NissanFrontier1998Overview/nissan/frontier/1998/base/

1998 Nissan Frontier

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Frontier.

Body TRUCKTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Nissan Frontier is a mid‑size truck that sits on a robust platform powered by a 3.7‑quart, 5W‑30 API engine, delivering EPA‑rated 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg and mated to a smooth‑shifting 4‑speed automatic transmission; its 135 owner complaints—predominantly focused on tires—reflect a moderate reliability profile, with five recalls issued that year, and the Frontier’s overall complaint history (spanning 1998‑2025) peaks in 2000 with 210 complaints and drops to only seven in 2025, illustrating a gradual improvement in durability over time.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/22/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 · 490 CCA battery, OE oil filter 152089E01A. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 · 490 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-75R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter152089E01A
Engine air filter1654686G00 discontinued
Fuel filter164000W005
Spark plug2240150Y06 alt 2240150Y05
Battery999M1NB25C
Front wiper blades28890VB005
Serpentine belt0211725023 alt 0211792523
Thermostat212000C82A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.8 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height62.6 in
Wheelbase116.1 in
Curb weight3106 lb
Track (front / rear)55.1 / 54.7 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 22 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Frontier of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.40 sec — 1998 XE King Cab
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1998XE King Cab 2.4L I-411.40 sec17.70 sec143 hp4x4
1999SE King Cab 2.4L I-411.40 sec18.20 sec143 hpRWD
2000SE V6 Crew Cab 3.3L V69.20 sec17.20 sec170 hp4x4
2000SE V6 Crew Cab 3.3L V610.90 sec18.20 sec170 hp4x4
2000SE V6 Crew Cab 3.3L V611.00 sec18.20 sec170 hp4x4
2001SC V6 King Cab (6.2 ft. Bed) 3.3L Supercharger V69.00 sec16.80 sec210 hpRWD
2001SC V6 King Cab (6.2 ft. Bed) 3.3L Supercharger V69.30 sec16.80 sec210 hpRWD
2001SC V6 Crew Cab (4.9 ft. Bed) 3.3L Supercharger V69.50 sec17.20 sec210 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 22.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts105-112 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts105-110 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts28-35 ft-lbs
Main Bearings34-41 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/StudsBolts: 8-11 ft-lbs, Screws: 4-7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)72.0-80.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket87.0-108.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle58.0-72.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket58.0-72.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance1.0 approx. ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance10,000 approx. ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque14-22 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.32-1.54 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Oil Capacity6.80 oz
Standard BCI Group Number25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance490 cca
Optional BCI Group Number24

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)43.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)34.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance10-14 ohms
Injector Primary Resistance10-14 ohms
Engine Compression149-178 psi
Engine Oil Pressure60-70 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.00 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17-9
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
110-12 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-6510–12 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
259 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
3Loosen all bolts completely.
418-25 ft. lbs.18–25 ft. lbs
586-91 degrees.86–91 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSteering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 model year registers 135 complaints and 5 recalls, exceeding the 1999 count of 93 but falling well short of the generation’s 2000 peak of 210 complaints, which establishes an upward trend that continues through 2002 before declining. Positioned at the onset of this escalation arc, the 1998 model carries the highest complaint volume among the earliest years yet avoids the peak defect rates seen in 2000–2002, when recalls climbed to 6–8 units and complaints remained above 139. Federal filings identify tires and electrical systems as the primary complaint categories with 25 and 22 reports respectively, though the data does not specify root causes; notably, the year records zero fire complaints alongside 12 crash-related filings. Given its moderate recall burden, absence of investigations, and position before the documented 2000–2002 spike in reported issues, the 1998 Frontier represents a relatively lower-risk acquisition within this generation, provided prospective buyers verify maintenance records and inspect tire and electrical components carefully.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
72
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
135
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 135 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires25
Electrical System22
Suspension17
Air Bags10
Seat Belts8
Power Train7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Fuel System, Gasoline4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 72 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Frontier. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Frontier take?

3.7 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Frontier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Frontier get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 22 highway / 19 combined mpg.