Most common 2005 Nissan Quest problems
Share of the 82 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Quest complaints by model year
Best Quest years: 2017, 2015, 2016. Years to avoid: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
2005 Nissan Quest recalls (2)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
On certain Mini vans equipped with a folding third row rear seat, when the third row seat is raised from its stowed position, it engages striker brackets, one on each side of the seat cushion. The fold-away striker loop is welded to a mounting bracket.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the third row seat striker brackets free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2005. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
On certain Mini vans, there is a seat adjustment mechanism that contains exposed moving components located at the rear inside edge of the second row seat.
Remedy: On earlier model vehicles built through June 28, 2004, dealers will replace the inboard second row seat adjustment handle, rivet a plastic reinforcement to backside of the existing seat back cover carpeting, install…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Nissan Quest:
Side air bag non-deployment
The subject vehicles are equipped with optional seat-mounted side air bags.all vehicles are equipped with standard frontal air bags and side air curtains.installation of the incorrect SRS diagnosis sensor unit does not impair deployment of the frontal air bag and side air curtain in the event of a crash.no reports of non-deployment of the subject seat-mounted side air bags have been received by the manufacturer or…
What 2005 Nissan Quest owners say
Engine & cooling all 20 →
The 2005 Nissan Quest se has severe problems with motor mounts and their faulty design which resulted in a vehicle crash. My wife went to the dollar store,this being about two months after all the motor mounts were replaced, she got in and started to back out as she pressed the accelerator the engine revved up to 3000 RPM and then jammed the transmission into gear causing it to jerk the wheel violently and bark the tires the engine is so quiet you cannot hear if this is happening it propelled the vehicle right into another vehicle parked all the way in the parking spaces behind her costing us 2000 dollars to pay for vehicle damage there could had been pedestrians around which could have been hit and killed there is over 30000 complaints online of this same problem. …
Noise, vibration and sounds indicating imminent failure of one or more valvetrain components in the vehicle's 3.5l v6 engine. Problem is known to Nissan; addressed in a service bulletin in 2004. Company failed to remedy the defect, which consists of premature failure of timing chain and/or valvetrain components, including variable valve timing module and parts. The problem is currently the subject of class action lawsuit.
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving on the highway, the car started missing gears and was stalling. My wife uses the van for school and drop the baby to daycare. Took the car to Nissan and they said it was a muffler, I fixed that and the issue was still there. They then told me it need a tune up costing $650. Didn't do it because it was too expensive. And unnecessary since I always do oil changes. Had a transmission shop look at it and told me the transmission was neutralizing. Car would not change gears. Nissan had 2 law suits against them for premature malfunction to their transmission and they refuse to fix the issue. I spent $3000.00 to get my transmission rebuilt and the issue is still here. Please help the consumers!
Noise, vibration and sounds indicating imminent failure of one or more valvetrain components in the vehicle's 3.5l v6 engine. Problem is known to Nissan; addressed in a service bulletin in 2004. Company failed to remedy the defect, which consists of premature failure of timing chain and/or valvetrain components, including variable valve timing module and parts. The problem is currently the subject of class action lawsuit.
Electrical system
Sitting in a drive through break on in drive car revs up to about 70mphs. I put in park as its movong forward to nearly miss a car infront of me and I turn the car off. Now break compress to the floor.
The first failure was a complete loss of all electrical power on the vehicle while driving and in traffic. This required a walk home and tow of the vehicle. It would start with a jump but then shortly after would completely die. The dealer diagnosed this as an alternator failure and replaced the alternator. The second failure is a periodic slipping of the transmission out of gear. The first occurance felt like slipping in snow then grabbing. We called the service department and they told us if there was a problem with the transmission an error light would appear on the dash. The second occurance 2 weeks later was a complete loss of accelearation when pulling into traffic. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road where it felt as if it was in neutral with engine reving but no power to wheels. We verified the shift was in d and the dash indicator said "d". …
2005 Nissan Quest engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Nissan Quest a good car?
Based on 82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Quest rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Quest at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Nissan Quest?
The engine & cooling — 20 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › fan. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (14) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Quest have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 Nissan Quest, the most recent from October 17, 2005 (mid/rear assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Quest?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2007, 2012, 1995 and 1996. See the full Nissan Quest years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Quest problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.