Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
1225–50K
650–75K
875–100K
7100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
66 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2008
Power TrainFire
2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. DRIVER WAS PULLING A PICKUP TRUCK ON A TOW DOLLY. ANOTHER MOTORIST POINTED AT THE TOWED VEHICLE THEN THE DRIVER PULLED ON THE BERM AND DISCOVERED THE TOWED PICKUP WAS BURNING FROM THE UNDERSIDE, FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *NJ THE VEHICLE HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS NOT DISCONNECTED WHICH…
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2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. DRIVER WAS PULLING A PICKUP TRUCK ON A TOW DOLLY. ANOTHER MOTORIST POINTED AT THE TOWED VEHICLE THEN THE DRIVER PULLED ON THE BERM AND DISCOVERED THE TOWED PICKUP WAS BURNING FROM THE UNDERSIDE, FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *NJ THE VEHICLE HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS NOT DISCONNECTED WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE OVERHEATED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0598-90. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10244813
61,000 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING VAPORS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER THREE MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. IN AD…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING VAPORS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER THREE MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE THE FUEL TANK AVAILABLE TO THE DEALERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10243180
70,000 miles · Aug 23, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON IN MAY VEHICLE. I HAD IT CHECKED AND IT TURNS OUT THE GAS TANK/ HOSE CONNECTION TO THE TANK IS RUSTED CAUSING A FUME LEAK. THIS LEAK CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IS VERY STRONG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2006. I HAD TO ORDER A REPLACEME…
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON IN MAY VEHICLE. I HAD IT CHECKED AND IT TURNS OUT THE GAS TANK/ HOSE CONNECTION TO THE TANK IS RUSTED CAUSING A FUME LEAK. THIS LEAK CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IS VERY STRONG OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THIS OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2006. I HAD TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT TANK WHICH IS ON BACKORDER UNTIL SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239435
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
32,000 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Tires
I HAVE THESE TIRES ORIGINAL FROM NISSAN WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. AFTER 28,000 MILES, THEY WOULD JUST PEEL OFF ON THE TOP LAYER AND LEAVE THE REST OF THE TIRE INTACT. AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK BY A SLAPPING ACTION OF THE PEELED LAYER. THEY SHOULD NOTIFY ALL CONSUMERS OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236510
29,000 miles · Jul 14, 2008
Tires
I'VE HAD 2 GENERAL AW GRABBER TIRES LOSE THE TREAD ON ME WHILE DRIVING. SIZE IS P225 70 R15. JUST LOST THE TREAD ON ONE YESTERDAY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234175
25,000 miles · Aug 23, 2007
Visibility
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WEREN'T WORKING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ZIMBRICK NISSAN IN MADISON, WI. THEY FOUND THAT THE SPLINES WERE STRIPPED OFF THE WIPER ARMS. RATHER THAN REPLACING THE ARMS WITH NEW ONES, THEY GLUED THE NONFUNCTIONAL ARMS BACK ON THE VEHICLE WITH LOCKTITE AND STATED IN WRITING THAT EVERYTHING WAS NOW WORKING FINE.. TH…
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MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WEREN'T WORKING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ZIMBRICK NISSAN IN MADISON, WI. THEY FOUND THAT THE SPLINES WERE STRIPPED OFF THE WIPER ARMS. RATHER THAN REPLACING THE ARMS WITH NEW ONES, THEY GLUED THE NONFUNCTIONAL ARMS BACK ON THE VEHICLE WITH LOCKTITE AND STATED IN WRITING THAT EVERYTHING WAS NOW WORKING FINE.. THESE DAMAGED ARMS COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME AND IF THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF VISION. IF THE DRIVER IS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND/OR AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY THERE COULD BE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIFE. I COMPLAINED TO NISSAN ABOUT THIS, BUT THE PERSON, WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE WORKER, SAID THAT THE DEALER HAD A FREE HAND TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REUSE OF A DAMAGED PART ON AN IMPORTANT SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND THEY SAID THAT WAS THE DEALERS DISCRETION ALSO. I DON'T THINK THAT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PUT DAMAGED PARTS ON VEHICLES THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200551
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2006
EquipmentVisibility
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER WHEN ACTIVATED, TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS THE NORMAL PROCEDURE. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174909
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2006
Equipment
CD PLAYER FAILURE. FAILS TO CD. ONLY CLICKING SOUND. I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. A CD PLAYER SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN 25 MONTHS. CAR IS OVER MILAGE SO THERE IS NO WARRENTY FIX POSSIBLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10169035
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2006
Power TrainCrashInjury
GEAR SHIFTER IN AUTOMATIC 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK CAN SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WITH OUT THE TRUCK RUNNING OR WITHOUT KEYS. *JB
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.
2004 Nissan Frontier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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