Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Nissan Frontier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Vehicle has severe electrical issue with position sensors on camshaft and crankshaft. Vehicle engine stalls suddenly. This is a very dangerous condition as vehicle will loose braking and steering control at high speeds or in a incline, hill on or off road. Nissan has faulty wiring on these sensors that control the engine power, a know problem that has never been recalled. Over 100 people have suffered injuries or loss of life due to this issue. Nissan dealerships are aware of problem and several forums online including newspaper articles outline the issue.
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. …
Nissan transmission destroyed by engine coolant leak. Had no problem with transmission until one day, shifted into drive and transmission was stuck in higher gear. Thought it was electrical. Turned the car off then back on. Would not engage in reverse, but forward was back to normal. Took to aamco transmission repair and was told this was a common problem with nissans in that the design flaw allows engine coolant to mix with transmission fluid and destroys the transmission. Cost to replace is estimated at $4100, can not obtain a used transmission because all the same transmissions have the same problem with engine coolant leakage. Vehicle has 155K miles, and did not have any warning signs of transmission problems. Nissan needs to be responsible for their design flaw. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle jerked front to back and then stalled. The engine and other warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pushed into a parking lot. The driver attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was able to be started the next day; however, the failure recurred a week later. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the radiator liquid was leaking into the transmission, which caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who confirmed the mechanic's diagnosis and replaced a faulty sensor. The failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer again, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. …
With no warning the truck would not start, and just stopped working. We hooked it up to the code reader and did some research online. What we found was really troubling. We bit the bullet and paid to have it towed to the dealer. The dealer looked it over and said that the radiator contaminated the transmission causing a failure in both. They would have to replace the transmission, all the seals and hoses, the radiator and the computer. These repairs were quoted to be $8,000. We just bought the truck which is worth $11,000 and now we are hit with an $8,000 repair bill? This is a major manufacturer failure and was already part of a class action settlement, but since you had to be a part of the class action suit before we even owned the truck we are just out of luck? Nissan needs to buy this truck at full value from us, instead they are trying to take us for another $8,000.
Nissan has admitted to faulty radiators in their 05-10 midsize vehicles. Mine being a Frontier but also used in xterra, pathfinders and I believe titans.these radiators when they go, take the transmission with them. 4700 dollar bill later Nissan says I'm 2 months beyond my 10 years and will not honor any help, even though I'm 10K under the 100K mile limit. So because I kept my miles low and have taken care of my pickup I am still at fault for their faulty equipment. My family will ***never*** own another Nissan as long as we live. At anytime they could have said hey for $275 we won't recall these radiators but they are $275 to replace you should do it before it goes and takes the transmission too. [redacted] you Nissan.... Poor business.
Timing chain has to be repaired at less than 50,000 miles. A class action suit against Nissan was just completed roland tellis baron & budd attorneys for owners of Nissan frontiers in the states of california and washington where owners are to be reimbursed expense of replacing faulty Frontier timing chain that Nissan manufacturer allegedly knew were in the trucks that they had sold. In the suit it states that if you have less than 120K miles on your vehicle. I was told by the dealership service center that replacing timing chain at 50K miles is normal. I believe they mispresented the truth in this instance and that I shouldn't have to pay for a repair that is a result of manufacturer error. Recently engine stalled in the intersection, I was lucky the chain had not shattered and destroyed my engine.
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.
My 2005 Nissan Frontier has cross contamination between the radiator and the transmission. Nissan new about this problem years ago. To fix the problem they extended the warranty out to 10 years. Now I need a new radiator and transmission. My cost 3000 dollars. I only had a month left before I was [redacted] out of luck. I have been driving for 35 years and have never had to replace a transmission that only had 67000 miles on it. Poor design and the consumer pays. They wanted to know if I was going to fix it. I told them I had 2 choices fix it or set it on fire. They gave me a strange look. I told them to repair it and I would but Toyota next time.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling
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.
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.
Engine complaints in other Frontier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2005 Nissan Frontier?
NHTSA has 186 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2005 Nissan Frontier, 35% of the model year's 532 complaints. The component named most often is cooling system › radiator assembly (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Nissan Frontier engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-517 (engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Frontier engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries and 1 death to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.