RoadVitals

2004 Nissan Frontier Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
9
Latest Apr 3, 2020
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.
14%
of 66 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 powertrain

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

Body & structureFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 3, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11320150
Incident
Mar 12, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 8, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11053478
Incident
Jan 18, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10616626
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
123,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 5, 2014

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.

NHTSA ID
10563102
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2011

NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SLOWLY LEAKING AND COVERING THE BOTTOM PAN. MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION NEAR THE TOP. MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE "CORE" CANNOT BE SENT BACK FOR ANY CREDIT. TOTAL COST SO FAR IS APPROX. $2,800. THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING HAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS CRACK TO THE HOUSING. CONSUMER SENT AN UPDATED PORTABLE TO CORRECT THE VIN. UPDATED 07/08/11

NHTSA ID
10411392
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
56,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 22, 2009

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255949
Incident
Jan 5, 2009
Mileage
89,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 30, 2008
Fire reported

2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. DRIVER WAS PULLING A PICKUP TRUCK ON A TOW DOLLY. ANOTHER MOTORIST POINTED AT THE TOWED VEHICLE THEN THE DRIVER PULLED ON THE BERM AND DISCOVERED THE TOWED PICKUP WAS BURNING FROM THE UNDERSIDE, FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *NJ THE VEHICLE HAD AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT WAS NOT DISCONNECTED WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE OVERHEATED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0598-90. *JB

NHTSA ID
10244813
Incident
Aug 30, 2008
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2004

WHEN DRIVING FROM 50- 70 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, HOWEVER PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE DEALER MOVED THE SHAFT 1/4 TURN AND THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL DOES IN FACT EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA ID
10075451
Incident
May 12, 2004
Mileage
164 mi
Powertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 18, 2004

BRAND NEW VEHICLE ON WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASE STARTED TO SHIMMY AND SHAKE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-80 MPH ON OPEN HIGHWAY. THIS WAS DISTRACTING FOR DRIVER AND MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO HOLD STEADY TRACKING DOWN ROAD. THIS WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WITHIN 48 HOURS. DEALER RE-BALANCED FRONT TIRES. THE SAME DRIVING PERFORMANCE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND UNUSUALLY AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE 5-10 MILES CONTINUAL DISTANCE. I DRIVE 47 MILES TO WORK DAILY ON INTERSTATE 95 IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND AFTER A FEW MILES THIS SHAKING STARTS HAPPENING AT VARING SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO OCCASSIONALLY DART FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE TRYING TO TRACK NORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD. DEALER SAYS THE ALINMENT IS NOT OUT. I PIONTED OUT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE BACK RIGHT TIRE WAS IN FACT FEATHERING ON THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER (LUMBERTON NISSAN) 3 TIMES, AND THE LAST VISIT THEY REMOVED NEWS TIRES WHICH THEY HAD REPLACED- WIHTOUT RESULTS- AND RAN THEM ON A MACHINE AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY DID FIND THAT PARTICULAR TIRE TO BE OUT AND REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE STILL SHAKES AND HAS A HIGH SPEED VIBRATION. THIS ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE VEHICLES SAFE OPERATION ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T WANT TO CONTINUE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE, SO I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CORP., OFFICES AND FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE VEHICLE AND REQUESTED TODAY TO RETURN THE UNIT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD RESULTING FROM A DEFECT IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF THE VEHICLE. TO AVOID A FOURTH VISIT THE DEALER (WHICH N.C. LEMON LAW STATES) THEY WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO REFUND OR REPLACE THE THE UNIT. I CONTEND TAHT MY V4 FRONTIER TRUCK EITHER HAST A PROBLEM INTERNALLY IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, OR BECAUSE IT IS BUILT ON A LIGHTER FRAME, IT CANNOT PERFORM SAFELY AS MARKETED DUE TO DANGEROUSLY MISS-MATCHED COMPONENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A DESIGN DEFECT ON THE PART OF NISSAN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062565
Incident
Mar 16, 2004
Mileage
50 mi

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 .