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
26,000 miles · Apr 17, 2006
Unknown Or Other
I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON FEBRUARY 25, 2006. THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETELY LIED TO ME .WHILE I WAS SIGNING THE PAPERS THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PAYMENT PLAN WAS OF THREE YEARS. BUT THEY LIED TO ME BECAUSE IT IS REALLY FOR SIX YEARS. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICE SO I RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THEY TOLD ME THAT NOW…
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I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON FEBRUARY 25, 2006. THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETELY LIED TO ME .WHILE I WAS SIGNING THE PAPERS THEY TOLD ME THAT MY PAYMENT PLAN WAS OF THREE YEARS. BUT THEY LIED TO ME BECAUSE IT IS REALLY FOR SIX YEARS. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICE SO I RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THEY TOLD ME THAT NOW IT WAS TOO LATE. THAT IS THE REASON I WANT TO CANCEL THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10155548
50,000 miles · Feb 28, 2006
Equipment
I HAVE A 2004 FRONTIER EXTENDED CAB. MY CD PLAYER FAILS TO WORK THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I COMMUTE TO WORK FOR A LONG DISTANCE MY MILEAGE EXCEEDS THE WARRANTY NOW BEFORE THE 3 YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A CD PLAYER THAT LASTS LONGER THAN 20 MONTHS. COME ON NOW I HAVE BEEN A NISSAN OWNER SINCE 1984 I HAVE …
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I HAVE A 2004 FRONTIER EXTENDED CAB. MY CD PLAYER FAILS TO WORK THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I COMMUTE TO WORK FOR A LONG DISTANCE MY MILEAGE EXCEEDS THE WARRANTY NOW BEFORE THE 3 YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A CD PLAYER THAT LASTS LONGER THAN 20 MONTHS. COME ON NOW I HAVE BEEN A NISSAN OWNER SINCE 1984 I HAVE OWNED 5 NISSANS. THIS MAY BE MY LAST ONE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10151378
2,500 miles · Feb 3, 2006
SeatsCrashInjury
I BOUGHT A NEW NISSAN FRONTIER IN NOVEMBER 2004, I WAS REAR ENDED ON 1-19-2005. I HAVE HAD 32 NEEDLES STUCK IN ME SINCE THAT TIME INCLUDING AND IDET FOR AN INTERNALLY DISRUPTED DISC. I FEEL THAT THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE LUMBAR SUPPORT WAS EITHER NOT IN THE VEHICLE, OR THAT IT WAS NOT FAULTY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD…
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I BOUGHT A NEW NISSAN FRONTIER IN NOVEMBER 2004, I WAS REAR ENDED ON 1-19-2005. I HAVE HAD 32 NEEDLES STUCK IN ME SINCE THAT TIME INCLUDING AND IDET FOR AN INTERNALLY DISRUPTED DISC. I FEEL THAT THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE LUMBAR SUPPORT WAS EITHER NOT IN THE VEHICLE, OR THAT IT WAS NOT FAULTY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD DEFLATE ON IMPACT (IN GENERAL), HOWEVER MINE IS HARD AS A ROCK. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10149340
8,000 miles · Nov 28, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA. THE VEHICLE …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD PANEL AND FRONT SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB UPDATED 03/09/06.
NHTSA ODI #10143786
3,900 miles · Apr 12, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE NORMAL CRUSING RPM IS AROUND 2300 ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THE INITIAL DATE OF 6/25/2004, I BEGAN TO NOTE THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL, DURING A DOWNSHIFT INTO A PASSING GEAR, SUCH AS CLIMBING A GRADE, THE MOTOR INCREASES TO 3500 RPMS. UPON LEVELING OFF, THE CRUIS…
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I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE NORMAL CRUSING RPM IS AROUND 2300 ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THE INITIAL DATE OF 6/25/2004, I BEGAN TO NOTE THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL, DURING A DOWNSHIFT INTO A PASSING GEAR, SUCH AS CLIMBING A GRADE, THE MOTOR INCREASES TO 3500 RPMS. UPON LEVELING OFF, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALLOW THE MOTOR TO REDUCE THE RPM'S BACK DOWN TO CRUSIING LEVEL OF 23-2500 RPM. I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO BRAKE OR CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE THE RPM BACK TO NORMAL. THE NISSAN DEALER IN ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA HAS HAD THIS TRUCK ON 7/1/04, 7/28/04, AND 8/11/04 ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. THE LAST OCCASION, THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS WITH NO LUCK. ON 9/8/04, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD CODE THAT NISSAN ENGINEERING WOULD HAVE TO RESOLVE AND HE WOULD NOTIFY ME. SEVEN MONTHS LATER I'VE HEARD NOTHING SO I INQUIRED TODAY WHILE MY TRUCK WAS BEING SERVICED. HE ADVISED THAT THERE IS STILL NO FIX AND HE HAS A LIST OF SIX CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM/COMPLAINT. THE ACS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ACTUATOR AND A RELAY WITH NO SUCCESS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10116826
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Tires
THE REAR BF GOODRICH TIRE BLEWOUT ON THE CONSUMER'S NEW 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. *BF
NHTSA ODI #10113312
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
100 miles · Jan 10, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE ABOVE REFERENCED NEW TRUCK FROM LEBLANC NISSAN IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2004. IMMEDIATELY, WE NOTICED THAT HOT AIR WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER DASH VENTS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT NOT FIXED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE MESH IN THE VENT SC…
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MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE ABOVE REFERENCED NEW TRUCK FROM LEBLANC NISSAN IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2004. IMMEDIATELY, WE NOTICED THAT HOT AIR WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER DASH VENTS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT NOT FIXED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE MESH IN THE VENT SCREEN IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE FRESH AIR IS INDUCED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE MESH WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW DEBRIS TO ENTER AND ACCUMULATE. THE REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM ON 2004 MODELS WAS TO MAKE THE MESH IN THE SCREEN VERY FINE. HOWEVER, THE FINER MESH CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE TO THE INDUCTION OF FRESH AIR FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR INTO THE HEATING/VENTILATION SYSTEM. THIS INCREASED RESISTANCE CAUSES THE VENTILATION SYSTEM TO DRAW HEATED, AND POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED AIR, FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NISSAN?S FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO PLACE DUCT TAPE OVER VARIOUS HOLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM WHERE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS DRAWING AIR. THE DUCT TAPE WAS APPLIED, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE 2 CENTER VENTS ON A DAY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 78 DEGREES. THE AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS MEASURED 96 DEGREES. LEBLANC NISSAN REPEATED THIS TEST WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT AND OBTAINED TEMPERATURES OF ALMOST 100 DEGREES ON A DAY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS LESS THAN 78 DEGREES. THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK IS UNCOMFORTABLY HOT OR COLD IS BAD ENOUGH. THE FAR MORE SERIOUS ASPECT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM TO INTRODUCE DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10106086
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
700 miles · Oct 15, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. WHILE SHIFTING THE GEARS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHILE ENGAGING INTO GEARS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THEY NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITI…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. WHILE SHIFTING THE GEARS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHILE ENGAGING INTO GEARS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THEY NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM AFTER 7 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STILL HAD PROBLEMS. AFTER GETTING NO RESULTS AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE CONSUMER AND GENERAL MANAGER GOT INTO AN ARGUEMENT WHERE THE MANAGER THREATENED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER ON HIS WAY OUT SAW ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM THE GENERAL MANAGER MADE THE CONSUMER LEAVE THE STORE OR PROMISED TO CALL THE POLICE. *TC
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