RecallMyCar

1998 Nissan Frontier Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1998 Nissan Frontier, and owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
129
owner complaints to NHTSA
12 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–22
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1998 Nissan Frontier

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 98V064000 Reported 3,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the automatic transmission control device assembly and replace it if necessary.

  2. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 98V065000 Reported 20,000 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the plastic handle on the end of the seat back reclining lever fwith a different shape handle which will prevent the seat belt from slipping between the handle and the seat.

129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Nissan Frontier have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 107,111 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 26 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 burne”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 14, 2023 · Engine and engine cooling

“driver's side seat belt receptacle failed in fall of 2021. Nissan initially said they would replace it, but in May of 2022 reported that the part is "unavailable."”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 17, 2022 · Seat belts

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Nissan Frontier (Frontier 2WD, Frontier 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–22 mpg
City / Highway16–20 / 19–24
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Nissan Frontier model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Frontier model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Nissan Frontier2129
1999 Nissan Frontier278
2000 Nissan Frontier3189
2001 Nissan Frontier3134
2002 Nissan Frontier4124
2003 Nissan Frontier477
2004 Nissan Frontier166
2005 Nissan Frontier3532
2006 Nissan Frontier4617
2007 Nissan Frontier1520
2008 Nissan Frontier5136
2009 Nissan Frontier337
2010 Nissan Frontier459
2011 Nissan Frontier164
2012 Nissan Frontier378
2013 Nissan Frontier148
2014 Nissan Frontier242
2015 Nissan Frontier033
2016 Nissan Frontier143
2017 Nissan Frontier138
2018 Nissan Frontier225
2019 Nissan Frontier128
2020 Nissan Frontier223
2021 Nissan Frontier219
2022 Nissan Frontier6112
2023 Nissan Frontier166
2024 Nissan Frontier322
2025 Nissan Frontier38
2026 Nissan Frontier110

Checking a specific 1998 Nissan Frontier

How do I know if my 1998 Nissan Frontier has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1998 Nissan Frontier; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 98V064000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.