The 2004 Nissan Frontier has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 500,552 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING10V5540002010-11-11500,552 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
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 NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Complaints by component
STEERING
7
ENGINE
6
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
2fires
POWER TRAIN
5
TIRES
5
AIR BAGS
4
3crashes2injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
1fires
WHEELS
3
1fires
Total complaints89
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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?”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Nissan Frontier as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.