2005 Nissan Frontier problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (215) · Fuel System, Gasoline (105) · Engine (26)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Frontier model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
476 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling 2010-10-28 · campaign 10V517000 · 747,480 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2010-05-20 · campaign 10E019000 · 1,873 vehicles
Defect: 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 CH
Risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (109)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-08-24 · NTB05-086A · Service Campaign
voluntary service campaign body control module sub-harness voluntary service campaign id # p5234 is no longer active. · repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under campaign id # p5234. · discard all previous versions of ntb05-086.
Structure:body 2026-04-29 · NTB06-047A · Service Campaign
voluntary service campaign frontier king cab door lock replacement voluntary service campaign id # p6213 is no longer active. · repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under campaign id # p6213. · discard all previous versions of ntb06-047.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Air Bags 2024-07-08 · NTB23-081C · Service Campaign
voluntary safety recall campaign 2005-2013 frontier, pathfinder, and xterra; driver air bag cover campaign id #: pc945 and pc948 applied vehicles: 2005-2013 frontier (d40) 2005-2012 pathfinder (r51) 2005-2013 xterra (n50) check service comm or dealer business systems (dbs) national service history t
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 109 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-09 · Air Bags“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…”
2024-07-31 · Air Bags“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 …”
2023-09-08 · Engine“the timing chain has gone out. other crankshaft sensor went out while driving the vehicle at about 30mph. …”
2023-07-04 · Power Train“the truck loss power stalling,shuddering, bucking, want pick up speed even when excellerating, slow take off, loss of speed…”
2023-05-18 · Engine · 189,000 mi“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…”
2021-12-16 · Power Train · 88,700 mi · 🔥 fire“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 …”
2021-07-28 · Power Train · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 nissan frontier. the contact stated while driving 75 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. there was no warning light before or after the failure. the vehicle was towed by an independent mechanic. the mechanic performed a diagnostic test and found that coolant had leaked into the transmission and caused the transmission …”
2021-02-09 · Air Bags · 160,000 mi“airbag light blinks constantly. possible front air bag sensor defective…”
2020-11-28 · Unknown Or Other · 83,490 mi“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 !…”
2020-10-20 · Power Train · 137,000 mi“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 …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.