2005 Nissan Frontier Body & structure Problems

DRIVERS DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY FROM THE INSIDE THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS LIKE 40F

NHTSA ID

11301026

Incident

Jan 21, 2020

Mileage

65,000 mi

CHASSIS RUST THE CHASSIS ON THE REAR OF MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER IS ALMOST BROKEN INTO PIECES

NHTSA ID

11058322

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

200,000 mi

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT MOUNTED OVERHEAD IN THE CAB HIDDEN BY THE HEADLINER IS RUNNING SO HOT IT HAS BLISTERED EXTERIOR PAINT ABOVE IT. OVER TIME THE AFFECTED AREA IS NOW ABOUT ONE SQUARE FOOT AND IS IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS BECAUSE OF PAINT LOSS ON TOP OF CAB JUST BEHIND TOP OF WINDSHIELD. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY REPRESENT A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10871515

Incident

May 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE INSTALLED BECAUSE SECTIONS OF THE SUBFRAME WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10731784

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

93,000 mi

LETTER FROM SENATOR WARNER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE AUTO PAINT CHIPPING-NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK (ATTN: SHANE CLEM). *TGW THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10659584

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

94,606 mi

2005 NISSAN FRONTIER 4X4 CREW CAB. POOR DESIGN OF TAILGATE HINGE ASSEMBLY DRIVERS SIDE, APPEARS THAT WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND LIGHTER TAILGATE. AS I UNDERSTAND NISSAN HAS REDESIGNED AND CHANGED TAILGATE ASSEMBLY FOR 2006 AND NEWER MODELS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP SINCE THE TAILGATE ON MY TRUCK WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD AND HELD PARTIALLY STILL CONNECTED TO TRUCK BODY WITH CABLE ASSEMBLY. HINGE APPEARED CRACKED AND PULLED FROM BODY OF TRUCK. TAILGATE WAS ALWAYS IN LOCKED POSITION SINCE WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THIEVES IN OUR AREA AND WAS STILL IN LOCKED POSITION WHEN I TOOK IT OUT OF TRUCK BED. OBVIOUSLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE FAILURE OF THE HINGE ASSEMBLY COULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES IN THE EVENT THE TAILGATE BECAME REMOVED AND FELL OFF ONTO ROADWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442015

Incident

Dec 30, 2011

Mileage

83,950 mi

THE CAB TRUCK BODY MOUNT HAS 6 LARGE WASHERS HOLDING THE CAB TO THE TRUCK. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND RUNNING 3 OF THE WASHERS BROKE OFF. NOT SURE IF THE WELD FAILED OR WHAT CAUSED THEM TO BREAK LOOSE. WILL THE CAB STAY ON THE TRUCK? THE TRUCK WAS PARKED I HEARD THE BANG AND LOOKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO FIND THE WASHERS RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. EVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING? I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR AN EXCUSE FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHY THAT HAPPENED. CONTACT ME ANYTIME!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10423202

Incident

Sep 3, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER TAILGATE HINGES HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED ON ME. THE CABLES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE TAILGATE FROM ENDING UP IN THE ROAD, SO AS TO NOT POSE A THREAT TO OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10405924

Incident

Mar 11, 2011

THE TAILGATE ON MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER LE 2WD PICKUP TRUCK CONTINUALLY COMES OFF IT'S HINGES EVEN AFTER BEING SECURED BY FORCEFULLY CLOSING, AND AT TIMES, SLAMMING, THE TAILGATE SHUT. THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO COME OFF IT'S HINGES AND IS A SAFETY RISK TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO ARE BEHIND ME, AS IT CAN CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM, SERIOUS INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH IF IT EVER ENTIRELY FELL OFF. BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, I LOCK THE TAILGATE IN AN ATTEMPT THAT IT IS SECURELY CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352887

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

TAILGATE BUSTED BRACKETS. I HAVE A 2005 FRONTIER CREW CAB WITH 28000 MILES. THIS WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR TRIPS AND HUNTING. NO HAULING, CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER HEAVY USE. MY 4 WHEELER WAS HAULED IN IT ABOUT 6 TIMES. WE DROVE TO THE MOUNTAINS AND JUST FINISHED UNLOADING OUR LUGGAGE. I WENT TO CLOSE THE GATE AND IT WOULDN'T CLOSE, UPON INVESTIGATING THE DRIVERS SIDE HINGE HAD CRACKS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS CRACKED. MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 60 DAYS WHEN I SHOWED THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON. THEY SAID THEY NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, EVEN ASKED HOW BIG THE DEER WAS I PUT ON THE GATE, AND IF SOMEONE WAS STANDING ON IT? I ASKED IF THEY WERE SERIOUS, AS THIS GATE SHOULD SUPPORT 1000 POUNDS! ANYWAY I WA LUCKY THAT NISSAN AGREED TO REPLACE THE 2 CRACKED BRACKETS ON THE BODY, THE 2 BRACKETS ON THE GATE AND A 3RD BRACKET I WASN'T EVEN AWARE OF UNTIL THE DEALER STATED HE HAD TO ORDER IT IN BEFORE IT COULD BE REPAIRED CORRECTLY. ANYWAY LIKE I STATED, THIS VEHICLE IS USED FOR EASY APPLICATIONS AND THE GATE USED VERY LITTLE. SOUNDS AND LOOKED LIKE A BAD DESIGN IMHO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250203

Incident

Nov 22, 2008

Mileage

27,850 mi

I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT I OPENED UP MY TAILGATE ONE MORNING AND THE TAILGATE CAME OFF OF THE HINGE AND PIECES WERE MISSING. I READ ON A FORUM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE TYPE OF VEHICLE I'M DRIVING AND IT SEEMS THAT THE TAIL GATE COULD HAVE FELL ON THE HIGHWAY IF I HADN'T TRIED IT THAT MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235469

Incident

Jul 2, 2008

Mileage

38,000 mi

WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT - WELL MAINTAINED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. BOTH HINGES ON THE TAILGATE BROKE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, IT CAME OFF WHEN IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IF IT BROKE AND FELL OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER LIED AND CLAIMED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO OVERLOAD - WE DON'T USE THE TRUCK TO HAUL ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227123

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

2005 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH ENGINEERING DEFECTS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS SUBJECT TO FAIL DUE TO RUST. **CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER MUST HAVE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINCE ADDED GREASE FITTINGS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE METAL PART THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE TAILGATE TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TAILGATE. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDING, THE ORIGINAL INNER HALF OF THE TAILGATE HINGE CAN POSSIBLY BREAK. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TAILGATE FROM FALLING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10195720

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

POORLY DESIGNED U-JOINT TO FRONT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ,U-JOINT HAS NO GREASE FITTING WILL RUST AND DISINTERESTED. MANUFACTURER HAS ADDED FITTING TO REPLACE PART. HOWEVER, ORIGINAL COULD FAIL AND BRING VEHICLE TO COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC OR FRONT DRIVE COULD FAIL IN ADVERSE WEATHER, LEADING TO LOSS OF TRACTION ,BOTH OF WHICH COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT. TAILGATE PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO POOR WELD ON INNER HALF TAILGATE HINGE.TAILGATE WAS HEAVY AND COULD LEAD TO INJURY TO A CHILD OR SMALL PERSON IF FAILURE OCCURED WHILE OPENING.ONCE AGAIN MANUFACTURER HAS ADDED ADDITIONAL WELDS IN REPLACEMENT PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193681

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

35,215 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, THE TAIL GATE WHICH WAS LOCKED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, FELL TO THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT SIDE STILL ATTACHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE LEFT TAILGATE HINGE AND ATTACHMENT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE STREET, THE TAILGATE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT BOTH TAILGATE HINGES AND ATTACHMENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE HAVING A GENERAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTION PERFORMED AT THE DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTED A SUBSTANTIAL GAP BETWEEN THE TRUCK BED AND CAB WITH A DISTANCE OF 12 INCHES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE STRUCTURAL BODY SEPARATION WAS DUE TO DRIVING ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10175077

Incident

Dec 4, 2006

Mileage

27,720 mi

PURCHASED MATERIALS AT HOME DEPOT AND LOADED THEM IN MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. CLOSED THE TAILGATE AND AS I GOT ON TO THE INTERSTATE (APPROX. 1 MILE), I HEARD A LOUD SLAMMING NOISE-LOOKED BACK AND MY TAILGATE WAS BEING DRAGGED, DISATTACHED AND ALL MY SUPPLIES SCATTERED THROUGH OUT. WHAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT WAS NISSAN HAS SECURED THERE TAILGATE CABLES TO THE BOTTOM BOLT OF THE LATCHING/LOCK MECHANISM. I ASSUME EACH TIME YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE TAILGATE-FRICTION BETWEEN THE PARTS HAD CONTINUALLY LOOSENED THE BOLT. THE BOLT WAS MISSING-BUT LOOKING AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TAILGATE YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE IT IS JUST A POOR DESIGN. NISSAN COULD SECURE THE CABLE TO ITS OWN BOLT. THE RESULT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE LATCH PUSHED FORWARD RATHER THAN LATCHED ON TO THE TAILGATE, AND BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE LATCH WAS SECURE IT GAVE A FALSE IMPRESSION OF IT BEING SECURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TAILGATE HAS A CUTOUT ON THE BOTTOM SO WHEN NEEDED YOU CAN REMOVE IT BY PULLING IT OUT, AS THE DRIVER SIDE HAS A PIN THE STICKS INTO A CYLINDER. THE RESULT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF TAILGATE CAME UNDONE, AND BECAUSE IT WAS THE OPEN END- DROPPED AND PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE SENDING IT ONTO THE ROAD, AND THANKFULLY NOT INJURING ANYONE. IT IS VISIBLY A POOR DESIGN. I HAVE E-MAILED THIS TO THEM, BUT TO NO RESPONSE AS OF YET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162727

Incident

Jul 2, 2006

Mileage

10,355 mi

NOISE THAT IS HEARD AROUND THE DASHBOARD AREA, WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT 40 MPH TO 45 MPH. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. THEY GREASED THE VEHICLE, AND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. NO SUCCESS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142021

Incident

Oct 24, 2005