Power Train. Review the 262 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports8 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

38 reports

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60,000 miles · Nov 19, 2010

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, SHE WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10366811

68,238 miles · Nov 16, 2010

Electrical System

2005 FRONTIER RAN OUT OF GAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE SENSOR. TOOK INTO DEALER AND THE DEALER HELD CAR HOSTAGE UNTIL DIAGNOSTICFEE WAS PAID. TOLD IT WAS A DEFECTIVE IPDM. LOOKED AROUND AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DEALERSHIP UNDERSTANDS. TRUCK BROKE DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT START MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366477

82,379 miles · Sep 14, 2010

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER AND THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROADWAY EVEN THOUGH THE GAUGES INDICATED 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS REMAINING. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A ROADWAY WITH A TRAVEL SPEED OF 35MPH AND NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO FIND THAT THE VEHICLE IS KNOW TO HAVE A FAILURE OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE RECALLED 2006-2010 MODELS OF THE NISSAN FRONTIER BUT THE 2005 MODEL USING THE SAME PART WAS NOT. I HAD TO PAY THE DEALER AN 89.95 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO CONFIRM WHAT THEY ALREADY TOLD ME AND THEN PAY 470.00 ADDITIONAL IN PART AND LABOR FEES. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND DENIES THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 MODEL EVEN THOUGH I PRESENTED THEM WITH A FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN I OBTAINED THAT CLEARLY IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM FOR THE 2005 MODEL YEAR AND TELLS THE DEALER WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO REPLACE AND ALLOWS THEM TO CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PART FROM NISSAN. SERVICE BULLETIN NTB07-069B PART AFFECTED FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT # 25060-ZZ00A. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355589

32,000 miles · Jan 1, 2010

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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2005 NISSAN FRONTIER FUEL GAUGE & CHECK SERVICE LIGHT. THE CHECK SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE READING POORLY+ERRATICALLY. WENT ON WEB AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FROM PREVIOUS YEARS AND MODELS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB SO THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. THE REPAIR COST IS $600 FROM THE DEALER, A CASH COW. MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND BEEN BABIED. I FEEL THIS IS A PLANNED DESIGN DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED. SAMUEL BAYLUS*TR

NHTSA ODI #10297731

67,127 miles · Sep 17, 2009

Electrical System

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SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE: AT A VERY BUSY CALIFORNIA INTERSECTION, MY VEHICLE SIMPLY QUIT RUNNING, AT WHICH POINT I WAS ABLE TO RE START SAID VEHICLE AND "LIMP" IT TO A SAFE AREA, LUCKILY I MIGHT ADD. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND A LOSE BATTERY CONNECTION IN WHICH HE THOUGHT HE SOLVED THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY TRAVELING DOWN HWY 50 IN THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN EXIT NEARBY THAT I SAFELY COASTED THE DEAD VEHICLE INTO. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND A FAULTY IPDM ( INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE ). UPON HIS RESEARCH AND MINE, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN WHICH NISSAN IS NOT RESPONDING TO. IT SHOULD BE SAFETY ISSUE AND BE RECALLED BY NISSAN AND THE REPAIR SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE : "IPDM PROBLEM NISSAN " YOU WILL FIND FURTHER DATA. PLEASE REVIEW, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING....*TR

NHTSA ODI #10284400

67,000 miles · Sep 11, 2009

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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AFTER GETTING GAS I STARTED MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER AND AS I ENTERED BACK ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT AND THE 4WD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 50 FT IT STARTED RUNNING NORMALLY AGAIN. I VISITED MY NISSAN DEALER ON 9/10/09 AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THAT AFTERNOON AFTER GETTING GAS IT STALLED AFTER STARTING IT AGAIN WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS ON. I COULD NOT RESTART IT. THIS TIME IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT AN ENGINE ELECTRONIC MODULE HAD FAILED BUT WAS ON NATIONWIDE BACK-ORDER AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A LARGE PROBLEM IN 2006, 2007 AND SOME IN 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER AND TITAN TRUCKS. IF THIS ITEM IS IN NATIONWIDE BACK-ORDER IT MUST BE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND A DANGEROUS ONE IF A VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLS WHILE IN OPERATION ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283721

71,000 miles · Aug 3, 2009

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

MY 2005 NISSAN PICKUP'S FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE GAUGE NO LONGER INDICATES GAS IN TANK EVEN WHEN FULL. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE RESERVE LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279128

40,000 miles · Jun 26, 2008

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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"I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER AND HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS IN MY FUEL TANK AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AFTER 30K MILES. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-49K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232418

Official recalls

10V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 28, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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.

08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 29, 2008

NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

06V092000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Mar 30, 2006

ON CERTAIN KING CAB TRUCKS, IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT CRASH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT DEFORMATION OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY COULD CAUSE THE FUEL FILLER CAP TETHER TO BE STRETCHED TO THE POINT OF UNSCREWING THE FUEL FILLER CAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A FUEL SPILL WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL CAP TETHER PIN ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12004 · Transmission Failures

Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train