your truck.

 

[JohninNJ]

I was just doing burn outs in the parking lot....I'd say yours is messed up!

 

[ToddG]

I have to agree with the rest, something doesn't sound right here.
My 2006 Crew Cab 4x4 4.0L 6 speed (28,xxx miles on it) can reach 0-60 in 6.76 seconds (with some mild performance adders, just for the record).

 

[devious1]

Thats messed up man. Something is defiantly not right. This is by far the fastest truck I've owned.

I don't know what part of the country you are in, but here, I noticed about a year ago, my '05 was acting sluggish and not wanting to take off. I got to checking around and found out that the 87 octane gas in this area (regular) had increased levels of ethanol. While this may not affect some vehicles, my truck didn't like it at all. I started running either 89 octane or 93 octane in it and I can tell a difference, and even get 1-3mpg better. Give that a try and see if it helps.

I started putting 93 in my truck because of that crap. It sets off my CEL and runs like CRAP. Around here 7 Eleven is by far the worst gas and my truck will spit and sputter.

 

[nisracer]

this is shortly after i got my truck it had a k&n with a hole cut in the airbox "didnt notice any power increase over stock"

i hit 80 and let off right when the guy laughs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1Mf2SU4nc

 

[mwnaylor]

I just now caught the part about your getting engine revving and no power... get the dealership to check your computer out... the settings for shifting to RPM's may be screwed up.... when you punch it (assuming its an automatic transmission) it should downshift

 

[colin123]

up the octane if your only using 87. thats what the dealership will most likely be telling you since the manual states you should be using atleast 87 and the older manuals (exact same motor and tuning) says 91 is optimum octane and 87 is the bare min and that not using 91 may result in loss of power. depending on the fuel and your area using only 87 can be causing knocking which will put your motor into a heavily retarded spark timing map and rich fuel map to protect the motor which is why some people have stated that have seen check engine lights for this, those would be extremely high knock situations. so drain your tank till the light comes on and put in 91 or 93 then see how it performs for you.

 

[dp4119]

I think i kinda know what your talking about. I purchased my 10' crew cab SE in February and I too felt it was a little sluggish (but never enough to really think anything was wrong). If i stepped on it, it went, but just not as quickly or as easily as i thought it should. Once i hit about 600 miles on the odometer it seemed to suddenly dissappear. It either had something to do with the break-in or i was all in my head lol. I think it was just park of the break in period.

 

[trongod05]

up the octane if your only using 87. thats what the dealership will most likely be telling you since the manual states you should be using atleast 87 and the older manuals (exact same motor and tuning) says 91 is optimum octane and 87 is the bare min and that not using 91 may result in loss of power. depending on the fuel and your area using only 87 can be causing knocking which will put your motor into a heavily retarded spark timing map and rich fuel map to protect the motor which is why some people have stated that have seen check engine lights for this, those would be extremely high knock situations. so drain your tank till the light comes on and put in 91 or 93 then see how it performs for you.

Yea, dealerships have used this excuse on me before. They actually tried to use that as an excuse when I had the knock noise caused by the bent main pulley. I find this excuses used when they have no explaination or they are too lazy to isolate the problem.

However, bad gas won't make your engine rev really high then cause a really loud clunk. That's what happened today when I tried to accelerate up a hill. Sounded like the truck was going to blow up for a sec. Needless to say it doesn't instill any sense of safety when you hear a noise like that.

 

[cletus]

Take it to the dealer.

My 2010 is a fast truck with absolutely no problems with acceleration. 7777 miles and I pull hard from a start or when passing.

 

[colin123]

Yea, dealerships have used this excuse on me before. They actually tried to use that as an excuse when I had the knock noise caused by the bent main pulley. I find this excuses used when they have no explaination or they are too lazy to isolate the problem.

However, bad gas won't make your engine rev really high then cause a really loud clunk. That's what happened today when I tried to accelerate up a hill. Sounded like the truck was going to blow up for a sec. Needless to say it doesn't instill any sense of safety when you hear a noise like that.

like a knock from detonation under heavy acceleration..... which would put it into the heavily retarded fuel fat map. i wouldn't really call it an excuse for them to tell you to used the recommended fuel or go to a higher octane to eliminate fuel as the problem its just part of the process of isolating a problem. start with the easiest to fix and work your way up.

you made the post asking if other have had this problem and your not the first to mention something like this. just giving an easy suggestion based on what i know that if it is the problem could save you the time and the hassle of dealing with the dealership since they will probably ask you what fuel you are using and tell you to do it anyway so if you do up octane and it does nothing when you do take it in and they mention that you can say i am running 90+ and that moves the process onto the next possibility. just trying to help you out

 

[Jordo]

^ true, cant hurt. Let us know what happens when you take it in to the dealer.I am very curious to see how this pans out.

 

[mwnaylor]

Believe it or not, I've spoken with multiple mechanics in the area who work on a range of vehicles from high end vehicles like Porsche to Ford, and all have said the past few years they've replaced more fuel pumps and fuel system parts than years before since the introduction of high ethanol levels in the gas. Fuel manufacturers say it's safe for cars with fuel injection, but I've noticed a huge difference in my family's cars in switching to 89 octane or higher.

Also, I worked in a small engine shop and 87 (with ethanol levels above 10%) is terrible for two-cycle and four stroke engines such as yard power equipment and boat motors. Just as a side note figured I'd throw that in there... and fuel system problems are not covered by any manufacturer's warranty. We tested some of the fuel in our area and found some stations have up to 25% ethanol, and apparently in North Carolina they don't have to tell you unless it's racing fuel...

 

[Jordo]

Believe it or not, I've spoken with multiple mechanics in the area who work on a range of vehicles from high end vehicles like Porsche to Ford, and all have said the past few years they've replaced more fuel pumps and fuel system parts than years before since the introduction of high ethanol levels in the gas. Fuel manufacturers say it's safe for cars with fuel injection, but I've noticed a huge difference in my family's cars in switching to 89 octane or higher.

Also, I worked in a small engine shop and 87 (with ethanol levels above 10%) is terrible for two-cycle and four stroke engines such as yard power equipment and boat motors. Just as a side note figured I'd throw that in there... and fuel system problems are not covered by any manufacturer's warranty. We tested some of the fuel in our area and found some stations have up to 25% ethanol, and apparently in North Carolina they don't have to tell you unless it's racing fuel...

Believable. I worked at a proformance only shop for 5+ years. We did alot of fuel testing, and ethanol is murder to engines. We had a 2008 Suzuki GSXR600 with some porting, fairly aggressive cam and a advanced ing timing.

We were testing diffrent fuels with that bike on the dyno. We used pump gas, no ethanol as a base line. It ran fine, no issues. Tested some other high end fuels and had some impressive results.

Then for kicks, we used some ethanol fuel to show the customer how bad ethanol was. (we had been talking about it prior)

Power was down 10% from the non ethanol pump gas! (and about 25% from race fuel!!!)