VehicleVerdict

2004 Nissan Armada problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 636 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 16.7 times the median Armada year — the 2004 model ranks #1 of 23 Armada years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 18 injuries in total across these filings.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 55% of all reports (348 of 636), far ahead of electrical system at 40.

636

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

1

Investigations

30

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other Armada years?

Armada NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted636 complaints2004: 636 complaints2005: 501 complaints2006: 329 complaints2007: 103 complaints2008: 206 complaints2009: 39 complaints2010: 63 complaints2011: 60 complaints2012: 24 complaints2013: 26 complaints2014: 17 complaints2015: 27 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 131 complaints2018: 115 complaints2019: 113 complaints2020: 38 complaints2021: 20 complaints2022: 14 complaints2023: 10 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 31 complaints2026: 11 complaints
Armada NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Armada years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Nissan Armada problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes34855%
Electrical System406%
Fuel System386%
Engine356%
Suspension274%
Airbags234%
Transmission213%
Other163%
Body & Structure152%
Visibility & Wipers132%
Steering132%
Tires & Wheels112%
Speed Control102%
Seat Belts81%
Seats51%
Latches & Locks51%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)41%
Lighting30%
Driver Assistance10%

Does the 2004 Nissan Armada have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V517000EngineOctober 28, 2010 · 747,480 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

Consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10E019000SuspensionMay 20, 2010 · 1,873 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

07E046000OtherJuly 3, 2007 · 3,500 units

Defect

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

Consequence

THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy

HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL FRACTURED AND TOGGLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED IN TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE CAUSING A CRASH. A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS FILED ON THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, ODI #…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · April 18, 2006 · crash

“BRAKES ON SUV HAVE FAILED TO WORK AS DESIGNED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DUE TO NON-MECHANICAL ISSUES. PROBLEMS MAY STEM FROM ELECTRICAL OR SENSOR ISSUES. THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR DISPLAYS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE SUV AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS UP THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN DUPLICATED WITH A REPAIR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 11, 2010

“MY 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA LE HAS ONLY 20,000 MILES AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENSOR BECAUSE IT WAS READING INCORRECTLY. WHEN I FILLED UP, THE GAUGE WOULD ONLY SHOW IT 3/4 FULL. ISN'T INACCURATE READING OF THE FUEL TANK A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING? WHY WASN'T THE 2004 INCLUDED IN THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · February 2, 2011

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH FORCE REPEATEDLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 8, 2010 · fire

“LEFT FRONT WHEEL, TIRE, DISK BRAKE ASSEMBLY, PLUS CALIPER AND BRAKE DISK DETACHED FROM VEHICLE WHILE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING APPROX 60 MPH ON RTE 8 IN CONN. TRUCK SPUN INTO THE MEDIAN GUARD RAIL AND I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET IT STOPPED. INSPECTION OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL REVEALED THAT THE TIE ROAD…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · May 3, 2018 · crash

2004 Nissan Armada — common questions

Is the 2004 Nissan Armada reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 636 complaints put the 2004 model at #1 of 23 Armada years. It is one of the Armada years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 Armada problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (348 complaints), electrical system (40 complaints), fuel system (38 complaints).

Does the 2004 Nissan Armada have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Nissan Armada. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2004 Nissan Armada under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Armada years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Armada years to avoid are 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2007, 2010, 2011. The cleanest record among Armada years belongs to 2016.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.