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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 →
532Owner complaints

Model-year median: 64

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
124
200277
200366
2004532
2005617
2006520
2007136
2008
Compare all Frontier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
262Fuel System, Gasoline
119Engine And Engine Cooling
106Engine
80Electrical System
38
All reported categories
Fuel/propulsion System
25Fuel System, Other
18Structure
17Vehicle Speed Control
15Air Bags
14Unknown Or Other
14Steering
5Electronic Stability Control (esc)
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Suspension
4Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes
3Tires
3Equipment
2Visibility
2Wheels
2Parking Brake
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
95,634 miles · May 3, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

NISSAN HAS A KNOW RADIATOR PROBLEM. INTERNAL LEAKAGE INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. CAUSES CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PULLING AWAY FROM STOP SIGN. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD TWICE. THEN HAD NO FORWARD MOTION, ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT NOT MOVE THE VEHICAL. TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILE NISSAN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WAS FIRS…

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NISSAN HAS A KNOW RADIATOR PROBLEM. INTERNAL LEAKAGE INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. CAUSES CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PULLING AWAY FROM STOP SIGN. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD TWICE. THEN HAD NO FORWARD MOTION, ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT NOT MOVE THE VEHICAL. TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILE NISSAN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WAS FIRST TOLD BY THE DEALER. 100% COVERED. LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER, WAS TOLD NOT COVERED. COST $5000 PLUS. CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. GABBY AT NISSAN SIAD THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. TOOK A WEEK FOR THEM TO FINALLY CALL BACK. THEY ASKED ME TO COVER $2000. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE WHOLE BILL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. AND THE TRUCK HAS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I PAID $2192.43 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND DEFECTIVE RADIATOR REPLACED. ASKED IF THE RADIATOR WAS AN UPDATED PART. WAITING ON A CALL TO FIND OUT IF IT IS A BETTER RADIATOR OR JUST A NEW ONE WITH THE SAME DEFECT. RIGHT NOW. ITS A TICKING TIME BOMB, IF THE FAILURE OCCURED IN TRAFFIC ON AN INTERSTATE, A MAJOR CRASH COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457375

82,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REFUELING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INACCURATLY LOW READING OF FUEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REFUELING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INACCURATLY LOW READING OF FUEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURES DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390072

71,000 miles · Mar 10, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT WALL OF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT WALL OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED YET THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, LEGS AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10389711

95,200 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 50 MPH, AND AS CAR STARTED INCLINE, ACCELERATOR ENGAGED ABRUPTLY AND RPM INCREASED TO MAXIMUM. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TRUCK WENT OFF ROAD ON CURVE AND HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TREE OCCURRED. DRIVER HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE, YET WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10385989

57,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. WHILE AT A RESTAURANT DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. A POLI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. WHILE AT A RESTAURANT DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT KNEE AND BACK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND IS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10273210

Official recalls

3

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

1

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)

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.