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2004 Nissan Armada

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Armada years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Armada are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

378 reports with mileage · 86 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 157 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Power Train complaints

19 reports
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220,000 miles · Feb 23, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

THE VEHICLE WILL START HAVING ERRATIC RPMS, HESITATION TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE RPMS WILL NOT GO ABOVE 2000-2500 OR BELOW 1000-300 WITHOUT SEVERE HESITATION, THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING NO MATTER IF STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL HAPPENS... NO BRAKES, POWE…

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THE VEHICLE WILL START HAVING ERRATIC RPMS, HESITATION TO ACCELERATE, ENGINE RPMS WILL NOT GO ABOVE 2000-2500 OR BELOW 1000-300 WITHOUT SEVERE HESITATION, THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING NO MATTER IF STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL HAPPENS... NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING, NO ACCELERATION. EVERY LIGHT TURNS ON ON DASH AND IF YOUR DRIVING AT THE TIME YOU BETTER HOPE THAT YOU CAN QUICKLY THROW IT IN NEUTRAL, CRANK THE ENGINE AT LEAST 2-4 TIMES BEFORE IT'LL START UP, THEN KICK IT BACK IN DRIVE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN SO YOU CAN PULL OVER SOMEWHERE SAFE BEFORE YOU GET INTO A SERIOUS WRECK. TAKING IT TO NISSAN WAS POINTLESS SINCE AFTER YOU GET THE ARMADA RESTARTED, IT DOESN'T RETAIN ANY CODES THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN USE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM NOR CAN THE MECHANIC REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON TEST DRIVES. AT WHICH POINT I LOOK LIKE I'M THE CRAZY ONE, THEN THEY SEND ME OFF ON MY WAY WITH NO ANSWERS. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM THAT THE ARMADA HAD LONG BEFORE THIS PROBLEM, DURING IT, AND CURRENTLY IS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH, TOO, IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT PLAGUES OTHER ARMADAS WHICH NISSAN REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS HARD TO SUPPORT WITH PICS OR DOCUMENTS SINCE IT ALMOST ALWAYS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION SO YOU'RE TOO OCCUPIED TRYING NOT TO KILL YOURSELF OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD AND WHEN YOU DO GO TO NISSAN THERE NO CODES TO PULL SINCE I GUESS THE VEHICLE ERASES IT AFTER THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. FEELS LIKE I'M CHASING MY TAIL...

NHTSA ODI #11397484

134,000 miles · Feb 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #11181574

88,680 miles · Jan 22, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND STOPPED 10 FEET BEHIND A PICK-UP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES HARDER, STOPPED THEN THE CAR SURGED AGAIN HITTING THE PICK-UP TWICE EACH TIME AFTER STOPPING WHEN PUSHING HARDER ON THE BRAKES. IT IS ONLY AFTER PUTTING IN NEUTRAL THAT IT ALLOWED ME TO CONTROL IT AND PULL OV…

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I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND STOPPED 10 FEET BEHIND A PICK-UP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES HARDER, STOPPED THEN THE CAR SURGED AGAIN HITTING THE PICK-UP TWICE EACH TIME AFTER STOPPING WHEN PUSHING HARDER ON THE BRAKES. IT IS ONLY AFTER PUTTING IN NEUTRAL THAT IT ALLOWED ME TO CONTROL IT AND PULL OVER TO EXCHANGE DRIVER INFORMATION. THE SAME HAPPENED WHILE WAITING TO FILL-UP WITH GAS IN MARCH 2018. I ALMOST HIT A SMALL CAR. I PUT IT INTO PARK AT WHICH TIME THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #11171372

126,000 miles · May 18, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A TEMPORARY SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED THE REPAIR HIMSELF; HO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A TEMPORARY SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED THE REPAIR HIMSELF; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10986331

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

BRAKES, AT ABOUT 65MPH CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY, TV IN THE MIDDLE SOUNDS LIKE ITS FALLING OUT, ENGINE TURNING OVER BUT NOT STARTING

NHTSA ODI #10910467

319,000 miles · Nov 20, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A FEW SECONDS DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS IN A JERKING MOTION UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A FEW SECONDS DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS IN A JERKING MOTION UNTIL AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 319,000.

NHTSA ODI #10795010

137,000 miles · Feb 24, 2015
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE STALLED W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTIFREEZE HAD MIXED TOGETHER CAUSING THE COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10690361

76,646 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MY 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA, RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK WITCH MADE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX WITH MY COOLANT FLUID AN NOW I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND A RADIATOR . NISSAN FAILS TO HELP ME WITH MY ISSUE. WHEN THERE WAS A EARLIER LAWSUIT ON A VERY SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN TRUCKS FROM 2005 TO 2010 . …

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MY 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA, RADIATOR HAD AN INTERNAL LEAK WITCH MADE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX WITH MY COOLANT FLUID AN NOW I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND A RADIATOR . NISSAN FAILS TO HELP ME WITH MY ISSUE. WHEN THERE WAS A EARLIER LAWSUIT ON A VERY SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN TRUCKS FROM 2005 TO 2010 . I HAVE NOW SPOKE WITH DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL THEIR TRUCKS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 76,646 MILES ON IT I WAS INFORMED THAT MY RADIATOR HAD A WARRANT OF ONLY 36,000 MILES WITCH I WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2008 BECAUSE HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM GIVE ME A NEW ONE RIGHT AWAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. [XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550856

127,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, LUNGE AND IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED HER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, LUNGE AND IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED HER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10519465

174,888 miles · May 9, 2013
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION HAS WATER DAMAGE DUE TO FAULTY RADIATOR. IT APPEARS COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHAMBERS HAVE BEEN BREACHED. AFTER WEB RESEARCH THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM NISSAN IS AWARE OF AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511240

Official recalls

1

10V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 28, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08004 · Side Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT

Opened Jan 25, 2008 · Closed May 30, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS.ALL VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE AIR CURTAINS.INSTALLATION OF THE INCORRECT SRS DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT DOES NOT IMPAIR DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND SIDE AIR CURTAIN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.NO REPORTS OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR BY NHTSA.THE WARRANTY REPORTS CITED ABOVE REPRESENT VEHICLE INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED IN 32 OF THESE CASES.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS A TOTAL OF 151 SENSOR UNITS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ALL PURPOSES.INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A LOW INCIDENCE OF SENSOR REPLACEMENT REQUIRED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO DATE.NO INCIDENTS OF REAL WORLD NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT AIR BAGS WERE IDENTIFIED.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.