IllustrationI AM GETTING A CAR CODE OF P0463 WHICH INDICATES THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING IN MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. MY GAS NEEDLE DROPPED FROM 1/2 FULL TO EMPTY IN A FEW SECONDS. I RAN OUT OF GAS BEFORE I COULD GET TO A GAS STATION. *TR
2005 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Frontier years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Frontier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
5225–50K
9250–75K
12975–100K
156100–150K
32150K+
479 reports with mileage · 53 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
119 reportsTHE FUEL GAUGE SENDS DIFFERENT SIGNALS EMPTY WHEN FULL, WHEN 3/4 AND UP THE GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CLAIMS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, ALSO WITH PATHFINDERS, TERRAS, PLEASE SEE THIS COMPLAINT AND DO SOMETHING !!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
2005 FRONTIER NISMO WITH 55K MILES WITH P0463 ERROR CODE. FUEL GAUGE DROPS FROM 1/4 TANK TO EMPTY. *TR
I HAD JUST PICKED MY VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING HAD THEM PERFORM SEVERAL REPAIRS. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 OR 15 MILES, AND WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $463. I PE…
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I HAD JUST PICKED MY VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING HAD THEM PERFORM SEVERAL REPAIRS. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 OR 15 MILES, AND WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST $463. I PERFORMED RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE UNIT WILL CORRODE AFTER JUST SEVERAL YEARS OF USE. I ALSO FOUND THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED. HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS STILL BEING PUT ON THE CUSTOMER. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM THAT INCLUDES AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CAR IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL AND THE INSTALLATION OF A BETTER DESIGNED UNIT. *TR
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 C…
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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
TL* THE CONTACT 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS OPERATING IMPROPERLY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL. HE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED, WHICH INDICATED THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. HE HAD NOT YET SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE LIABILI…
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TL* THE CONTACT 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS OPERATING IMPROPERLY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL. HE HAD A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED, WHICH INDICATED THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT FAILED. HE HAD NOT YET SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE LIABILITY FOR ANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 64,000.
2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ALWAYS ON, AND IMPROPER FUEL GAUGE READING POINT TO A BAD FUEL SENSOR UNIT. AS THIS EXACT PROBLEM IS ALL OVER NISSAN FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART AND NEEDS A RECALL. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT READ CORRECTLY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON! EX. IF MY LOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON AND I GO FILL UP THE TRUCK, IT STILL READS THAT I NEED GAS AND THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM! THE GAUGE NEVER READS THE GAS LEVEL CORRECTLY! I HAVE ALREADY RAN OUT OF GAS ONCE DUE TO THE FAULTY GAUGE, SO I NOW HAVE TO F…
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THE FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT READ CORRECTLY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON! EX. IF MY LOW FUEL LIGHT IS ON AND I GO FILL UP THE TRUCK, IT STILL READS THAT I NEED GAS AND THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM! THE GAUGE NEVER READS THE GAS LEVEL CORRECTLY! I HAVE ALREADY RAN OUT OF GAS ONCE DUE TO THE FAULTY GAUGE, SO I NOW HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT VIA MILEAGE! THE GAUGE WAS WORKING JUST FINE, AND ONE DAY THIS JUST HAPPENED! I HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH IT FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN FRONTIER'S! NOW THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ALWAYS READS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE IS HIGH, WHEN THAT IS NOT THE CASE! SO I NOW WOULDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIGH OR NOT, WHICH IF IT WAS IT COULD CAUSE MY ENGINE TO BLOW OUT AND CAUSE A CRASH! *TR
AFTER FUELING TO A FULL TANK, I NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT BUDGE OFF THE 1/4 MARK FOR 20+ MILES. EVER-SO SLOWLY, THE GAUGE FINALLY READ "F" BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THE ERROR CODE PO463 AND A BIT OF RESEARCH/ELBOW GREASE, THE PROBLEM CAME DOWN TO THE FUEL SENSOR UNIT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS I…
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AFTER FUELING TO A FULL TANK, I NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT BUDGE OFF THE 1/4 MARK FOR 20+ MILES. EVER-SO SLOWLY, THE GAUGE FINALLY READ "F" BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THE ERROR CODE PO463 AND A BIT OF RESEARCH/ELBOW GREASE, THE PROBLEM CAME DOWN TO THE FUEL SENSOR UNIT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH QUITE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE INTERNET. THIS ISSUE IS CONSTANT AFTER EVERY FUELING. WORSE, THE LEVELS ARE INACCURATE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP BY RUNNING TO EMPTY. THE ONLY SAFE WAY I CAN OPERATE MY VEHICLE IS BY METICULOUSLY EYEING THE ODOMETER. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE WARRANTY COVERS THIS FAULTY PART, BECAUSE MY RESEARCH INDICATES A COST OF $300-$600 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS ONE DAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD THE CODE READ WHICH SAID FUEL SENSOR. THE GAUGE SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WHICH CAUSED US TO RUN OUT OF GAS ONE DAY SHORTLY AFTER THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A QUIET RURAL ROAD AT THE TIME, IF IT H…
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MY FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS ONE DAY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD THE CODE READ WHICH SAID FUEL SENSOR. THE GAUGE SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WHICH CAUSED US TO RUN OUT OF GAS ONE DAY SHORTLY AFTER THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A QUIET RURAL ROAD AT THE TIME, IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WELL KNOWN TO NISSAN. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · 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
1DP12004 · 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)
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
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.
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.
Power Train
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.