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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Nissan FRONTIER: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting24746.4%
Engine operation417.7%
Fuel system concerns356.6%
Braking behavior234.3%
Electrical and battery issues142.6%
Steering behavior122.3%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train234
Fuel System, Gasoline111
Engine And Engine Cooling85
Engine80
Electrical System36
Fuel/Propulsion System25
Power Train:Automatic Transmission19
Vehicle Speed Control15

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99952
50,000 to 74,99992
75,000 to 99,999129
100,000 to 149,999156
150,000 and above31

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200510
20067
20074
200825
200932
201078
201145
201241
201390
201448
201545
201636
201727
201815
201911
202010
20213
20233
20241
20251

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10110082 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 2005)

THE OUR SIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER CREW CAB TRUCK CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO ELIMINATE A BLIND SPOT. THE MIRROR IS ELECTRIC, AND IS ELECTRIC HEATED, AND WILL NOT ADJUST AT THE ANGLE NEEDED TO SEE CARS NEXT TO YOU. THIS MEANS I MUST ALWAYS TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD AND TURN MY HEAD TO LOOK FOR CARS. MY OTHER TRUCKS AND CARS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM, SO I KNOW THAT NISSAN COULD CORRECT IT WITH A DIFFERENT MIRROR MOTOR. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT IT AND GOTTEN BACK AN UNSATISFACTORY FORM LETTER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10110082 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 10125020 · 2005-06-11 (June 11, 2005)

I PUCHASED A 05 FRONTIER P/U 2WD, AND LOG ON 2K MILES WHEN ENGINE CHECK SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A CATALETIC CONVERTER ON 5-19-05 BUT UNTILL NOW THEY DONT HAVE THE PART AND TOLD ME TO CALL NISSAN FACTORY INQUIRING ABOUT MY CATALETIC CONVERTER? I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FOLLOW-UP OR TRACK WHEN IS THE PART COMING, I DONT GET ANY ANSWER EXCEPT THAT THE P/U IS NEW AND HARD TO GET THE PARTS IN. SHOULD I GET A REPLACEMENT CAR IN THE MEANTIME WHILE THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN? REGARDS ROGER…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10127919 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)

CORROSION IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER NOT TO START. *NM *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127919 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 ↗

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 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 10142021 · 2005-11-07 (November 7, 2005)

NOISE THAT IS HEARD AROUND THE DASHBOARD AREA, WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT 40 MPH TO 45 MPH. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. THEY GREASED THE VEHICLE, AND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. NO SUCCESS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142021 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

06V092000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap

Reported: 2006-03-30 (March 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V690000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2008-12-29 (December 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Reported: 2010-10-28 (October 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗