RoadVitals

1998 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 14, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 129 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 1995 Nissan Frontier XE. The contact stated upon opening the hood to check the engine oil level at the fuel station, the radiator blew out and propelled a hot anti-freeze that burned his upper body. The contact was transported to the hospital with the assistance of a friend. The contact received medical assistance and was informed that he had sustained second and third-degree burns on the stomach and waist area. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ID
11511820
Incident
Mar 9, 2023
Mileage
145,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOST POWER. THE DEALER (CAMPBELL NISSAN OF EDMONDS, 24325 WA-99, EDMONDS, WA 98026, (425) 774-2174) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REBUILT THE ENGINE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC TO AN EXIT RAMP AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED EIGHT TSBS FOR THE ENGINE, BUT NO RECALLS FOR THE ENGINE CONCERNING THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11123568
Incident
Apr 2, 2018
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2005

WHILE DRIVING EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEARLER. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10105558
Incident
Jul 25, 2000
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 29, 2003

ON APRIL 2003 DIGITAL INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WENT BROKE/ODOMETER WENT 999999/TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT HIGH, AND FUEL GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10021884
Incident
Apr 12, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2002

THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH. AFTERWARDS, DEALER STATED NOISE WAS NORMAL, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYMORE WORK ON VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003803
Incident
May 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2001

EXHAUST HEADER BROKE/POSSIBLE FIRE/EXHAUST INHALATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
753430
Incident
Oct 12, 2001
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 19, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS, VEHICLE IS SUPPOSE TO IDLE AT 750 RPMS PLUS OR MINUS 50. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL IDLE AT 1100 - 1900 RPMS. WHEN CONSUMER LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WILL NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT IT WILL SPEED UP WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY SAID ALL VEHICLES DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE NEW POLUTION CONTROL. *AK. *YC

NHTSA ID
853157
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
EngineVisibility
Filed Sep 8, 1999

WINDOW AND VALVE TRAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
609463
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999

PROBLEM WITH BUCKET SEAT TRACK, NEEDS RELOCATING BACKWARDS, POOR DESIGN/FIT. YH

NHTSA ID
608531
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 1999

THERMOSTAT FOR A/C AND HEATER SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
607031
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 23, 1998

THE WAS NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD WHEN THE CLUTCH FAN FAILED. IT GOT FIXED BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED TWICE AFTER THE FIRST TIME. NEXT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IT IN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70 M.P.H. THE 5TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX IT. AND NOW JUST RECENTLY THE

NHTSA ID
700042
Incident
Aug 26, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .