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KLUNK
KLUNK

2004 Nissan Frontier

The Verdict

83 Smooth Ride

The 2004 Nissan Frontier has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (23 complaints) and engine (17 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 83/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Frontier, consider the 2025 model year which has 89% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 89% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Nissan Frontier dashboard →

83

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20008319374226
2001421521587
2002461925427
200331710217
200423591712
201116112179
2012210251313
20131332156
20141311756
20151211235
201613210152
2017838145
2018103732
201983827
202141444
2022431522921
202542001

By Category

Body
23
Engine
17
Transmission
12
Electrical
9
Brakes
5

By Severity

1
27
2
28
4
11

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2004 Nissan Frontier stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Body 2

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?

40mo ago
Brakes 2

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while parked, the contact pulled the cable release for the parking brake and the bracket under the parking brake detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer stated that the manufacturer no longer manufactured the part for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 209,000.

41mo ago
Engine 2

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"

43mo ago
Engine 2

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. I bought the truck for my teenage son and obviously he can't drive it

58mo ago
Engine 2

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. COOLANT SENSOR AS WELL AS ENGINE KNOCK SENSORS. WHEN UNDER THE VEHICLE YOU CAN HEAR LOUD BANGING. MECHANIC SUSPECTS CONNECTOR RODS AND/OR MAIN BEARINGS MEANING MOTOR IS ON ITS LAST LEG. LASTLY, DEALERSHIP HAS NOT SENT TITLE NOR ANY PAPERWORK ON IT. ALL I GOT WAS A BROKEN DOWN TRUCK LEAKING FLUIDS LEFT IN MY DRIVEWAY.

64mo ago
Engine 1

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.

76mo ago
Electrical 2

THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK, AND NEVER GOES OF, CHECKEED ABOUT THE SITUATION, TURN ON THE IGNITION KEY AND WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF, BUT IT DOES NOT, WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS STILL BLINKS CONSTANTLY, DOES NOT GOES OFF. DOESN'T MATTER IF DRIVING SLOWLY ON STREET OR FASTER ON HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY..EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING.. IF I TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF, STILL BLINKS... MAYBE THE AIRBAG MALFUCTION?

103mo ago
Transmission 2

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.

104mo ago
Engine 1

OK RATTLING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR .THEN IT JUST STOPPED THEN MILKY SUBSTANCE STARTS RUNNING OUT. I REPORTED IT TO NORTH AMERICA NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE MY TRUCK TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER GUIDE WAS ON A SERVICE BULLETIN (NTBO9- 128)

110mo ago
Engine 2

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER GUIDE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO RUB A HOLE INTO THE BLOCK. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, CERANTI OAKES NISSAN, IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS WELL AS THE TIMING TENSIONER RECALL SUBMITTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND INITIALLY SUGGESTED THAT I HAUL THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, FOR REPAIRS. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK ABOUR A WEEK, THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY RETURNED CALLS CLAIMING THAT THEY CAN NOT MAKE REPAIRS UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL BC IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS RESULTING IN NO ASSISTANCE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS PROBLEMS HAS BEEN A GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND CAUSED OUR FAMILY ISSUES GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, WHICH INEVITABLY HAS COST MY FAMILY A GREAT DEAL IN LOSE OF THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME.

111mo ago
Engine 2

TRUCK TOTAL MILEAGE IS ONLY 55,000 AS IT IS NOT USED VERY MUCH. 3 ISSUES OCCURRED APPROX. AT 49,000MILES. 1) ENGINE STARTED TO MISS. UPON CHECKING SPARK PLUGS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUG CAVITIES IN THE HEAD WERE FULL OF OIL. THE VALVE COVER GASKET SEALS HAD LEAKED AND THE OIL FILLED SPARK PLUG HOLES CAUSED IT TO MISS. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MY COST. HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TOP END VALVE COVER GASKET AND SPARK PLUG HOLE SEALS AS WELL AS THE CAM END SEALS. 2) ONE DAY I GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP AND PRESSED THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON CHECKING THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR IT WAS EMPTY. FOUND THAT THE REAR AXLE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD BURST SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE SPARE TIRE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BRAKE LINE DEVELOP A HOLE LIKE THIS. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND A NEW BRAKE LINE AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT MY OWN COST .THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE BLED OUT AND FLUSHED AT ALL 4 WHEELS. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AS A CRASH WOULD HAVE RESULTED. 3) CURRENTLY HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" COMING ON. THE CODE SAYS THAT IT IS A EMISSION ISSUE. WITH THE COMPUTER CODE READER I AM ABLE TO CANCEL THE CODE AND IT STAYS OFF FOR A WHILE BUT COMES BACK ON DAYS LATER. THE CODE IS A LEAKING GAS CAP BUT I CAN DETECT NO LEAKS AND HAVE CHANGED OUT THE CAP WITH AN OEM CAP WITH SAME RESULTS. TRUCK RUNS OKAY SO I HAVE NOT DUG ANY DEEPER ON THIS AND IT IS STILL OCCURRING. 4) WHILE UNDER THE TRUCK FIXING THE BRAKE LINE ISSUE I DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. IT WAS NEVER PAINTED FROM THE FACTORY. I HAD TO REMOVE IT TO KILL THE RUST AND PAINT IT WITH A GOOD COAT OF BLACK HEAT PROOF PAINT. CORROSION SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THESE NISSAN VEHICLES.

120mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND ALL THE VALVE STEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

123mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A DEER RAN OUT OF THE BUSH AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG POPPED OUT BUT FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT AND COOLANT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN AN INJURY AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

128mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WANDER OUT OF ITS LANE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS POSITIONED INWARDLY. IN ADDITION, THE INNER AND OUTER WHEEL BEARINGS AND RELATED PARTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING SERVICED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V554000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,694. UPDATED 1/7/14*CN AFTER COMPLAINT DIFFERNT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITHOUT HIM KNOWING. UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT

143mo ago
Electrical 1

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

144mo ago
Transmission 2

I NOTICED SMALL OIL STAINS UNDER THE NISSAN WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, AT WORK, AND ANYWHERE I WOULD STOP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THE OIL PAN IS RUSTING THROUGH. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IF THE MOTOR WOULD LOCK UP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. GOT A QUOTE OF $1500 TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN. SEEMS KIND OF STEEP CONSIDERING I AM NOT THE ONE WHO PUT THE, IN MY OPINION, SUB PAR OIL PAN ON THESE VEHICLES. UPDATED 4/8/2015 *JS

145mo ago
Brakes 4

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, VEHICLES IN FRONT CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. NISSAN FRONTIER FAILED TO STOP IN A TIMELY MANNER, RESULTING IN CRASH. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT THE TRUCK STOPPING. RESULTING CRASH DID NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED. *TR

149mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND TRAVELING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AFTER THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS ALSO PRESENT WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

151mo ago
Engine 4

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

152mo ago
Body 1

THIS VEHICLE HAS A STEERING COLUMN RECALL THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT UNTIL I PURCHASED IT IN 2012. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE 250 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAINED THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT SINCE I LIVE ON AN ISLAND IN A REMOTE PART OF ALASKA. I ASKED IF A LOCAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME NO, IT ONLY CAN BE DONE BY A CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALERSHIP. FAILURE TO MAKE THIS REPAIR CAN CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO CORRODE AND BREAK AT SLOW SPEEDS INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. I AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SAFELY WITHOUT THE RISK OF DAMAGE OR INJURY. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND HOPE NISSAN WILL REFUND ME THE EXPENSE. *TR

154mo ago

66 total

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