Most common 2004 Nissan Frontier problems
Share of the 66 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Frontier complaints by model year
Best Frontier years: 2015, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007, 2005. Compare all years →
2004 Nissan Frontier recalls (1)
Steering › Column
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.
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.
What 2004 Nissan Frontier owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
This truck has been worked on multiple times for rust, corrosion, gas tank leaks, bearings and rear differential. It continues to rust and corrode. The motor runs well but the vehicle has rusted even with excellent care. I am so disappointed. The gas tank has been fixed multiple times and continues to corrode and leak. I think that all of these issues need to be checked on. The rear differential has corroded and all of these issues are very expensive every time that it has to be fixed. I would appreciate your help with these problems.
My truck suddenly had issues shifting. I went online and saw there was a lawsuit and common issues with the radiator and transmission. I was not notified about the lawsuit or the issue from Nissan. I also called a mechanic and they said it is a common issues and it would be about $6,000 to replace the transmission and radiator. This is unacceptable as Nissan should have notified customers so that we could have had it fixed before it turned into a major issue.
Engine & cooling
This vehicle suddenly starts to accelerate on its own like it's in cruise control only it's not and I'm not pressing the gas pedal. It would go well only a 100 if I let it and applying the brakes does nothing. The only way of stopping the vehicle is to put it in neutral and one time that didn't stop it and I had to put it in park and turn off the key. I've taken the vehicle to 3 different garages and they are not able to figure out what the issue is. I've contacted Nissan and they have no recalls of this. I finally looked online and saw that other people have been in accidents because of the same problem. This vehicle is deadly to drive and I'm a professional driver so luckily I knew what to do when this happens. I am not able to drive truck safely and I'm not able to sell it or even give this to anyon because I would be responsible when they kill someone from the mechanical failures. …
Dealer sold a vehicle as a florida 2 owner vehicle. I did another carfax on it after I made the purchase to discover dealer sold it to someone in tn and they titled it. Then they returned it. Dealer sold it to me without having title on hand. Vehicle was shipped and dropped off at my house without me being there to look it over. They never told me when it would be shipped. When my mechanic inspected it he seen many issues. One was there were parts on the trucks steering that did not belong. It had the wrong sway bar links installed. When you attempt to turn steering hits the sway bar and it literally bends the body of the truck. There are many power steering issues. The power steering gear box is leaking as well as power steering lines. Definitely not a safe vehicle to be on the road. This was never disclosed when making the purchase. Check engine light is on. …
Fuel & propulsion system
This is the first major safety incident with a stuck and wide-open throttle. I just started from a left hand turned at a stop light. I noticed the 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck began to increase its speed without any extra pressure applied to the gas pedal. I applied the brakes to slow down the truck's speed while the engine continued to increase speed. I turned on the flashers to warn traffic. I put the truck into neutral while braking and the engine immediately revved to high and loud rpms. I heard the engine making a shift in its high rpm revving noise, and I turned off the engine. I was now fully stopped near the curb. Next, my husband started the engine after a few minutes of being stopped. The engine immediately started revving to the high rpms. Since the truck was parked, he tapped the gas pedal a few times which seemed to reset the engine's wide-open throttle. …
This truck has been worked on multiple times for rust, corrosion, gas tank leaks, bearings and rear differential. It continues to rust and corrode. The motor runs well but the vehicle has rusted even with excellent care. I am so disappointed. The gas tank has been fixed multiple times and continues to corrode and leak. I think that all of these issues need to be checked on. The rear differential has corroded and all of these issues are very expensive every time that it has to be fixed. I would appreciate your help with these problems.
2004 Nissan Frontier engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 24 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Frontier a good car?
Based on 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Frontier rates average: 31% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Frontier at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Nissan Frontier?
The transmission & drivetrain — 13 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (9) and fuel & propulsion system (9).
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Frontier have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Nissan Frontier, the most recent from November 11, 2010 (column). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Frontier?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2018 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2023, 2006, 2007 and 2005. See the full Nissan Frontier years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Frontier problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.