WE REPLACED THE STARTER 2X IN THE LAST YEAR AND RECENTLY JUST 3 MONTHS AGO. MY SON WENT TO START THE TRUCK ON SATURDAY AND THE STARTER BURNED COMPLETELY UP. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER ON THIS TRUCK A TOTAL OF 3X IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. *TR
2004 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Frontier do not stand out strongly from 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
47 reports with mileage · 19 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.
- Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
5 reportsAFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK (AROUND 15 MILES), THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK, AND WENT TO MY OFFICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A MECHANIC. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, A POLICE OFFICER CALLED BECAUSE MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PARKING STRUCTU…
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AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK (AROUND 15 MILES), THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK, AND WENT TO MY OFFICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A MECHANIC. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, A POLICE OFFICER CALLED BECAUSE MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PARKING STRUCTURE, AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING MELTING MANY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD, AS WELL AS SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS TOTALED. *TR
VEHICLE STARTS STALLING AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 TO 40 MILES. VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS START TO COME ON, LIGHTS START TO DIM, VEHICLES STARTS BUCKING FROM ENGINE MISSING. VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED, VEHICLE HORN GOES OFF WHEN RESTARTING ATTEMPTED. ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS V…
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VEHICLE STARTS STALLING AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 TO 40 MILES. VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS START TO COME ON, LIGHTS START TO DIM, VEHICLES STARTS BUCKING FROM ENGINE MISSING. VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED, VEHICLE HORN GOES OFF WHEN RESTARTING ATTEMPTED. ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS VEHICLE WILL RESTART. BROUGHT TO NISSAN SERVICE DEPT. TWICE AND COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT INCIDENT. *TR
AROUND 80,000 MILES, FAULTY WIRING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHILE PRESSING DOWN THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO A NISSAN SERVICE CENTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING THIS. THIS POTENTIALLY…
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AROUND 80,000 MILES, FAULTY WIRING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE ERRATICALLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHILE PRESSING DOWN THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK TO A NISSAN SERVICE CENTER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS A WIRING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING THIS. THIS POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT DURING A TURN, OR WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY, WHICH MAY POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA. THE VEHICLE …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD PANEL AND FRONT SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB UPDATED 03/09/06.
Official recalls
110V554000 · Steering:column
Nov 11, 2010
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 OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
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.
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