Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Nissan Frontier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system23
- Tires23
- Suspension19
- Air bags12
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Power train9
- Seat belts8
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Seats4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 1998 Frontier vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Nissan Frontier failed the safety check 0.88% of the time — 49% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 135,931 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.3–13.8 L/100 km (about 17–21 mpg US), CO₂ 260–317 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 10.1 | 11.3 |
| Frontier · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 10.9 | 12.4 |
| Frontier 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 12.2 | 13.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Nissan Frontier.
| 1998060 27 Mar 1998 | Powertrain THE REARMOST POSTION PIN WHICH SECURES THE DETENT PLATE TO THE COMPRESSION ROD OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY MAY WORK OUT OF ITS HOLE I… |
| 1998059 27 Mar 1998 | Seats And Restraints IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL CRASHES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT MAY SLIP BETWEEN THE SEAT BOTTOM FINISHER AND THE SEAT BACK PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE WHERE IT MIGHT BE C… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BUCKET SEATS. IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT CAN SLIP BETWEEN THE SEAT BOTTOM FINISHER AND THE SEAT BACK PLASTIC RECLINER HANDLE WHERE IT CAN BE CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL PORTION OF THE RECLINER LEVER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A SECURING PIN INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY CAN COME LOOSE ALLOWING THE SHIFT LEVER TO BE INADVERTENTLY MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 1998 Nissan Frontier: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635795 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 632164 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 631971 | INFORMATION ON NISSAN REVISED TPS ADJUSTMENT PROCDURE. *SLC |
| 631766 | INFORMATION REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TEST CONNECTOR. *SLC |
| 631760 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 631339 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JG |
| 630810 | CONCERNS WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JB |
| 629210 | SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT |
| 628209 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 627440 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING PULL DURING BRAKING. *JG |
| 624064 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.*JB |
| 623114 | SUBJECT REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL - REAR AXLE BEARING REMOVAL KIT. *TTTHE KIT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL AND AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL NISSAN DEALERS. |
| 621970 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES STORED DUE TO LAUNCHING A WATERCRAFT. *TT |
| 618789 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 615853 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE CONSULT SCREEN INDICATES ASSIST A/B MODULE (OPEN). *TT |
| 613980 | SERVICE INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING BODY VIBRATION WHILE DRIVEN (WITHOUT BRAKING) AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH. *TT |
| 613969 | VEHICLES UP TO 1N6DD26Y9WC347717 MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0420 (THREE WAY CATALYST FUNCTION) STORED IN THE ECM AND / OR EXHAUST RATTLE NOISE. *TT |
| 613960 | VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 1999 MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK OR RATTLE FELT OR HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 613480 | INFORMATION REGARDING KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY PROGRAMMING. *TT |
| 613465 | ALL VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 1N6SD11S8VC327106 WITH A FS5W71C TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS EXCEPT 4TH. THE WHINE NOISE IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD GEARS AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TT |
| 612976 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SCRATCHY TYPE OF SQUEAK NOISE IN THE HEADLINER AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SUNROOF. *MJS |
| 609969 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A RATTLE NOISE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT (COLD SOAK). *TT |
| 609968 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING AN AIR CONDITIONER IDLER PULLEY WHINE NOISE AT 3,000 ENGINE RPM. *TT |
| 608114 | SOME VEHICLES INCLUDING CREW CABS MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 608054 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INACCURATE FUEL GUAGE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)