2004 Nissan Frontier Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2004 FRONTIER EXTENDED CAB. MY CD PLAYER FAILS TO WORK THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE I COMMUTE TO WORK FOR A LONG DISTANCE MY MILEAGE EXCEEDS THE WARRANTY NOW BEFORE THE 3 YEARS. YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A CD PLAYER THAT LASTS LONGER THAN 20 MONTHS. COME ON NOW I HAVE BEEN A NISSAN OWNER SINCE 1984 I HAVE OWNED 5 NISSANS. THIS MAY BE MY LAST ONE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD PANEL AREA. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD PANEL AND FRONT SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB UPDATED 03/09/06.

THE REAR BF GOODRICH TIRE BLEWOUT ON THE CONSUMER'S NEW 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. *BF

I BOUGHT A NEW NISSAN FRONTIER IN NOVEMBER 2004, I WAS REAR ENDED ON 1-19-2005. I HAVE HAD 32 NEEDLES STUCK IN ME SINCE THAT TIME INCLUDING AND IDET FOR AN INTERNALLY DISRUPTED DISC. I FEEL THAT THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE LUMBAR SUPPORT WAS EITHER NOT IN THE VEHICLE, OR THAT IT WAS NOT FAULTY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD DEFLATE ON IMPACT (IN GENERAL), HOWEVER MINE IS HARD AS A ROCK. *NM

THE BASE MODEL 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER IS SOLD WITHOUT THE REAR BUMPER CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE LACK OF A BUMPER WOULD TRANSFER 100% OF THE ENERGY FROM THE IMPACT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR, INJURING THE TRUCK'S OCCUPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, A REAR BUMPER WOULD STOP A VEHICLE FROM BEING PUSHED UNDER THE FRONTIER IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. *NM

I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SITUATION. NISSAN SELLS FRONTIER TRUCKS (CALLED THE "BASE" MODEL) WITHOUT REAR BUMPERS. I RECEIVED A TICKET WHILE DRIVING MY NEW VEHICLE, HAVING BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS ILLEGAL. NISSAN DENIES THIS. IN ANY CASE, IT WOULD SEEM TO COMPROMISE SAFETY IN PERSONS PURCHASING NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK. WHILE SHIFTING THE GEARS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHILE ENGAGING INTO GEARS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THEY NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM AFTER 7 TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STILL HAD PROBLEMS. AFTER GETTING NO RESULTS AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE CONSUMER AND GENERAL MANAGER GOT INTO AN ARGUEMENT WHERE THE MANAGER THREATENED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER ON HIS WAY OUT SAW ANOTHER CONSUMER WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM THE GENERAL MANAGER MADE THE CONSUMER LEAVE THE STORE OR PROMISED TO CALL THE POLICE. *TC

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THE ABOVE REFERENCED NEW TRUCK FROM LEBLANC NISSAN IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2004. IMMEDIATELY, WE NOTICED THAT HOT AIR WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER DASH VENTS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT NOT FIXED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE MESH IN THE VENT SCREEN IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE FRESH AIR IS INDUCED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE MESH WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW DEBRIS TO ENTER AND ACCUMULATE. THE REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM ON 2004 MODELS WAS TO MAKE THE MESH IN THE SCREEN VERY FINE. HOWEVER, THE FINER MESH CREATES HIGH RESISTANCE TO THE INDUCTION OF FRESH AIR FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR INTO THE HEATING/VENTILATION SYSTEM. THIS INCREASED RESISTANCE CAUSES THE VENTILATION SYSTEM TO DRAW HEATED, AND POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED AIR, FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NISSAN?S FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO PLACE DUCT TAPE OVER VARIOUS HOLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM WHERE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS DRAWING AIR. THE DUCT TAPE WAS APPLIED, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MEASURED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE 2 CENTER VENTS ON A DAY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 78 DEGREES. THE AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS MEASURED 96 DEGREES. LEBLANC NISSAN REPEATED THIS TEST WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT AND OBTAINED TEMPERATURES OF ALMOST 100 DEGREES ON A DAY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS LESS THAN 78 DEGREES. THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK IS UNCOMFORTABLY HOT OR COLD IS BAD ENOUGH. THE FAR MORE SERIOUS ASPECT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SYSTEM TO INTRODUCE DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT VIA THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DEFROSTER WHEN ACTIVATED, TURNED THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS THE NORMAL PROCEDURE. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED IT ROLLED DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE OF 50-60 FEET AND ROLLED INTO A RAVINE. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB. THE NORMAL CRUSING RPM IS AROUND 2300 ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THE INITIAL DATE OF 6/25/2004, I BEGAN TO NOTE THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL, DURING A DOWNSHIFT INTO A PASSING GEAR, SUCH AS CLIMBING A GRADE, THE MOTOR INCREASES TO 3500 RPMS. UPON LEVELING OFF, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT ALLOW THE MOTOR TO REDUCE THE RPM'S BACK DOWN TO CRUSIING LEVEL OF 23-2500 RPM. I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO BRAKE OR CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE THE RPM BACK TO NORMAL. THE NISSAN DEALER IN ASHEVILLE NORTH CAROLINA HAS HAD THIS TRUCK ON 7/1/04, 7/28/04, AND 8/11/04 ATTEMPTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESS. THE LAST OCCASION, THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TWO WEEKS WITH NO LUCK. ON 9/8/04, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD CODE THAT NISSAN ENGINEERING WOULD HAVE TO RESOLVE AND HE WOULD NOTIFY ME. SEVEN MONTHS LATER I'VE HEARD NOTHING SO I INQUIRED TODAY WHILE MY TRUCK WAS BEING SERVICED. HE ADVISED THAT THERE IS STILL NO FIX AND HE HAS A LIST OF SIX CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM/COMPLAINT. THE ACS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ACTUATOR AND A RELAY WITH NO SUCCESS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO CORROSION. *AK DEALER REALIGNED FRONT END DUE TO INCORRECT ALIGNMENT. FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED BY A TIRE DEALER BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT OF BALANCE. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL IS LEAKING FROM TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE HAS MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *LA

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED A TRANSMISSION SWITCH DUE TO A WORN OUT PART. *AK

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