2004 Nissan FRONTIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 66 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
Steering: 7; Engine: 6; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 5; Tires: 5; Air Bags: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2004: 8; 2005: 5; 2006: 6; 2007: 1; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10062565 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
BRAND NEW VEHICLE ON WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASE STARTED TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80 MPH ON OPEN HIGHWAY. THIS WAS DISTRACTING FOR DRIVER AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HOLD STEADY TRACKING DOWN ROAD. THIS WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WITHIN 48 HOURS. DEALER RE-BALANCED FRONT TIRES. THE SAME DRIVING PERFORMANCE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND UNUSUALLY AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE 5-10 MILES CONTINUAL DISTANCE. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK DAILY ON INTERSTATE 95 IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND AFTER A FEW MILES THIS SHAKING STARTS HAPPENING AT VARING SPEEDS A…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072193 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED A TRANSMISSION SWITCH DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073647 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO CORROSION. *AK DEALER REALIGNED FRONT END DUE TO INCORRECT ALIGNMENT. FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED BY A TIRE DEALER BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT OF BALANCE. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL IS LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 1,656 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075451 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING FROM 50- 70 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, HOWEVER PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE DEALER MOVED THE SHAFT 1/4 TURN AND THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL DOES IN FACT EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 164 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083211 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED IT ROLLED DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE OF 50-60 FEET AND ROLLED INTO A RAVINE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089961 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097001 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102215 · 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10102215 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V554000 · Steering:Column
Reported: 2010-11-11 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗