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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD

2004 Nissan FrontierRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 66 owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Frontier. Most complaints involve power train (13) and steering (7). The EPA rates it 15–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
15–22mpg
EPA · 10 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Nov 2010
Owner complaints
66
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Steering: column

Free remedy

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.

SteeringReported Nov 11, 2010NHTSA 10V554000

Equipment

Free remedy

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

EquipmentReported Jul 3, 2007NHTSA 07E046000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 17, 2006NHTSA 06E064000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

66 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2004 – Mar 2023
  1. Power train13
  2. Steering7
  3. Fuel system, gasoline7
  4. Structure7
  5. Engine6
  6. Air bags6
  7. Tires6
  8. Equipment6
  9. Electrical system5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Frontier model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998131
199987
2000205
2001143
2002139
200377
200466
2005532
2006617
2007520
2008136
200937
201059
201164
201280
201348
201442
201533
201644
201738
201825
201928
202023
202120
2022112
202368
202422
202510
202611
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

13 reports1 crash1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2020Power train, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11320150

Steering

7 reports
“ROBBINS Nissan in Humble, KD service advisor - REFUSED RECALL SERVICE - saying he needs a customer phone number! No phone no service. Is there a law in this country requiring every citizen to have a phone, by force? Is this China already?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2023SteeringODI 11511547

Fuel system, gasoline

7 reports
“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. Safety Issue: The engine revved to very high rpms and speeded up on its own; brakes were not fully stopping the truck. Failed Component: The engine's "throttle"”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2022Fuel system, gasolineODI 11497513
All 2004 Frontier problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

10 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.3L 6-cyl · 3.3L 6-cyl turbo supercharged
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Frontier 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
202422$2,850404
Frontier 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172219$3,300468
Frontier V6 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,650523
Frontier V6 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
151917$3,650523
Frontier V6 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151917$3,650523
Frontier V6 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
151916$3,900555
Frontier V6 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg · Rear-Wheel Drive
141815$5,150592
Frontier V6 2WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg · Rear-Wheel Drive
141715$5,150592
Frontier V6 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131715$5,150592
Frontier V6 4WD
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
131715$5,150592
  • Frontier 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 24 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    17 city · 22 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    15 city · 20 hwy · $3,650/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,650/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,650/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L
    15 city · 19 hwy · $3,900/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg
    14 city · 18 hwy · $5,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg
    14 city · 17 hwy · $5,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg
    13 city · 17 hwy · $5,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • Frontier V6 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Turbo, Sup Charg
    13 city · 17 hwy · $5,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Nissan Frontier as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 1235Vehicle 1234
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Frontier questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Frontier have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 Nissan Frontier problems?

Owners filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (13), steering (7), fuel system, gasoline (7). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Nissan Frontier get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Nissan Frontier at 15–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026