2004 Nissan Frontier problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Tires (5) · Steering (5) · Fuel System, Gasoline (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Frontier model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
47 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:column 2010-11-11 · campaign 10V554000 · 500,552 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (47)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB13-028I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB09-081K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-03-13 · Steering“robbins nissan in humble, kd service advisor - refused recall service - saying he needs a customer phone number! no phone no service. is there a law in this country requiring every citizen to have a phone, by force? is this china already? …”
2023-02-27 · Parking Brake · 209,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 nissan frontier. the contact stated that while parked, the contact pulled the cable release for the parking brake and the bracket under the parking brake detached. the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer stated that the manufacturer no longer manufactured the part for the repair. the manufacturer was made aw…”
2022-12-15 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:throttlebody/Manifold“this is the first major safety incident with a stuck and wide-open throttle. i just started from a left hand turned at a stop light. i noticed the 2004 nissan frontier pickup truck began to increase its speed without any extra pressure applied to the gas pedal. i applied the brakes to slow down the truck's speed while the engine continued to inc…”
2021-09-23 · Vehicle Speed Control“this vehicle suddenly starts to accelerate on its own like it's in cruise control only it's not and i'm not pressing the gas pedal. it would go well only a 100 if i let it and applying the brakes does nothing. the only way of stopping the vehicle is to put it in neutral and one time that didn't stop it and i had to put it in park and turn off the…”
2021-04-06 · Structure:body · 78,900 mi“dealer sold a vehicle as a florida 2 owner vehicle. i did another carfax on it after i made the purchase to discover dealer sold it to someone in tn and they titled it. then they returned it. dealer sold it to me without having title on hand. vehicle was shipped and dropped off at my house without me being there to look it over. they never told me …”
2020-04-03 · Structure:body · 90,000 mi“this truck has been worked on multiple times for rust, corrosion, gas tank leaks, bearings and rear differential. it continues to rust and corrode. the motor runs well but the vehicle has rusted even with excellent care. i am so disappointed. the gas tank has been fixed multiple times and continues to corrode and leak. i think that all of thes…”
2018-01-18 · Air Bags“the air bags warning light started to blink, and never goes of, checkeed about the situation, turn on the ignition key and waiting for the light to go off, but it does not, while driving, the air bag warning lights still blinks constantly, does not goes off. doesn't matter if driving slowly on street or faster on highway or freeway..even when not d…”
2017-12-08 · Power Train · 102,000 mi“my truck suddenly had issues shifting. i went online and saw there was a lawsuit and common issues with the radiator and transmission. i was not notified about the lawsuit or the issue from nissan. i also called a mechanic and they said it is a common issues and it would be about $6,000 to replace the transmission and radiator. this is unaccept…”
2017-06-14 · Engine“ok rattling around the front of the motor .then it just stopped then milky substance starts running out. i reported it to north america nissan and they told me to take my truck to the nearest nissan dealer and they would take care of the problem.the timing chain tensioner guide was on a service bulletin (ntbo9- 128)…”
2017-05-10 · Engine · 42,000 mi“the timing chain tensioner guide failed, causing the timing chain to rub a hole into the block. the local dealership, ceranti oakes nissan, is aware of the problem, as well as the timing tensioner recall submitted by the manufacturer, and initially suggested that i haul the truck to the dealership, at my own expense, for repairs. after having the t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.