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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model 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

Electrical System complaints

23 reports
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136,700 miles · Jun 9, 2017
Electrical System

DRIVING DOWN ROAD INSTRUMENT PANEL, ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER WORK INTERMENTELY. BATTERY IS BEING OVERCHARGED. HAVE REPLACED 2 BATTERIES AND 1 ALTERNATOR AND NOW IT DOSENT CHARGE AT ALL. TRUCK LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. THIS HAS HAPPEND MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD TO PUSH IT TO SIDE OF ROAD AND GET IT TOWED.

NHTSA ODI #10994256

110,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. MA 10/5 THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS GAUGE ALWAYS READ FULL, THE ODOMETER ALWAYS READ 99999.9 AND THE SPEEDOMETER ALWAYS READ ZERO. UPDATED 03/03/16*JB

NHTSA ODI #10749379

64,000 miles · Apr 23, 2015
Electrical System

THE DASHBOARD GIVES ERRONEOUS READINGS, THIS INCLUDES THE ODOMETER, THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE , HEAT GAUGE. THIS MAY CAUSE AN OVER HEATING OF VEHICLE, ERRONEOUS SPEEDS, RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, ERRONEOUS ODOMETER. NISSAN WILL NOT PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS STATING THE DEALER IS IN COMPLETE CHARGE OF PRICING FOR DIAGNOSIS OF 100.00 WITH NO …

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THE DASHBOARD GIVES ERRONEOUS READINGS, THIS INCLUDES THE ODOMETER, THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE , HEAT GAUGE. THIS MAY CAUSE AN OVER HEATING OF VEHICLE, ERRONEOUS SPEEDS, RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, ERRONEOUS ODOMETER. NISSAN WILL NOT PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS STATING THE DEALER IS IN COMPLETE CHARGE OF PRICING FOR DIAGNOSIS OF 100.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE OF REIMBURSEMENT. THE MAKER OF VEHICLE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE NOT THE DEALER AFTER ALL NISSAN MADE THE VEHICLE. WHILE CHECKING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT ISSUE WITH NISSAN FRONTIERS TRUCKS. VARIOUS CALLS HAVE BEEN ON DEAF EARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712372

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FLUCTUATED. IN ADDITION, AFTER THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE READING 999,999, THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE RPM READING FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FLUCTUATED. IN ADDITION, AFTER THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE READING 999,999, THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE RPM READING FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10702939

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2014
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONING. INACCURATE READINGS. NO REPLACEMENT PART OR REPAIR AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606767

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2014
Electrical System

ALL GAUGES ARE NON-RESPONSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY TO INDICATE HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, IF YOU HAVE FUEL, WHAT THE RPM IS, WHAT THE MILEAGE IS ON THE VEHICLE, OR IF THE VEHICLE IS TOO HOT OR TOO COLD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN CUSTOMER REVIEW WEBSITES THAT I HAVE READ AFTER MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM STARTED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A S…

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ALL GAUGES ARE NON-RESPONSIVE. THERE IS NO WAY TO INDICATE HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING, IF YOU HAVE FUEL, WHAT THE RPM IS, WHAT THE MILEAGE IS ON THE VEHICLE, OR IF THE VEHICLE IS TOO HOT OR TOO COLD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN CUSTOMER REVIEW WEBSITES THAT I HAVE READ AFTER MY VEHICLE'S PROBLEM STARTED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE FAULTY COMPONENTS IN THE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM ALSO PREVENTS OWNERS TO REGISTER/PASS INSPECTION/DRIVE THEIR VEHICLE WITH STATE INSPECTION LAWS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574638

60,000 miles · Jul 24, 2012
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED TO FAIL, FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER, THEN GAS AND HEAT GAUGES, NOW EVERYTHING IS PEGGED AND SPEEDO READS 9999999. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467544

127,000 miles · Jul 22, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READANY OF THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CIRCUIT BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READANY OF THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CIRCUIT BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10414761

140,000 miles · Jun 11, 2011
Electrical System

98 NISSAN FRONTIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. MINE STARTED FIRST BY THE SPEEDOMETER BEING OFF. THIS COST ME TWO SPEEDING TICKETS AND TWO SPEEDING WARNINGS BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEN THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER THEN THE FUEL GAUGE…

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98 NISSAN FRONTIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND NO PARTS AVAILABLE. MINE STARTED FIRST BY THE SPEEDOMETER BEING OFF. THIS COST ME TWO SPEEDING TICKETS AND TWO SPEEDING WARNINGS BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEN THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER THEN THE FUEL GAUGE NOW EVERYTHING FUEL,TEMP,SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND TACHOMETER ALL OF THEM QUIT WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. THE PROBLEM IS NISSAN CAN'T EVEN FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST THE SPEED OFF BY ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR IT SAID I WAS GOING SLOWER THEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED ALONG TIME AGO. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES WITH CHILDREN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405966

180,000 miles · Jun 20, 2010
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DOES NOT WORK. NO GAUGES WORK AT ALL. DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY SPEED IS, FUEL LEVEL, RPM, HEAT GAUGE, NOTHING AT ALL. STARTED BY JUST GOING OUT ONCE IN A WHILE THEN IN JUNE 2007 COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. HAD TO BUY A GPS SO I KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. ODOMETER READS 999999. DEALER SAYS THEIR IS NO REPLACEMENT PART…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DOES NOT WORK. NO GAUGES WORK AT ALL. DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY SPEED IS, FUEL LEVEL, RPM, HEAT GAUGE, NOTHING AT ALL. STARTED BY JUST GOING OUT ONCE IN A WHILE THEN IN JUNE 2007 COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. HAD TO BUY A GPS SO I KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. ODOMETER READS 999999. DEALER SAYS THEIR IS NO REPLACEMENT PART AND IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT CAN NOT GET PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339191

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.