1998 Nissan FRONTIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 89 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.5% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 14 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Electrical System: 14; Tires: 10; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Tires:Sidewall: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 56 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 23 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 23; 2001: 11; 2002: 8; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2007: 7; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021884 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
ON APRIL 2003 DIGITAL INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WENT BROKE/ODOMETER WENT 999999/TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT HIGH, AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022343 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH WILDERNESS HT TIRES. *MR THERE WAS A BAD VIBRATION. THE INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 6-8" SPLITS IN THE CENTER OF THE TREAD/GROOVE. *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023110 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)
THE FRONT SEATS HAVE NO SPRING SUSPENSION. YOU ARE BASICALLY SITTING IN A PAN OF FOAM. THE PAN THAT THE SEAT CUSHION SITS IN COMES UP UNDER THE SEAT SIDE BOLSTERS. AS THE FOAM LOOSES IT'S DENSITY AND SUPPORT YOU EVENTUALLY END UP SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THIS PAN. THIS CAUSES CIRCULATION, AND NERVE PROBLEMS IN THE THIGHS. I DRIVE ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILES A WEEK . I PURCHASED A NEW LOWER SEAT CUSHION FROM NISSAN OF BRANDON. THE NEW CUSHION ASSEMBLY'S FOAM WAS NOT AS DENSE AS THE ORIGINAL. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR IN THE SEAT BOTH LEGS BEGAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 195,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051279 · 2003-12-29 (December 29, 2003)
DOORS HAVE POWER WINDOWS THAT WERE MADE LOOSE WHEN NEW SO YOU COULD NOT DRIVE WITH WINDOWS PARTIALY DOWN. THEY HAD TO BE COMPLETELYLOWERED TO DRIVE WITHOUT WOBBLING. THIS IS AN AIR CONDITIONED TRUCK, SO THE WINDOWS DON'T GET USED THAT MUCH, BUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF RATTLING LOOSELY WHEN WINDING UP OR DOWN. THEY WOBBLE AT LEAST AN INCH SIDEWAYS. AS I'VE BEEN SEEING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FRONTIER PICKUPS AND XTERA SUV'S, I'D THOUGHT I'D LIKE NISSAN TO KNOW THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053981 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF INTO A FIELD AND HIT A FENCE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE BEARING(S) WERE BURNT AND THERE WAS A FLUID LIKE SLUDGE AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074428 · 2004-05-28 (May 28, 2004)
WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH PEDAL SUPPORT BAR BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN STALLED OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090031 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P215/65R15, DOT#W2ZFNNA377. TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. VEHICLE ENDED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT NOTHNG WAS HIT TO CAUSE THE TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE THE TRIP. IT WAS ALSO CHECK 30 MIN PRIOR TO THE BLOWOUT BECUASE THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION N THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH TIMES THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105558 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEARLER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105558 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V064000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 1998-03-25 (March 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V065000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1998-03-25 (March 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗