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1998 Nissan Frontier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Frontier years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

33 reports with mileage · 96 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

12 reports
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70,000 miles · Nov 12, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHERE A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE A TOTAL LOSS RESUTING PERSONAL INJURY TO ME. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT TIIME OF A ACCIDENT. I HAD TO HAVE BRAIN SURGERY AS A RESULT. I HAD OTHER INJURIES ALSO. THE AIR BAGS COULD HAVD LES…

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHERE A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE A TOTAL LOSS RESUTING PERSONAL INJURY TO ME. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT TIIME OF A ACCIDENT. I HAD TO HAVE BRAIN SURGERY AS A RESULT. I HAD OTHER INJURIES ALSO. THE AIR BAGS COULD HAVD LESSENING IF NOT HAVE PREVENTED THE INJURY. I WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM THE DXACT DATE BUT THE DATE I PUT IS CLOSE TO BEST OF MY MEMORY. I CAN CONFIRM EXACT DATE BUT WILL HAVE TO RESEARCH IT.

NHTSA ODI #11150891

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY AN ERRANT DRIVER. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY APPROPRIATELY RESULTING IN A BROKEN JAW IN THREE PLACES, 8 DESTROYED TEETH, AND A FRACTURED SKULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BEYOND REPAIR. *JB RECEIVED 12/27/07 64200. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202378

200,000 miles · Apr 22, 2005
Air BagsTiresCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONSUMER HAD JUST WENT AROUND A CURVE WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW, SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT A SIGN AND THEN FLIPPED OVER. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119076

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH, ACCIDENT OCCURRED,AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HIT CONCRETE WHICH WEIGHED AT LEAST 3 TO 4 HUNDRED LBS. FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS MANGLED. *AK *JG

NHTSA ODI #8009374

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2001
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE. BUT SOON AFTER THAT VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, HE WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898009

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2001
Air BagsCrash

AM INTERESTED IN ANY REPORTED INSTANCES OF EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOVING ACCIDENT WITH A LARGE DEER 0615 AM 30 JAN 01. I DIDN'T GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO THE BAG/BAGS NOT DEPLOYING UNTIL BOTH THE INSURANCE REP AND THEIR APPRAISER WERE REALLY CONCERNED A…

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AM INTERESTED IN ANY REPORTED INSTANCES OF EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOVING ACCIDENT WITH A LARGE DEER 0615 AM 30 JAN 01. I DIDN'T GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO THE BAG/BAGS NOT DEPLOYING UNTIL BOTH THE INSURANCE REP AND THEIR APPRAISER WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740561

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2000
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE REAR END TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE SLID OUT OF CONTROL, WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH, AND HIT A FENCE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862368

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION. YH

NHTSA ODI #547482

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Air BagsInjury

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH, DROVE OVER SLIGHT DIP WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING INJURIES AND BURNS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838478

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1999
Air Bags

AIR BAG FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #543320

Official recalls

2

98V064000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

98V065000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

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.