IllustrationFRONT RIGHT TORTION BAR HAD COME FROM THE MANUFACTURER IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED, CAUSING POOR DIRECTIONAL PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN FAILURE. *YC
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
Compare all Frontier years →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
10–25K
225–50K
750–75K
375–100K
13100–150K
7150K+
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 reportsSEAT BELT FAILURE.MGM
GAS GUAGE REPAIRED MANY TIMES & STILL DOES NOT WORK. *YC
THIS IS A 4WD EXTENDED CAB VEHICLE WITH A SUMMER TIRE, AND AFTER 3000 MILES TREAD HAS WORN THE WHEEL BALANCE IS OFF. ALSO, THE ALIGNMENT IS OFF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AIR BAG FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE PROPER AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND STATES THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY TO REPAIR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR EIGHT TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL …
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FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE PROPER AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND STATES THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY TO REPAIR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR EIGHT TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL AND HAS LIED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE WORK NECESSARY, ETC.
WHILE DRIVING IN 4TH OR 5TH GEAR AT 65-70 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REBALANCED THE TIRES AND ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS *AK
WHILE DRIVING WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PICK UP MORE SPEED. THE CONSUMR HIT TWO CARS, AND THEN VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *AK
THE WAS NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD WHEN THE CLUTCH FAN FAILED. IT GOT FIXED BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED TWICE AFTER THE FIRST TIME. NEXT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IT IN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 M.P.H. THE 5TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX IT. AND …
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THE WAS NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD WHEN THE CLUTCH FAN FAILED. IT GOT FIXED BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED TWICE AFTER THE FIRST TIME. NEXT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IT IN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 M.P.H. THE 5TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX IT. AND NOW JUST RECENTLY THE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FLASHING INDICATING A MALFUNCITON IN THE SYSTEM. THIS FIRST BEGAN 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS JULY 17, 1998. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS AUGUST 14, 1998. SECOND ATTEMPT INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RPL SENSOR AND DIAGNOSIS UNIT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS REPAIR CAUSED THE LIG…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FLASHING INDICATING A MALFUNCITON IN THE SYSTEM. THIS FIRST BEGAN 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. FIRST REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS JULY 17, 1998. SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS AUGUST 14, 1998. SECOND ATTEMPT INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RPL SENSOR AND DIAGNOSIS UNIT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS REPAIR CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GO OFF INDICATING AND APPARENT SUCESSFUL REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON. A THIRD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR WAS ON OCTOBER 2, 1998. A FOURTH ATTEMPT WAS ON OCTOBER 16, 1998. ON THIS ATTEMPT THE RPL SENSOR AND DIAGNOSIS UNIT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE VEHICLE APPEARED
Official recalls
298V064000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.