IllustrationTHE 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER NISMO 4X4 THAT I WAS DRIVING STARTED SLIPPING AND MISSING CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE BECAME VERY JUMPY AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. HAD THERE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *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
Power Train complaints
262 reportsMY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO NOT SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS. NISSAN IS ONLY WILLING TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES AND $3000 FOR THE REPAIRS OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODU…
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MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO NOT SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS. NISSAN IS ONLY WILLING TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES AND $3000 FOR THE REPAIRS OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. *TR
MY TRUCK BEGAN DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FOR EXAMPLE, GEAR SLIPPAGE AND SHUDDERING AS IF ROLLING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND THE COOLANT HAD TRANSFORMED INTO A THICK PINK SUBSTANCE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SEAL HAD FAILED IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH …
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MY TRUCK BEGAN DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FOR EXAMPLE, GEAR SLIPPAGE AND SHUDDERING AS IF ROLLING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND THE COOLANT HAD TRANSFORMED INTO A THICK PINK SUBSTANCE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SEAL HAD FAILED IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS THEN BAKED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. WE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND SO FAR HAVE DELAYED THE INEVITABLE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DECLINED TO OFFER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS, ETC., THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS MY ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE BBB AND A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE EVENTUALLY CALLED ME, BUT IN THE END DISREGARDED MY ISSUES WITH MOCK CONCERN. I CONTACTED THE MN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEY SAID I MIGHT TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN HAS CONCOCTED A WARRANTY THAT ONLY BENEFITS PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AT A VERY PREMATURE STAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TRANSMISSION FAILING SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. ALSO NOTICED CABIN HEATER DOES NOT WORK WHEN AT A STOP. SIGNS INDICATIVE OF RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION SEAL FAILURE AND RADIATOR COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION. *TR
I NOTICED AT DRIVING SPEEDS OF AROUND 45 MPH THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE VERY BAD. ALSO MY HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK IN THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED LIKE A STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE. $6000.00 LATER AND LOOKING ONLINE SEEING ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT …
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I NOTICED AT DRIVING SPEEDS OF AROUND 45 MPH THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE VERY BAD. ALSO MY HEATER WOULD ONLY BLOW COLD AIR. WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK IN THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED LIKE A STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE. $6000.00 LATER AND LOOKING ONLINE SEEING ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY NISSAN IS NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE? *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MY 2005 FRONTIER BEGAN SHUDDERING AND THEN LOST POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS CONTAMINATED. IT APPEARS NISSAN HAS BEEN LONG AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE BOARD FR…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS MY 2005 FRONTIER BEGAN SHUDDERING AND THEN LOST POWER WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS CONTAMINATED. IT APPEARS NISSAN HAS BEEN LONG AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE BOARD FROM THE 2005 - 2010 FRONTIERS, PATHFINDERS AND XTERRAS NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC DEFECT IN DESIGN KNOWN TO NISSAN AND SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT BY NISSAN TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMER. *TR
LOUD CLANKING SOUNDS COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE; MY MECHANIC SAYS ITS THE TRANSMISSION, AGAIN; EIGHT YEAR OLD VEHICLE, GOING ON ITS 3RD TRANSMISSION... I PAID $1,500.00 FOR THE LAST ONE (2010)... WHY DO THESE KEEP GOING BAD? PLEASE HELP. *TR
TRANSMISSION ATF IS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO DETERIORATE. TRANSMISSION RATTLES AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. BECOMING NOTICEABLY MORE JERKY OVER TIME IN LOWER GEARS. HEAT DOES NOT WORK WHILE ENGINE IS IDLING AND TAKES A LONG TIME TO WARM UP WHILE MOVING. COLD AIR…
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TRANSMISSION ATF IS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO DETERIORATE. TRANSMISSION RATTLES AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. BECOMING NOTICEABLY MORE JERKY OVER TIME IN LOWER GEARS. HEAT DOES NOT WORK WHILE ENGINE IS IDLING AND TAKES A LONG TIME TO WARM UP WHILE MOVING. COLD AIR BLOWING ACROSS WINDSHIELD ON COLD DAYS HAS CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP FROM THE INSIDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS UNDER 113000 MILES AND NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN ME AN ESTIMATE OF $5119.42 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR ASSEMBLY. *TR
FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER IS AFFECTED BY DEFECTIVE RADIATOR THAT IS CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THUS FATALLY DAMAGING TRANSMISSION. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL NISSAN. RADIATOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400.00 THAT NISSAN WON'T PAY FOR …
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FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER IS AFFECTED BY DEFECTIVE RADIATOR THAT IS CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THUS FATALLY DAMAGING TRANSMISSION. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL NISSAN. RADIATOR HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400.00 THAT NISSAN WON'T PAY FOR BECAUSE MILEAGE IS OVER 100,000 MILES. I DON'T KNOW YET IF TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE AT NO CHARGE NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE IS. THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOW ITS MINE. PLEASE HELP AND ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *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.