2004 Nissan Quest Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report early brake rotor vibration and repeated brake work, power sliding door and liftgate faults, and transmission hesitation or failure to move from a stop. Many complaints are filed at low miles, but electrical problems such as engine computer corrosion and stalling tend to appear later in life, alongside rust found in the front subframe on higher-mileage vans.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power sliding door and liftgate faults

   • 125 complaints (28%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 0.9 yrs old (81 state mileage)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2020

   Owners describe power sliding doors that fail to latch on the first attempt, reopen as they close, or open unexpectedly, and a power liftgate that beeps, will not open, or will not close using the buttons. Complaints mention repeated dealer visits with sensor replacements and adjustments that did not resolve the behavior, and some note the door reversing when it should stop for an obstruction. A service bulletin covers replacement of the sliding door motor and cable assembly. Often reported very early, many under 5,000 miles and some within weeks of purchase, and in cold weather per the related recall description.

   Recall 04V1860002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors and the liftgate several times, including from the remote and interior buttons, and check that each door reverses when blocked; ask whether the door motor or cable bulletin work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Re: my 2004 Nissan Quest-have had same problem recur for almost 1 yr & dealer has not fixed it in 5 tries. On 7/21/04, brought my van in for service 'cause an alarm beeper would go off randomly when driving-comes from rear power liftgate. Besides the constant beeping, at times the liftgate will not open, also when open the liftgate will not close using the power buttons-then liftgate needs to be shut manually. At my 7/21/04 service appt, the dealer ordered a part that would be installed later to fix beeping. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10118323, filed 2005-04, 2,000 miles

   “While applying the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. Within seconds of parking the vehicle a fire occurred. The vehicle displayed a dangerously slow acceleration as if the transmission was in the wrong gear when trying to accelerate the vehicle. There was also poor fuel economy (11.6 to 12.1 mpg instead of the normal 19-26 mpg). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10073718, filed 2004-06, 2,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation, no-move condition and erratic

   • 94 complaints (21%)
   • median 20,500 mi at 3.1 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2016

   Complaints describe the van revving without moving when shifted into drive, then lurching forward, and transmissions that stay in one gear or shift harshly with clunking on deceleration. Several owners report dealers unable to duplicate the problem or recommending a fluid flush, and a few had the transmission replaced or quoted for a rebuild. Some reports tie later drivability problems to the engine computer rather than the transmission itself. Reported from a few thousand miles up into the 100,000-plus range, with many cases under 40,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low speed in stop-and-go conditions and on a hill, watching for delayed engagement or slipping; ask about transmission service history and whether the specified fluid was used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2004 Nissan Quest se would loose power when slowing down to 30 mpr. I was told that 2nd or 3rd gears are lock engaged. It would then make a load crushing sound like the transmission was knocking against the gears. This is very hard to drive early in the morning. I took the vehicle to aamco. They told me that I can have a rebuilt transmission for about $2300.00. I don't know about you but I can not afford this on my income and out of work. Do anyone have a solution to this problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10499867, filed 2013-02, 85,000 miles

   “I was driving with my son and the transmission line snapped. I was scared because I didn't know what happened. Thank god my son who is disabled was not in the car. My mechanic said that this should not happen. When I got my car back my transmission is now very sick. I have always maintained all fluid changes at the correct time. My car is not the same. Now today my oil pan was eaten from the transmission fluid leaking. I have had many issues with my Quest. This car was not built with proper parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10617234, filed 2014-07, 112,065 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling and rough running from engine computer corrosion

   • 87 complaints (20%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (68 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2021

   Owners report the engine shutting off without warning while driving or after being parked, sometimes with no restart, and mechanics tracing it to a corroded engine control module or power distribution module. Complaints say the module sits in an exposed spot below the windshield and that corrosion, not a failed part inside, was the underlying problem. Some vans restarted after being turned off and left for a while, and others needed a computer replacement before they would run. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, often following wet or snowy weather.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the engine computer or power distribution module has been replaced, look for water staining or corrosion around the cowl area, and have a scan tool check for stored codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle main computer is directly under the driver windshield. It rusted out and failed. Because it was totally unprotected and subject to rain,snow excessive heat, I had to have it replaced to the cost of $1,000. Completely preventable. I demand a refund and a recall notice issued. Thank you!”

   NHTSA complaint #11023799, filed 2017-09, 115,000 miles

   “Vehicle lost speed dramatically on the road. Car would not drive more than 10 MPH, no increase in rpms with accelerator depressed. Mechanic reports ECM failed while driving due to rust development. Ecm is placed in unprotected location directly under windshield drain. Nissan offers no fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #10522748, filed 2013-07, 87,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Warped brake rotors and repeated brake work

   • 68 complaints (15%)
   • median 25,075 mi at 3.1 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,783 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2018

   Complaints describe front-end shaking or vibration while braking that returns after rotors are resurfaced or replaced, sometimes within a few thousand miles. Several owners say pads and rotors were replaced multiple times at low mileage, and some dealers told them this was normal maintenance rather than a covered repair. A few reports mention that the vibration also affected wheel bearings. Mostly reported between roughly 2,000 and 30,000 miles, with some cases continuing past 70,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, brake firmly from highway speed and feel for steering wheel or pedal pulsing; ask for brake service records and whether rotors were replaced or only resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle started out with front end vibrations driving home from the dealership. Brought in and they balanced tires. Problem came back, they then resurfaced the rotors, however the problem returned and they replaced 2 rotors when the vehicle was 1 year old. The problem has now returned. I brought the vehicle to the dealership for repair. I am being told that I need 4 new rotors and that the rotors are warped. This is a safety issue that is a manufacturers defect and is endangering our lives and others out there. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165220, filed 2006-08, 3,000 miles

   “2004 Nissan Quest. Excessive shake while braking, concern for safety plus it was quite irritating. Vehicle was purchased new january 2005, had 29,196 miles on it. Required the replacement of the brake pads and turning the rotors at a cost to me of $339.98. Dealer and manufacturer refused to cover it under the 36,000 mile warranty, stated this was normal and normal maintenance not covered under warranty unless a defect in materials and workmanship . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10157886, filed 2006-05, 29,196 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Rust in the front subframe

   • 17 complaints (4%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2020

   Complaints describe rust holes found in the front subframe near the passenger-side front wheel, sometimes discovered during unrelated repairs or inspections. Owners say shops told them the frame member was weakened enough that the van was not considered safe to drive until it was replaced, with repair estimates in the thousands. Several note that the rust was not the result of a collision and is hard for a non-specialist to spot. Reported on vans with roughly 85,000 to 180,000 miles, typically in older vehicles in rust-belt areas.

   What to check: Have the front subframe inspected from below, especially around the passenger-side front wheel area, and ask whether it has been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tamara inflators, sent my van to my local Nissan dealer for brake repairmen. I was told since the front subframe at passenger side had severe rust area, my van is not safe to drive. It will cost me more than $4,000 to replace. I checked internet. There are many same problems occurred on 2004 Quest. It looks like the defect of materials to me.”

   NHTSA complaint #11064470, filed 2018-01, 10,000 miles

   “We recently had to change the alternator and noticed on the passenger side front the subframe has a large hole in it and is completely not safe to drive and nothing has been hit there and it has not been in an accident related to that area at all, vehicle was parked at my home when this was found and still is I did not take any pictures at that time of the rotting hole in the subframe I can get pictures but we will have to remove right side front tire so please let me know if this has to be done.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327861, filed 2020-06, 171,000 miles

Buying note. Check brakes, power doors and the front subframe closely, and get service records for the engine computer and transmission, since these come up repeatedly in owner reports. Many of the reported faults appear early in life, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.