2004 Nissan QUEST problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
445 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,822 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 320 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 445 complaints (13.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 66 | 14.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 56 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 28 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 53 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 38 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 29 |
| Power Train | 29 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Engine | 23 |
Electrical System: 61; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 53; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 38; Structure:Body:Door: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling: 29; Power Train: 29; Unknown Or Other: 24; Engine: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 142 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 41 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 37 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 55 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 142; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 55; 150,000 and above: 14
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (142). 125 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 111 |
| 2005 | 60 |
| 2006 | 52 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2003: 17; 2004: 111; 2005: 60; 2006: 52; 2007: 24; 2008: 24; 2009: 8; 2010: 22; 2011: 18; 2012: 19; 2013: 12; 2014: 18; 2015: 22; 2016: 12; 2017: 8; 2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10047906 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE HIT A CURB AND A LIGHT POLE. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES DRIVER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT.*AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053694 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION OPERATED POORLY. WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 25 MPH WITHIN 225 FEET WITHOUT PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL REALLY HARD TO SLOW DOWN. *AK THIS OCCURRED ON DOWNHILL SLOPES AND WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040056 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING ONTO THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED BECAUSE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE SUN SHINED ONTO THE DASHBOARD, THE REFLECTION REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED AN OBSTRUCTION AND DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE CORRECT MODEL YEAR 2004. FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GO UP AN INCLINE. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE TO LOW GEAR FOR THE POWER …
Owner-reported narrative. 173 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056803 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
I BOUGHT THIS 2004 NISSAN QUEST SE ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2003 AND TOOK A ROAD TRIP VISIT MY DAUGHTER 1300 MILES AWAY FORM MY HOME. DURING THE TRIP, WE NOTICED AIR INFILTRATION FROM THE PASSENGERS DOOR AND THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR. IN ADDITION TO THE AIR LEAKS, THE RIGHT SLIDING DOOR AND THE REAR HATCH RATTLED, SOMETIMES CONSTANTLY AND OTHER TIMES WHEN PASSING OVER IRREGULARITIES IN THE PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. THIS SINCE THESE ARE POWER DOORS I WOULD EXPECT THAT THERE IS A POSITIVE LA…
Owner-reported narrative. 165 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088111 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
THE 2004 QUEST HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR IS WARPED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053280 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAVE HAD A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SLIDING DOORS ON MY NEW 2004 NISSAN QUEST. WHAT STARTED AS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RATTLING OF THE REAR DOORS HAS ESCALATED TO THE POINT WHERE THE DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I'VE TAKEN THE QUEST IN TO HAVE THE DOORS ADJUSTED FIVE TIMES AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THE DOORS CONTINUE TO RATTLE. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO STOP THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM RATTLING, BUT THIS RESULTED IN A DOOR NOT ABLE TO BE OPENED USING THE EXTERIOR HANDLE, YOU HAD TO USE THE KEY-FOB OR IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105973 · 2005-01-08 (January 8, 2005)
WE GOT THE CAR IN DEC 2003. BETWEEN FEB 2004 AND APRIL 2004 THE CAR HAD 5-6 HARD STARS; IN MOST CASES IT TOOK LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO HAVE IT STARTED AND ONLY ONE TIME MORE THAN AN HOUR. I LEFT IT THERE AND CAME BACK AFTER 5 H.---IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN HOUSTON TX.. DEC 20 2004 IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, SECOND DAY OF OUR HOLYDAY VACATION. I?VE TRIED TO START IT FOR MORE THAN 3 HOURS, UNTIL THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. FINALLY THE DEALER PICKED IT UP. AFTER ABOUT 10 DAY THE NISSAN ?TRAINED? AUTO MECHANIC COMES UP …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053869 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086993 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
WE BOUGHT OUR BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN QUEST S ON 7-30-04. THE NEXT DAY IT RAN VERY SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UP TO ADEQUETE SPEED FROM A STOP. IT STALLED OUT TWICE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL PUMP AND SOME KIND OF GASKET. THEY ALSO ORDERED US A NEW VEHICLE AND WAS VERY COOPERATIVE AND HELPFUL. I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY THE NEXT 10 YEARS IF MY CAR WAS GOING TO BREAK DOWN WITH MY SMALL CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT MY EXPECTATION OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081336 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
WE PURCHASED THIS VAN IN SEP OF 2003. AT THE END OF OCT I WENT OUT TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THE VAN WOULDN'T START. WE HAD IT TOWED (MY EXPENSE) TO THE DEALER. ONCE IT ARRIVED THERE IT STARTED FINE. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING AND WE JUST WAITED UNTIL IT WARMED UP AND IT STARTED JUST FINE. WE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS DOING THIS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 34 DEGREES. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VAN FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS. THEY FINALLY TOLD US THAT THEY WERE FLYING IN A TECHNICIAN FROM CALIFORNIA TO CHANGE THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081336 at NHTSA ↗