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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

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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

What owners actually said

129 reports
145,000 miles · Mar 14, 2023
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

The contact owns a 1995 Nissan Frontier XE. The contact stated upon opening the hood to check the engine oil level at the fuel station, the radiator blew out and propelled a hot anti-freeze that burned his upper body. The contact was transported to the hospital with the assistance of a friend. The contact received medical assist…

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The contact owns a 1995 Nissan Frontier XE. The contact stated upon opening the hood to check the engine oil level at the fuel station, the radiator blew out and propelled a hot anti-freeze that burned his upper body. The contact was transported to the hospital with the assistance of a friend. The contact received medical assistance and was informed that he had sustained second and third-degree burns on the stomach and waist area. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ODI #11511820

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2022
Seat Belts

driver's side seat belt receptacle failed in fall of 2021. Nissan initially said they would replace it, but in May of 2022 reported that the part is "unavailable."

NHTSA ODI #11465022

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 · Aug 30, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOST POWER. THE DEALER (CAMPBELL NISSAN OF EDMONDS, 24325 WA-99, EDMONDS, WA 98026, (425) 774-2174) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOST POWER. THE DEALER (CAMPBELL NISSAN OF EDMONDS, 24325 WA-99, EDMONDS, WA 98026, (425) 774-2174) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REBUILT THE ENGINE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC TO AN EXIT RAMP AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED EIGHT TSBS FOR THE ENGINE, BUT NO RECALLS FOR THE ENGINE CONCERNING THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11123568

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

150,000 miles · Aug 10, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLINER DISINTEGRATED AND RUBBER FOAM DEBRIS, WHICH PRODUCED A FOUL ODOR, FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10894797

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLINER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FOAM PIECES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INHALED ABNORMAL FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10893359

110,323 miles · Nov 13, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE POSITION FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BEGAN TO FUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE POSITION FROM THE PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BEGAN TO FUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,323.

NHTSA ODI #10790219

80,000 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Wheels

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10780507

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

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.