FaultScore

1998 Nissan Frontier engine problems

11 of the 146 complaints about the 1998 Nissan Frontier are about the engine — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,500 miles.

B

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 2 18.2%
Exhaust System 2 18.2%
Cooling System 2 18.2%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 18.2%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 9.1%
Gasoline 1 9.1%
Engine 1 9.1%

Engine & Cooling across every Nissan Frontier year

1998 11 1.8%
1999 10 1.6%
2000 12 2.0%
2001 25 4.1%
2002 14 2.3%
2005 186 30.5%
2006 156 25.6%
2007 134 22.0%
2008 35 5.7%
2012 13 2.1%
2023 13 2.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 145,000 miles Snow Camp, NC 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 complaint #11511820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seattle, WA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11123568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Palm Coast, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

NHTSA complaint #10105558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sugar Hill, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10021884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bakersfield, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #8003803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vail, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

EXHAUST HEADER BROKE/POSSIBLE FIRE/EXHAUST INHALATION.

NHTSA complaint #753430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wausau, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #853157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WINDOW AND VALVE TRAIN FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #609463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atascadero, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL FILTER LOCATION IS DIFFICULT TO REACH. YH

NHTSA complaint #608531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angele, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THERMOSTAT FOR A/C AND HEATER SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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 complaint #700042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Nissan Frontier problems

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