Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Frontier, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 9 | 14% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 11% |
| Steering | 5 | 8% |
| Air bags | 4 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 6% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5% |
| Structure | 3 | 5% |
| Tires | 3 | 5% |
| Parking brake | 2 | 3% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 dea
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
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 a
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 CAR
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 MEC
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2004 Nissan Frontier. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 MO
Risk: THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 NIS
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
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
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
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,
Risk: THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WH
Fix: HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 80 | excellent |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 9 of them (14%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.