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2005 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 532 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Frontier, most often about the transmission (49% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Frontier model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2005 Nissan Frontier problems
Transmission
262 complaints · 49%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
The transmission cooler built into the radiator failed causing coolant and transmission fluid to cross contaminate and cause possible overheat of motor and failure of transmission. Tried contacting Nissan north america about help fixing it but they refuse to do anything about it because it is out of warranty. Getting…
I have a suffered a transmission failure due to a faulty radiator in my 2005 Nissan Frontier. Coolant has entered the transmission due to radiator failure, thus ruining it. I have had my 2005 Nissan Frontier in the shop for five weeks and it will cost $4,500 to repair.
Engine
186 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, exhaust system, engine.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The contact had the vehicle towed to a mechanic and was informed that radiator coolant leaked into the transmission and caused the failure. The failure and current mileages were 101,500. Mah
Transmission cooler failing and contaminating the transmission, repaired transmission cost was more that I can paid, fixed anyway but still not 100% good, haven't bought a new radiator, don't want the same problem again. I hope this will be a recall so I can have my transmission repair by Nissan and a radiator replace.
Fuel system
160 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
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…
Oddly enough my fuel gauge stopped working at 58k miles or so. Now I know you think so what fix it. When I took it to the dealer they said they see all the time. So I looked online, googled Nissan Frontier fuel sending unit, and found literally 1000's of owners with the identical problem on dozens of message boards.…
Electrical
38 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
Erratic gas gauge and check engine light. Same issue has recall on 2006 and above Nissan frontiers. Has to be same issue with sending unit used in 2005. Tsb is open to include 2005 vehicles
Vehicle will stall when slowing down and not restart for a few minutes. Motor acts like it's not getting enough gas, lights on dash flash. Issue is with idpm module. The entire ipdm has to be changed, relays are burning up due to circuitry in the unit having too high of resistance, not being able to carry enough…
Body and structure
17 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
We have a 2005 Nissan Frontier with 40,000 miles on it - well maintained and in excellent condition. Both hinges on the tailgate broke. It is a known problem. Fortunately, it came off when it was parked in my driveway. If it broke and fell off on the highway while the vehicle was in motion, it could have been…
The cab truck body mount has 6 large washers holding the cab to the truck. While the truck was parked and running 3 of the washers broke off. Not sure if the weld failed or what caused them to break loose. Will the cab stay on the truck? The truck was parked I heard the bang and looked on the passenger side to find…
Speed control
15 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 96,500 miles.
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…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. While driving, the vehicle was not able to shift gears and the gears were stuck occasionally. In addition, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…
Air bags
14 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
In march of 2011, I was operating my 2005 Nissan Frontier (4-door crew cab, 4x4, nismo package) on a dirt road with one front seat occupant. Vehicle came in contact with washboard/rutted section of road, when the side curtain airbags deployed for an unknown reason, resulting in minor injuries and damage to interior of…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. While driving 55 MPH in the rain, the vehicle hydroplaned and the contact crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damage. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed, but was repaired. While driving…
Other or unspecified
14 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 113,500 miles.
My radiator failed and contaminated the transmission with coolant causing the transmission to fail. The truck has 108,000 miles but the technician that replaced the transmission and radiator said that it had been mixing for a while so it is difficult to say how many miles the vehicle had at the time of the failure. It…
After stopping and turning off truck at an alley. It would not restart until several attempts and stepping on brake. Also, while driving in business parking lot, engine stalled; truck stopped locking the steering wheel; unable to restart the truck after several attempts and stepping on brake.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Nissan Frontier recalls
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: filler pipe and cap
Risk: This may result in a fuel spill which in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Transmission failures
Summary
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 satisfa
Questions about the 2005 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (262 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles); engine (186 complaints, typically around 101,500 miles); fuel system (160 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Frontier have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 28, 2010 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Frontier model year since 2000, with 532 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.