Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Nissan Frontier Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Elevated complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Electrical System — runs 1.7× the fleet median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
129Complaints
5Recalls
12Crashes
0Fires
11Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Electrical System (10.9% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Electrical System complaints here are 1.7× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 · 10.9% | not available | — |
| Tires | 13 · 10.1% | not available | — |
| Tires:tread/belt | 9 · 7% | not available | — |
| Suspension | 7 · 5.4% | not available | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 7 · 5.4% | not available | — |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 6 · 4.7% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 129 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA campaign 98V065000 · 1998 · reported 03/25/1998
IF THE SEAT BELT IS COMPLETELY SEVERED, IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
NHTSA campaign 98V064000 · 1998 · reported 03/25/1998
THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“DRIVING DOWN ROAD INSTRUMENT PANEL, ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER WORK INTERMENTELY. BATTERY IS BEING OVERCHARGED. HAVE REPLACED 2 BATTERIES AND 1 ALTERNATOR AND NOW IT DOSENT CHARGE…”NHTSA complaint 10994256 — filed 06/09/2017 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC…”NHTSA complaint 10749379 — filed 08/18/2015 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“THE DASHBOARD GIVES ERRONEOUS READINGS, THIS INCLUDES THE ODOMETER, THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE , HEAT GAUGE. THIS MAY CAUSE AN OVER HEATING OF VEHICLE, ERRONEOUS…”NHTSA complaint 10712372 — filed 04/23/2015 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Nissan Frontier?
Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 14 of 129 NHTSA complaints (10.9%), followed by tires (13), tires:tread/belt (9), suspension (7). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Nissan Frontier have?
129 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 11 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Nissan Frontier's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
