Nissan Frontier Recall Issued for Daytime Running Lamp Malfunction

Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling approximately 13,719 of its 2025 model year Frontier light trucks due to a defect that can cause a momentary dimming of the daytime running lamps (DRLs). The issue is linked to the vehicle’s Idle Stop-Start (ISS) system and a software logic error within the Engine Control Module (ECM). This recall affects vehicles manufactured between December 12, 2024, and June 17, 2025, and is specific to models equipped with DRLs and the affected ECM software. No other Nissan or INFINITI models are impacted by this particular defect.

The safety concern arises from a potential software glitch in the ECM of the affected Nissan Frontier trucks. When the ISS system activates, automatically shutting off the engine at a complete stop and restarting it when the driver prepares to move, it can cause a brief disruption in communication with the Body Control Module. This communication error results in the DRLs experiencing a momentary, approximately 0.3-second reduction in light intensity. This flickering occurs each time the ISS system cycles, meaning the DRLs may not consistently meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, which pertains to lamps and associated equipment. It is important to note that this condition is only present when the DRLs are active; they do not malfunction when the headlights are engaged, thus not compromising overall vehicle visibility in those instances.

The potential safety risk associated with this defect is that the perceptible change in the DRL’s brightness could be misinterpreted by other drivers or pedestrians. This misinterpretation could be perceived as a signal, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. The problem has no preceding warning indicators. Nissan North America, Inc. has identified specific Engine Control Module ROM software part numbers that are associated with this issue, affecting both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations, as well as various transmission and climate control settings.

The issue was first observed by a Nissan engineer on April 21, 2025, during a routine evaluation of a 2026 model year Nissan Frontier. The engineer noticed the momentary disruption of the DRLs upon the activation of the ISS system. Subsequent internal investigations throughout late April and May 2025 confirmed the brief reduction in DRL intensity with each ISS cycle. The investigation traced the root cause to a software update implemented on the ECM for an unrelated concern in what were described as “Model Year 2025.5” Frontier vehicles, which inadvertently affected the Body Control Module and DRL behavior.

Nissan initiated a software update to address the ECM logic causing the DRL disruption in June 2025 and simultaneously began assessing the potential impact on customer vehicles. By July 2025, Nissan determined that the condition could lead to non-compliance with FMVSS No. 108 and identified the potential safety risk of misinterpretation by other road users. Consequently, on July 31, 2025, Nissan decided to conduct a recall for vehicles potentially equipped with the affected ECM software. As of the submission of this report, Nissan is not aware of any warranty claims, accidents, or injuries linked to this specific condition.

The remedy for this recall involves a software update to the vehicle’s Engine Control Module, which will be performed by authorized dealers. This repair will be provided free of charge to owners for both parts and labor and is estimated to take approximately one hour to complete. Dealers are scheduled to be notified of the recall on August 8, 2025, and owners of potentially affected vehicles will begin receiving notification letters by first-class mail starting September 17, 2025. The VINs for affected vehicles will be searchable starting August 8, 2025. Nissan will not provide reimbursement for pre-notification repairs, as the affected vehicles are still under warranty.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Nissan North America, Inc. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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