2008 Nissan Frontier: whining or grinding noise

6 of the 136 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Frontier describe whining or grinding noise.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 4%
typical mileage: 80,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Whining or grinding noise by model year

2022
1
2008
6
2007
8
2006
7
2005
4

What owners say

Filed Dec 14, 2018 · Engine · 128,000 miles · FL

This vehicle has known timing belt issues. The vehicle starts making a loud noise(whining) that gets louder as I drive faster on any road. This is a common problem and nissan has not done anything to correct this problem. It will cost over 2400 dollars to fix this problem and nissan doesn't seem to recall for this issue

Filed Feb 2, 2017 · Engine · 69,000 miles · CA

The engine makes a whining noise that increases in frequency with engine RPM. The truck has 69,000 miles on it but the noise has been apparent for some time. I took the truck to the dealer and was informed that the secondary timing chain tensioners were worn out and needed to be replaced at a cost of $1,800.

Filed Mar 30, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 88,779 miles · NM

Heard a high pitched whining noise coming from the engine of my nissan 2008 crew cab 4 wheel drive frontier. Made an appointment to have the issue evaluated at the same nissan dealership where I purchased the vehicle (nissan of atlantic city - formerly admiral nissan). I purchased the used frontier in june 2011; approximate mileage was 40 - 41k. I also purchased an extended warranty at that time - 48 months, 48 thousand miles (expiration 6/15/15). After evaluating the problem, a nissan service manager told me that the noise was coming from the timing chain and its components - cost of repair $1900.00 - 2000.00 plus 7% sales tax. I asked him if the repair was covered by the extended warranty I purchased. He said no! He informed me that my extended warranty had expired for mileage; I was over by a few hundred miles. This is an existing problem. Nissan had know of, and been dealing with this issue well before I purchased my 2008 frontier in june 2011. However, this information was never made available directly to the consumer. When the engine whine first began it was low - barely noticeable, but the more I drove the worse it got. If I had been aware of the service bulletins sent to the dealers about this issue, I would have had the vehicle checked out before the warranty expired; the extended warranty had a $50.00 deductible. My final cost for the repair on 3/28/15 was $1974.16. Nissan of america is at fault and so is the dealership - nissan of atlantic city. They are both responsible because they both had the information about existing timing chain problems and failed to disclose it.

Filed Feb 12, 2015 · Engine · 48,000 miles · VA

I have a 2008 nissan frontier with only 48,000 miles on it. I noticed that the engine started to whine and took it to a local mechanic. Come to find out that this is a known issue and it will cost $1,500 to repair. I took a look on the internet and there are a lot of people stating that they have the same problem. I think that nissan should be pressured to send out a recall to pay for the repairs on these engines.

Filed Jan 26, 2014 · Engine · 54,500 miles · KS

All of a sudden I heard a whining noise that I had never heard in my 2008 nissan frontier 4.0 truck. The noise is new and over the last week or so, it comes and goes. Vehicle went out of warranty 2.5 months ago at 5 yrs 2.5 months old. 54500 miles on the truck. The whine pitch increases with engine speed. In neutral as you rev the engine you hear the whine noise go up and down with the rpms. Very disappointing to think I am stuck with a large $1500 timing belt issue with what I thought was a well designed vehicle from a company I thought I could trust high quality.

Filed Jan 15, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · MA

A whining or buzzing type noise has develop from the timing chain area caused by excess slack in the secondary timing chains. Nissan has issued a service bulletin (ntb09-128) regarding this issue. Replacement of both secondary timing chains and their tensioner shoes will be necessary to repair this concern. My 2008 frontier has 89k miles on it (out of nissan's 60k warranty) and has been whining for sometime now. Nissan knows of this problem per the previously mentioned tsp. It is my worry that if the chain breaks or fails while driving it the motor will instantly stop/fail and possibly lock up therefore putting myself and family and or others at great risk for injury.