2005 Nissan FRONTIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
532 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 478 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 234 of 532 complaints (44.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 247 | 46.4% |
| Engine operation | 41 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 35 | 6.6% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 234 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 111 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 85 |
| Engine | 80 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 |
Power Train: 234; Fuel System, Gasoline: 111; Engine And Engine Cooling: 85; Engine: 80; Electrical System: 36; Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 52 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 92 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 129 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 156 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 52; 50,000 to 74,999: 92; 75,000 to 99,999: 129; 100,000 to 149,999: 156; 150,000 and above: 31
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (156). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 25 |
| 2009 | 32 |
| 2010 | 78 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2012 | 41 |
| 2013 | 90 |
| 2014 | 48 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 10; 2006: 7; 2007: 4; 2008: 25; 2009: 32; 2010: 78; 2011: 45; 2012: 41; 2013: 90; 2014: 48; 2015: 45; 2016: 36; 2017: 27; 2018: 15; 2019: 11; 2020: 10; 2021: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 247 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 41 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 35 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10144083 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER ON 5/18/2005. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF SECOND GEAR ON FOUR OCCASIONS. ONCE ON A BUMPY ROAD, TWICE ON WASHBOARD ROADS, AND ONCE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT. ALL ROADS FREQUENTLY USED BY PASSENGER VEHICLES AND TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH. NISSAN ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY ADDING WHEEL WEIGHTS TO THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY TO DAMPEN THE SHIFTER VIBRATION, AND THEN REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM ON WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313277 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
NISSAN FRONTIER 4.0 SE CREW CAB FUEL SENDING UNIT IS DEFECTIVE. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NISSAN SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL. ANY AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON THE ENGINE CODE P0463 WILL TURN UP 100S OF PROBLEMS. MINE HAS STOPPED WORKING MAKING THE GAS HAND SLOW TO RESPOND AND MUST BE REPLACED. NISSAN HAS ISSUED A NEW PART WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN SO MAYBE REPLACING IT WILL LAST, BUT STILL SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE TRUCKS ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN LEAD TO FAILURE AND A POSSI…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283721 · 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)
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 FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316216 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
FUEL SENSORS IN MY FUEL SENDING UNIT ARE BAD . THIS HAS CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY ; AS THE FUEL LEVEL READS QUARTER TANK, BUT IS ACTUALLY EMPTY. NISSAN JUST RECALLED SOME 540,000 ,2006 AND UP VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT EXCLUDED THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SECOND GENERATION FRONTIER MODELS. IT IS EASY TO FIND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2005 EDITIONS ALONE. NISSAN IS CLEARLY RELUCTANT TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE SENSORS , AND SHOULD INCLUDE THE 2005 MODELS IN THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137088 · 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER, I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH. GAS WAS POURING ON THE GROUND FROM ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT GAS WAS SPRAYING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK, EVEN ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE AMOUNT OF GAS SPRAYING WAS ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL TANK HIT A ROCK ON A RECENT TRIP. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SMASH AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND CREATE THIS PROBLEM. FURTHER …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,655 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226639 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 25 MPH, A PUFF OF SMOKE WAS NOTICED FOLLOWED BY FLAMES IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE ALSO BURNED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS AND A VIDEO OF THE FAILURE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114595 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
THE "DIFFERENTIAL LOCK" (DIF LOCK) DASH LIGHT GOES ON AFTER A PERIOD OF DRIVING. AFTER AWHILE, THE DIF LOCK LIGHT TURNS OFF & THE ABS & SLIP DASH LIGHTS COME ON. AT FIRST, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. AFTER ADDITIONAL DRIVING BY THE DEALERSHIP, THE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CONTROL MODULE WHICH CONTROLS ALL OF THESE FEATURES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134402 · 2005-08-27 (August 27, 2005)
PURCHASED A 05 FRONTIER CC 4X4 TRUCK FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. 2 WEEKS I HAD THE TRUCK ROUGHLY THE 15 OF JULY, I HAD PUT A 30 TO 40 POUND STONE IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK WHICH HAS THE RHINO BED LINER, ROCK DENT IN THE RIBS OF THE BOX AND CHIPPED THE RHINO BED LINING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED IN DETAIL BUT NOTHING DONE AS OF YET. YET ANOTHER PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GOT A NEW BOX. PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW RATTLING, THE REAR END SQUEAKING, AND THE REAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN AGAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240131 · 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)
2005 NISSAN FRONTIER NISMO 4X4, 4 LITER. CHECK ENGINE ILLUMINATED. INTERMITTENT FUNCTION OF FUEL GAUGE , , DTC P0463, SAME CHASSIS AND ELECTRICAL AS PATHFINDER. SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR PATHFINDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250021 · 2008-11-27 (November 27, 2008)
I OPENED THE HOOD OF MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER TO CHECK THE BATTERY, AND WHEN I CLOSED IT THE HOOD LATCH FELL OFF. AS A RESULT I WAS NOT ABLE TO EVACUATE FOR 2 MANDATORY HURRICANE EVACUATIONS. THE FIRST EVACUATION WAS FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV WHICH CAUSED LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE IN MY AREA; THE SECOND EVACUATION WAS FOR HURRICANE IKE FROM WHICH MY AREA IS STILL RECOVERING. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THREE BODY SHOPS TO GET BIDS FOR REPAIRS. ALL THREE, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, STATED THAT BECAUSE OF LEGAL LIABILITY AND THE L…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128128 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
PURCHASED VEHICLE 02/05 TOOK IN FOR SERVICE-PULLING TO RIGHT 3/16/05 521 MI. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. 2ND TIME 5/26/05 7061 LOOSENESS IN FRONT END (STEERING) DEALER SAID THEY HAD CHECKED AND TIGHTENED ALL SUSPENSION FR TO REAR. 3RD TIME 6/23/05 9,644 MI. LOOSENESS IN FRONT END (STEERING) DEALER FINALLY PUT ON FRONT END MACH AND CHECKED. MINOR ADJUSTMENT ON TOE IN. COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH LOOSENESS IN STEERING. REQUESTED NISSAN TO DRIVE ON COUNTRY ROADS WHERE I DRIVE. THEY WOULD NOT. THEY SAY THEY HAVE ALL THEY ARE GOING TO DO. NISSA…
Owner-reported narrative. 521 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128128 at NHTSA ↗