Nissan · Frontier · 2005
6
Recalls
532
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Nissan Frontier has 6 recalls and 532 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (171 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.
Remedy Status
HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
Remedy Status
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
EL EMBLEMA DE RESINA EN LA CUBIERTA DEL MÓDULO AIRBAG DEL CONDUCTOR EN LOS VEHÍCULOS AFECTADOS PUEDE TENER DURABILIDAD REDUCIDA DEBIDO A POSIBLES VARIACIONES EN EL PROCESO DE PRODUCCIÓN DEL PROVEEDOR. EN ESTA CONDICIÓN, CON EL TIEMPO, LOS POSTES DEL EMBLEMA PUEDEN DESARROLLAR GRIETAS, Y EL EMBLEMA Y LOS COMPONENTES DE RETENCIÓN PODRÍAN DESPRENDERSE EN CASO DE QUE SE DESPLIEGUE EL AIRBAG.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact then stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast the vehicle off the roadway. The contact then stated that the check engine warning light intermittently flashed upon start-up then remained illuminated. The contact stated that he allowed the engine time to cool down then restarted the vehicle; however, after the vehicle was restarted, he depressed the accelerator pedal to regain speed but two to three minutes later the vehicle stalled again. The contact stated that occasionally, after the vehicle stalled, the vehicle was jumpstarted, but the negative side of the battery sparked from the cable. Additionally, the contact stated that the ABS warning light and the check engine warning illuminated then turned off then the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that he noticed that when the coolant temperature gauge was at an undisclosed temperature, the vehicle failed to restart. In addition, the contact added that upon research he related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V517000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
The timing chain has gone out. Other crankshaft sensor went out while driving the vehicle at about 30mph.
The truck loss power stalling,shuddering, bucking, want pick up speed even when excellerating, slow take off, loss of speed
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle came to a complete stop and then hesitated to accelerate. Additionally, a burning odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with transmission and radiator failure. The transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,700.
YEAR 2013 RECALLED RADIATOR LEAKAGE INTERNAL AND CAUSED ( TRANMISSION FLUID GOT INTO RADIATOR ) . I REPORT TO NISSAN USA : THEY DENIED TO PAY FOR ITS BECAUSE HAVE BEEN TO LONG BUT NOW ITS HAPPENING TO MY TRUCK ON DATE : 10/19/2020 . PLEASE , HELP . THANKS !
MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIERS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 137,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SEEMED TO JOLT OUT OF 5TH GEAR TO 4TH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HEADED TO NISSAN BUT IT SEEMED TO ONLY REMAIN IN A HIGH GEAR (3RD OR 4TH). THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED FOR HELP THEY SAID NO. I HAD AN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY THROUGH AUL, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RADIATOR THAT LEAKED AND NOT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE THEY WON'T COVER IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROGRAMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS THEN TAKEN TO NISSAN AT THE AVENUES (10859 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V517000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,010.
DRIVERS DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY FROM THE INSIDE THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS LIKE 40F
FILED A COMPALINT #11288301.JJUST WANT TO BE PUT ON THE RECALL UPDATE LIST IN THE FUTURE. THANKS
WAS ON A VACATION TRIP DECEMBER 6, 2019(FRIDAY). TRAVELING ON FOLEY BEACH EXPRESS AND THE ENGINE STARTED SHACKING, FELT LIKE WAS FALLING APART, ENGINE DIED.TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE, CRANKED AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED, TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AND AND THE SAME THING EVERY TIME. HAD TO PUSH OFF EXPRESS WAY, WITH HELP. FORTUNALLY WAS A MECHANIC. HE SAID SEAMED AS WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. FUTHER CHECKING MORE THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS IN THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) OR THE (ECM) RELAY. I AM BROKE DOWN 190 MILES FROM HOME. HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE 90 MILES TO MOBILE,A>> AND AM STUCK. HAD TO RENT AN VEHICLE TO GET HOME COSTING ME $214.00 TO GET HOME TO GO TO WORK MONDAY. MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN MOBILE, AL. THERE IS A NISSAN DEALERSHIP THERE. THIS VEHICLE 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER XE THE MECHANIC SAID REPORTEDLY HAD A RECALL ON THIS SIMULAR PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE ON GETTING THIS DEFECT FIXED. THANKS. I HAVE NO PICTURES TO UPLOAD, AS WAS 10:30 AT NIGHT AND I AM NOW 100 MILES FROM THE VEHICLE.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED BY MIXING OF RADIATOR COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID THROUGH CRACKS IN COOLANT TUBES. TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, LOSS OF POWER EXPERIENCED ON LOCAL TRIP, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC.
FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR NOT OPERATING.AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES
AIR BAG LIGHTS STAY ON BLINKING
AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDICATES FRONT CRASH SENSOR DEFECTIVE
AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY. POSSIBLE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR DEFECTIVE
LOST POWER COULD NOT MOVE TRUCK ON CITY STREET. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WARINESS THE GEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE THEY SAID THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.
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
FUEL GAUGE READS HALF TANK WHEN ACTUALLY EMPTY. VERY DANGEROUS. RAN OUT OF GAS ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE THAT WAS 3 LANES WIDE. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WHEN ENGINE STOPPED. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES GO TO MANUAL WHEN ENGINE STOPS. HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS 2 LANES TO THE RIGHT WITH NO POWER STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES WHILE VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY LOSING SPEED. NEARLY WAS HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE CHANGING LANES. VEHICLE HAD SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 MPH. WHEN SEMI MUST HAVE FIGURED I HAD NO POWER AND STAYED BEHIND ME BLOCKING TWO LANES SO I COULD GET TO THE SHOULDER. PROBABLY SAVED MY LIFE AND PREVENTED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS UNRELIABLE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED REGARDLESS OF AGE OF VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Nissan Frontier has 6 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 532 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Nissan Frontier.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Nissan Frontier.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Nissan Frontier are power train (171 reports), fuel system, gasoline (104 reports), engine (51 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 6 recalls on record for the 2005 Nissan Frontier. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.