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2004 Nissan Frontier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Frontier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

47 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Structure complaints

7 reports
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78,900 miles · Apr 6, 2021
EngineSteeringStructure

DEALER SOLD A VEHICLE AS A FLORIDA 2 OWNER VEHICLE. I DID ANOTHER CARFAX ON IT AFTER I MADE THE PURCHASE TO DISCOVER DEALER SOLD IT TO SOMEONE IN TN AND THEY TITLED IT. THEN THEY RETURNED IT. DEALER SOLD IT TO ME WITHOUT HAVING TITLE ON HAND. VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED AND DROPPED OFF AT MY HOUSE WITHOUT ME BEING THERE TO LOOK IT OVER.…

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DEALER SOLD A VEHICLE AS A FLORIDA 2 OWNER VEHICLE. I DID ANOTHER CARFAX ON IT AFTER I MADE THE PURCHASE TO DISCOVER DEALER SOLD IT TO SOMEONE IN TN AND THEY TITLED IT. THEN THEY RETURNED IT. DEALER SOLD IT TO ME WITHOUT HAVING TITLE ON HAND. VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED AND DROPPED OFF AT MY HOUSE WITHOUT ME BEING THERE TO LOOK IT OVER. THEY NEVER TOLD ME WHEN IT WOULD BE SHIPPED. WHEN MY MECHANIC INSPECTED IT HE SEEN MANY ISSUES. ONE WAS THERE WERE PARTS ON THE TRUCKS STEERING THAT DID NOT BELONG. IT HAD THE WRONG SWAY BAR LINKS INSTALLED. WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN STEERING HITS THE SWAY BAR AND IT LITERALLY BENDS THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. THERE ARE MANY POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX IS LEAKING AS WELL AS POWER STEERING LINES. DEFINITELY NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED WHEN MAKING THE PURCHASE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. COOLANT SENSOR AS WELL AS ENGINE KNOCK SENSORS. WHEN UNDER THE VEHICLE YOU CAN HEAR LOUD BANGING. MECHANIC SUSPECTS CONNECTOR RODS AND/OR MAIN BEARINGS MEANING MOTOR IS ON ITS LAST LEG. LASTLY, DEALERSHIP HAS NOT SENT TITLE NOR ANY PAPERWORK ON IT. ALL I GOT WAS A BROKEN DOWN TRUCK LEAKING FLUIDS LEFT IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11406666

90,000 miles · Apr 3, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainStructure

THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WORKED ON MULTIPLE TIMES FOR RUST, CORROSION, GAS TANK LEAKS, BEARINGS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IT CONTINUES TO RUST AND CORRODE. THE MOTOR RUNS WELL BUT THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED EVEN WITH EXCELLENT CARE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO CORRODE AND LEAK. I TH…

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THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WORKED ON MULTIPLE TIMES FOR RUST, CORROSION, GAS TANK LEAKS, BEARINGS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IT CONTINUES TO RUST AND CORRODE. THE MOTOR RUNS WELL BUT THE VEHICLE HAS RUSTED EVEN WITH EXCELLENT CARE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. THE GAS TANK HAS BEEN FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CONTINUES TO CORRODE AND LEAK. I THINK THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES NEED TO BE CHECKED ON. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS CORRODED AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE EVERY TIME THAT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP WITH THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #11320150

123,000 miles · Jul 27, 2014
Power TrainStructure

I NOTICED SMALL OIL STAINS UNDER THE NISSAN WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AT WORK, AND ANYWHERE I WOULD STOP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THE OIL PAN IS RUSTING THROUGH. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IF THE MOTOR WOULD LOCK UP AT A…

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I NOTICED SMALL OIL STAINS UNDER THE NISSAN WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AT WORK, AND ANYWHERE I WOULD STOP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THE OIL PAN IS RUSTING THROUGH. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IF THE MOTOR WOULD LOCK UP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. GOT A QUOTE OF $1500 TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN. SEEMS KIND OF STEEP CONSIDERING I AM NOT THE ONE WHO PUT THE, IN MY OPINION, SUB PAR OIL PAN ON THESE VEHICLES. UPDATED 4/8/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10616626

115,000 miles · Jan 17, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire

AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK (AROUND 15 MILES), THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK, AND WENT TO MY OFFICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A MECHANIC. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, A POLICE OFFICER CALLED BECAUSE MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PARKING STRUCTU…

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AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK (AROUND 15 MILES), THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK, AND WENT TO MY OFFICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A MECHANIC. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, A POLICE OFFICER CALLED BECAUSE MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PARKING STRUCTURE, AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING MELTING MANY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD, AS WELL AS SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560434

150,000 miles · Aug 5, 2008
Structure

CORROSION IN HEAT AFFECTED ZONES ON THE VEHICLE FRAME ARE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE. REPORTING IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236965

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2005
Structure

THE BASE MODEL 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER IS SOLD WITHOUT THE REAR BUMPER CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE LACK OF A BUMPER WOULD TRANSFER 100% OF THE ENERGY FROM THE IMPACT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR, INJURING THE TRUCK'S OCCUPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, A REAR BUMPER WOULD STOP A VEHICLE FROM BEING PUSHED…

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THE BASE MODEL 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER IS SOLD WITHOUT THE REAR BUMPER CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE LACK OF A BUMPER WOULD TRANSFER 100% OF THE ENERGY FROM THE IMPACT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR, INJURING THE TRUCK'S OCCUPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, A REAR BUMPER WOULD STOP A VEHICLE FROM BEING PUSHED UNDER THE FRONTIER IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10106567

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2004
Structure

I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SITUATION. NISSAN SELLS FRONTIER TRUCKS (CALLED THE "BASE" MODEL) WITHOUT REAR BUMPERS. I RECEIVED A TICKET WHILE DRIVING MY NEW VEHICLE, HAVING BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS ILLEGAL. NISSAN DENIES THIS. IN ANY CASE, IT WOULD SEEM TO COMPROMISE SAFETY IN PERSONS PURCHASING NISSAN FRONT…

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I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SITUATION. NISSAN SELLS FRONTIER TRUCKS (CALLED THE "BASE" MODEL) WITHOUT REAR BUMPERS. I RECEIVED A TICKET WHILE DRIVING MY NEW VEHICLE, HAVING BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS ILLEGAL. NISSAN DENIES THIS. IN ANY CASE, IT WOULD SEEM TO COMPROMISE SAFETY IN PERSONS PURCHASING NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102215

Official recalls

1

10V554000 · Steering:column

Nov 11, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.