IllustrationTIRE DEFECT WAS FOUND BY MECHANIC ON OIL CHANGE BEFORE I WENT ON VACTION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2VF TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )
1998 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Frontier years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Frontier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
225–50K
750–75K
375–100K
13100–150K
7150K+
33 reports with mileage · 96 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
Tires complaints
23 reportsI WAS TRAVELLING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE NEAR ORLANDO AT 70MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THE SHAKING BECAME MORE VIOLENT. SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS A TERRIFIC BANG, THE SOUND OF TEARING METAL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND PULL ON TO THE SHOULD…
Read full complaint
I WAS TRAVELLING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE NEAR ORLANDO AT 70MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THE SHAKING BECAME MORE VIOLENT. SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS A TERRIFIC BANG, THE SOUND OF TEARING METAL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND PULL ON TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I SAW THAT THE FRONT, LEFT TIRE HAD LOST ITS TREAD. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED $1500+ *AKDOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. IT COST ME $250 DEDUCTIBLE AND I ALSO HAD TO BUY A NEW SET OF TIRES. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED TIRE. I WENT TO A FIRESTONE DEALER WITH THE DAMAGED TIRE AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD MORE THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM. AM I ENTITLED TO RECOVER THE DEDUCTIBLE I PAID FROM FIRESTONE???*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/65R15 )
ALL BUT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES BLEW, TWO TIRES BLEW WHILE TRAVELING 60 MILES PER HOUR ALMOST WRECKING THE VEHICLE DUE TO FISHTAILING. YH
Official recalls
298V064000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Mar 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A SECURING PIN INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY CAN COME LOOSE ALLOWING THE SHIFT LEVER TO BE INADVERTENTLY MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
98V065000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Mar 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BUCKET SEATS. IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT CAN SLIP BETWEEN THE SEAT BOTTOM FINISHER AND THE SEAT BACK PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE WHERE IT CAN BE CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL PORTION OF THE RECLINER LEVER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BELT IS COMPLETELY SEVERED, IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE END OF THE SEAT BACK RECLINING LEVER FWITH A DIFFERENT SHAPE HANDLE WHICH WILL PREVENT THE SEAT BELT FROM SLIPPING BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE SEAT.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.