The Lemon Index
20051st generation
Avoid · most complaints: brakes
146 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe 1092004 Ford Expedition 792004 Chevrolet Suburban 127
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2004 Nissan Armada
- Brake booster / hard pedal35 complaintsmostly at 63,000–100,000 miles (101,000–161,000 km)
- Engine stalling25 complaintsmostly at 7,000–137,000 miles (11,000–220,000 km)
- Rust / frame corrosion15 complaintsmostly at 83,000–160,000 miles (134,000–257,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 464 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Armada (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 3,000 and 17,000 miles (4,800–27,000 km) (the middle half of the 103 complaints, of all 146 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 10V517000 (engine), 10E019000 (suspension) and 07E046000 (equipment) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Do the wipers, washers, defrost and mirrors all work?
- Nissan sent dealers 105 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Dvd player inoperative”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Nissan's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 146 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 3K to 17K miles (5K to 27K km) on the car (103 of all 146 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Brakes quickly waer down to the point of near loss of function due to vibration. This increases stopping distances and can cause accidents. Dealer resurfaced rotors, but problem returned within 2 months.
2004 Nissan Armada owner · NHTSA complaint 10146876
More owner reports
2004 Nissan pathfinder Armada with numerous problems. Customer states the vehicle has had some of these problems washer tank/motor/level sensor, electrical worked after key was removed from the ignition, and it had brake failure.
NHTSA complaint 10208254
Dt: the brakes were too small for the vehicle. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership and they replaced the pads. The second time they shaved the rotors.
NHTSA complaint 10127116
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 105 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Dvd player inoperative
- Water leak from sunroof
- Cruise control inoperative due to ascd cancel switch misadjustment
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- Engine · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES.
- Suspension · recall issued 2010
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 A…
- Equipment · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedSide air bag non-deployment2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Every Nissan Armada year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2004 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/nissan-armada/?y=2004" title="Nissan Armada reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="353" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/nissan-armada/2004/">Lemon Index</a> (2004 Nissan Armada reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2004 Nissan Armada reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew about 4 times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 390; 100 is average, lower is better). 2004 is one of the weaker years of a model that usually draws about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car. The Nissan Armada year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2017.
What are the most common 2004 Nissan Armada problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (85%), visibility (7%) and brakes (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Armada have?
3 safety recalls (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Armada problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 3,000 and 17,000 miles (4,800–27,000 km) (the middle half of the 103 complaints, of all 146 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2004 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2004 Nissan Armada have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 5% of its owner complaints.
What Nissan Armada year is better than the 2004?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2017 drew the fewest (about half as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works