IllustrationSTARTED IT UP... HARDLY MOVED. SQUEAKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKS LIKE THE INFAMOUS RADIATOR LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION.... *TR
2005 Nissan Frontier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Frontier years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Frontier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Frontier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
5225–50K
9250–75K
12975–100K
156100–150K
32150K+
479 reports with mileage · 53 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 262 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports8 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
106 reportsTHE TRUCK LURCHED AHEAD WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, JUST MISSING A PEDESTRIAN. TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TODAY. WAS TOLD THAT COOLANT FROM A CRACKED RADIATOR HAD RUINED THE TRANSMISSION AND REPAIR WOULD BE $5700.00. CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND ALWAYS DEALER MAINTAINED. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS FAR…
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THE TRUCK LURCHED AHEAD WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, JUST MISSING A PEDESTRIAN. TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TODAY. WAS TOLD THAT COOLANT FROM A CRACKED RADIATOR HAD RUINED THE TRANSMISSION AND REPAIR WOULD BE $5700.00. CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND ALWAYS DEALER MAINTAINED. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS FAR AS WARRANTY. THEY GAVE ME NISSAN NORTH AMERICA'S NUMBER. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A DEFECT. NOT A WORN OUT PART. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. NOT SAFE. *TR
I WAS DRIVEN @ 45 MPH I FELL THE ROUGHNESS OF THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOT MIXED UP W/ THE COOLANT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. ANYWAY I PURCHASED OUTSIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY TRUCK LAST YEAR AND I CANNOT USED IT BECAUSE TH…
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I WAS DRIVEN @ 45 MPH I FELL THE ROUGHNESS OF THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOT MIXED UP W/ THE COOLANT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. ANYWAY I PURCHASED OUTSIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY TRUCK LAST YEAR AND I CANNOT USED IT BECAUSE THEIR POLICY THAT IT DOESN'T COVER COOLING SYSTEM. I CALL NORTH NISSAN THEY SAID THEY GIVE US EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ME IS NOT THE WARRANTY IT IS MANUFACTURE DEFECT PLS. HELP ME THAT NISSAN WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
THREE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER FROM NISSAN REGARDING THE "POSSIBLE" PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR FAILING I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHUDDER AT ABOUT 45MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I THEN HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RADIATOR FAILING AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSI…
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THREE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER FROM NISSAN REGARDING THE "POSSIBLE" PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR FAILING I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO SHUDDER AT ABOUT 45MPH. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I THEN HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RADIATOR FAILING AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN A TOTAL REBUILD! CALLED NISSAN AND AFTER 3 WEEKS OF BACK AND FORTH TALKS OF "SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU" THE END RESULT WAS SORRY THEIRS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU! IF THIS PROBLEM WOULD OF HAPPEN ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY ALONG I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED! *TR
MY SLIP STARTED TO GO ON AND IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT AND SOMETIMES STALL. I NEEDED BRAKES SO I WENT TO TONY NISSAN TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE AND THE SLIP CHECKED OUT AND THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT A TRANSMISSION LINE INSIDE MY RADIATOR CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND I NEEDED TO REPLACED BOTH ( $9000.00 DOLLARS THAT …
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MY SLIP STARTED TO GO ON AND IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT AND SOMETIMES STALL. I NEEDED BRAKES SO I WENT TO TONY NISSAN TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE AND THE SLIP CHECKED OUT AND THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT A TRANSMISSION LINE INSIDE MY RADIATOR CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND I NEEDED TO REPLACED BOTH ( $9000.00 DOLLARS THAT I DON'T HAVE.) NISSAN HAS EXTENDED IT'S WARRANT TO 10 YEARS AND 100000 MILES, BUT MY TRUCK HAS OVER 147000 MILES. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT AS IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT, I DRIVE A LOT DO TO MY WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE HELP .. I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN NUMBER IT IS AT THE NISSAN DEALER HAVING MY BRAKES DONE. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, WHEN MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM TOWN WHEN MY TRUCK DIED. IT TOOK ME A FEW MINUTES TO GET IT TO START. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED THURSDAY. ON MY WAY HOME, I RAN BY THE LOCAL AUTOZONE, TO HAVE MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED OUT. IT SHOWED UP THAT THE C…
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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, WHEN MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM TOWN WHEN MY TRUCK DIED. IT TOOK ME A FEW MINUTES TO GET IT TO START. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED THURSDAY. ON MY WAY HOME, I RAN BY THE LOCAL AUTOZONE, TO HAVE MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CHECKED OUT. IT SHOWED UP THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS OUT. WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE WEB, I SEE IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR
TOOK MY FRONTIER TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION FLUSH. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS SERVICE COULD NOT BE COMPLETED DUE RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION. THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY OWNERS OF FRONTIERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND HAVE SHARE THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN.…
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TOOK MY FRONTIER TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION FLUSH. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS SERVICE COULD NOT BE COMPLETED DUE RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION. THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY OWNERS OF FRONTIERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND HAVE SHARE THIS ISSUE WITH NISSAN. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS AND NO SUPPORT TO OWNERS LIKE MYSELF WITH TRUCKS OVER A 100,000 MILES. IT APPEARS NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEIR SUVS FOR SOME TIME. THIS DEFECT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND VERY COSTLY FOR OWNERS TO CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. *TR
THE RADIATOR DEVELOPED A CRACK AND CAUSE FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION LINES CAUSING A FAILURE TO BOTH PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF NISSAN WOULD HAVE WARNED ME ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS FAILURE THAT IS OCCURRING IN LOTS OF SIMILAR MODELS. *TR
THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HWY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON DIFFERENT DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS GOING AT A 60-65 MILES PER HOUR SPEED AND IT SHUT OFF. I COST TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY AND TURNED THE TRUCK BACK ON. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN STUMBLING AND THEN I LOST 5TH GEAR. TOOK TO DURABUILD TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE RADIATOR TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE CLEANED & REPAIRED. THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SOLENOID. RE…
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN STUMBLING AND THEN I LOST 5TH GEAR. TOOK TO DURABUILD TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE RADIATOR TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE CLEANED & REPAIRED. THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SOLENOID. REPAIR BILL CAME TO $4100.00. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 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 & remedy
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.
06V092000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
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 satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.