2004 Nissan Armada: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 463 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (32% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 463 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I was driving along on the freeway after replacing the rear control arms as those were rusted out as well and the driver side wheel started wobbling so I pulled over with the family in it to look, and the bearing had come loose after fixing the bearing at a shop nearby driving down the road. It still felt like it was wobbling brought it into the shop looked underneath, and the subframe is actually cracked, though it states that this recall had been complete completed.”Owner report · Suspension · Dec 2025
“This issue had been going on for years with my 2004 Nissan Armada. Driving down the freeway at approximately 70mph and the brake light comes on out of no where. When this happens there us no way to safe stop the vehicle because the brakes will not engage. There is this rattling and grinding sound that happens each time. The only way to safely continue is turn the truck off and back on. This needs to be corrected immediately before there is a fatal because of brake failure. Nissan refuse to research all the complaints.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2022
“As I was driving through the canyon at 55 mph I pressed on my brakes to begin to slow down for the construction zone coming up and they felt like air no pressure then there was a grinding sound like something was breaking underneath my vehicle as I let off my brakes the brake light came on and it sounded like a spring releasing under my vehicle. I attempted to use my brakes almost a dozen times attempting to stop with the same grinding and spring sound happening. Once I was finally able to come to a safe stop I turned my vehicle off and once I turned it back on the brake light was off and the pressure was back in my brakes”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving applying brakes and without waring except when it anitially happens brake light comes on and brake pedal kickback and cannot stop car with in a timely manner almost causing a rear end collision.finally get car stopped and shutting off and back on again every thing is normal with braking .had a code pulled for a c1179.I know of tsb ntb06-040 but should be considered a saftey recall”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2021
“The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Armada. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would sway from left to right. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 10E019000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 99,200.”Owner report · Suspension · May 2021
“After making a left turn I heard a loud popping sound from the rear of the vehicle so I continued driving at about 20mph. for about another 350 yds. While making a right turn into my apartment. I heard a loud clanked sound. I looked and saw that the upper control arm on the rear drivers side had broke apart due to rust. Luckily I was only pulling into my apartment. I was quite disturbed by this incident because I had just gotten off the interstate with my family in the vehicle with me..”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2020
“Vehicle originally sold in rhode island, underneath is corroded and welding that is holding spring and or shock seems weak and steering wheel turns by itself when hit a groove or coming to stop on city street. Being in contact with other armada owners, there seems to be common trouble with catalyct converters with clogged screens and cracked exhaust manifolds, and multiple misfire with approx 8 of 10 armada owners”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2020
“After purchasing a 2004 nissan armada. Took to get a alignment and he mechanic diagnosed the rear subframe/cradle was severely rusted nearly in two so much so that the sway bar had rusted through completely and was just hanging loosely. After doing some research we have seen multiple reports of this recurring issue. *tr”Owner report · Wheels · May 2020
“Just recently purchased this huge monstrosity for my 3 children; today as we were driving the brakes completely went out! 10% braking power. Now im reading a 2016 class action and a lawsuit where a peron was killed. There are multiple posts regarding this issue. Nissan needs to recall this before more people are killed!”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2019
“My cats are going bad after I just spent $600 to get a whole new exhaust system! The car chokes up when I accelerate and almost feels like it will lose power. I also have a code coming up for p0430”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 21 of these complaints and injuries in 15 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2004 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Armada by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Armada reliable?
NHTSA has 463 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Nissan Armada. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Armada problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 68,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Nissan Armada have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.