2004 Nissan Quest Problems, Recalls & Reliability
651 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Nissan Quest, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 61,370 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2004 Nissan Quest sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1998, 2001–2002, 2005–2006, 2008, 2011–2012.
Avoid
Where 2004 sits among all Quest years
What owners report
“Takata recall the speedometer goes in and out all the lights in the van is not working and light blink on and off and the overdrive stays on all the time”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
“The transmission slams you into gear and then wont shift.. Makes the van undriveable”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
“2004 nissan quest sl van, passenger side power door, closing on its own and failing to sense an obstruction (in this case, my child). My wife had to physically throw herself against the door to stop it from crushing our son. The dealership has refused to pick up the vehicle as of yet.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
“When driving the vehicle it stalls in the middle of the road. The vehicle has been serviced twice for the defectiveness. The dealer found n o defects.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
“During hot temps, left automatic sliding door won't close, opens back up, reverses without input command. On one occasion, opened up on its own while vehicle was in motion at about 25 mph.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
“Nissan quest 2004 buzzing/whining noise from timing chain area and cause van to stall”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Quest
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 422 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,095 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,925 and 98,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH A FOLDING THIRD ROW REAR SEAT, WHEN THE THIRD ROW SEAT IS RAISED FROM ITS STOWED POSITION, IT ENGAGES STRIKER BRACKETS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT CUSHION. THE FOLD-AWAY STRIKER LOOP IS WELDED TO A MOUNTING BRACKET. THE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THIRD ROW SEAT STRIKER BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THERE IS A SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM THAT CONTAINS EXPOSED MOVING COMPONENTS LOCATED AT THE REAR INSIDE EDGE OF THE SECOND ROW SEAT.
Fix: ON EARLIER MODEL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH JUNE 28, 2004, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INBOARD SECOND ROW SEAT ADJUSTMENT HANDLE, RIVET A PLASTIC REINFORCEMENT TO BACKSIDE OF THE EXISTING SEAT BACK COVER…
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER SLIDING DOOR(S), AT AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BELOW APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THE ACTUATOR FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR(S) MAY EXPERIENCE BINDING DUE TO AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION CONDITION. IN ORDER TO OPEN,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACTUATOR FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR(S). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE ADVANCED AIR BAG REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE AIR BAG FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS TO BE TURNED OFF (SO THAT IT DOES NOT INFLATE) WHEN…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION/SENSOR ASSEMBLY. IF THE SEAT CUSHION/SENSOR IS FOUND TO BE OPERATING IMPROPERLY, THE SEAT WILL BE REMOVED AND RECALIBRATED. OWNER NOTIFICATION…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V474000.
Led to recall campaign 04V186000.
Technical service bulletins
115 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Nissan Quest. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Nissan Quest reliable?
The 2004 Nissan Quest drew 651 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2004 Nissan Quest problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Nissan Quest are electrical (87 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (72), and body & structure (72).
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Quest problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Nissan Quest problems around 52,095 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,925 and 98,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Nissan Quest have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Nissan Quest. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.