RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Frontier Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Nov 7, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 532 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Frontier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2017

AFTER 2 AND A HALF MONTHS OF FIGHTING WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, NISSAN HAS BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ME OR THE OTHER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE OR THEIR SAFETY. AS SAD AS IT SOUNDS ITS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE THEY OPEN THEIR EYES.

NHTSA ID
11044241
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Mileage
91,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 30, 2017

AS I WAS DRIVING, MY 05 NISSAN FRONTIER STALLED, SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO RESTART AND IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE 2 LANE ROAD IN HENDERSON, NV. I AM OBVIOUSLY PETRTIFIED TO DRIVE SO I BEGAN TO TO RESEARCH THIS SITUATION. JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT, I TRIED TO START THE NEXT MORNING AND IT DIDN'T START. AFTER A FEW HOURS, HOWEVER, IT STARTED. JUST TO MAKE SURE, I HAD MY STARTER AND BATTERY LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE, BUT I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE ECM RELAY. THIS WAS RECALLED IN 2011 AND I HAD IT CHANGED OUT AT HENDERSON NISSAN. I ALSO REPLACED THE ECM RELAY LAST WEEK TO MAKE SURE THE PART DIDN'T GO BAD, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL STALLING AND INTERMITTENTLY STARTING. UPON MORE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF NISSANS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TITANS, EXTERRAS, AND PATHFINDERS. LOTS OF OLDER MODELS, BUT EVEN NEW VEHICLES THAT WERE JUST PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I PROCEEDED TO HENDERSON NISSAN AND DESCRIBED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WAD TOLD IT WAS THE IPDM UNIT. I ALSO SPOKE WITH CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I PURCHASED THE PARTS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF ONE OF THESE VEHICLES EVER STALLS AND LOSES POWER ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR ROAD THE AFTERMATH CAN BE DEADLY FOR THE OWNER OF THE NISSAN AND THEIR PASSENGERS AND OTHER INNOCENT DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THIS SERIOUS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM, AND EVEN DEATH. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT THE DAY IT HAPPENED TO ME, I TRULY THANK GOD! I FULLY BELIEVE THAT ALL NISSAN'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAVE THE NEW IPDM UNIT INSTALLED AS I HEAR THE THE ORIGINAL IPDM UNIT WAS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. THE NEWER UPDATED MODEL IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN APPEARANCE, AND FITS THE TITAN AS WELL. THIS IS SO SERIOUS, AND NISSAN KNOWS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE THIS RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11041446
Incident
Oct 17, 2017
Mileage
98,111 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 15, 2016

TIMING CHAIN ON 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE DUE TO THE CHAIN CONTACT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOTION IT MAKE THE NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IN MOTION IT CHANGES GEARS AT A HIGHER RPM. I HAVE SENSORS THAT WERE OPERABLE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10859816
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE GEARS WERE STUCK OCCASIONALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,668.

NHTSA ID
10818333
Incident
Jan 2, 2016
Mileage
97,668 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 3, 2015

MY CAR STARTS AND IDLE BUT DO NOT ACCELERATE THE IPDM IS NOT WORKING PERFECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10703446
Incident
Feb 23, 2015
Mileage
122,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 9, 2015

CLUTCH BREAK BAND SOLENOID FAILED. LOST ALL POWER TO MY VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. $1000 FOR THE PART $400 FOR THE LABOR $100 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671225
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
78,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 7, 2014

ON MY TRUCK I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS IN POWER AND THROTTLE RESPONSE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING, AS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. AFTER SPENDING $100 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FROM A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THAT MY TRANSMISSION COOLER RESERVOIR IS LEAKING IN MY RADIATOR AND CAUSED CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN MY ANTIFREEZE AND ATF. THE ANTIFREEZE IS GETTING INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND BOILING ONCE THE TRANSMISSION REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURES. THE ANTIFREEZE VAPOR IS THEN CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES AND BANDS TO NOT BE ABLE TO ENGAGE CORRECTLY, AND THEREFORE NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS PROPERLY. I JUST ABOUT GOT HIT TRYING TO TURN LEFT OUT ONTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF CROSS TRAFFIC. I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. THIS FIX IS GOING TO COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $500 TO $5,000 TO FIX DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE THE ANTIFREEZE IN MY TRANSMISSION CAUSED. I JUST READ THAT A FEW YEARS AGO NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY DUE TO THIS, AND I AM PAST THAT POINT, BUT THIS IS STILL UNACCEPTABLE AT ONLY 102,000 MILES. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS AND FIXED IT WHEN IT WAS JUST A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A NEW RADIATOR YEARS AGO. LASTLY, MY TRUCK WITHOUT ISSUES WAS WORTH NEARLY $8K IN ITS CONDITION, NOW I'LL HAVE TROUBLE GETTING A DEALER TO PAY ANYTHING IN TRADE-IN VALUE IF I CHOOSE TO NOT FIX THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10620666
Incident
Jul 31, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 15, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON KINGERY HIGHWAY IN VILLA PARK WHEN I STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNED ON AND THE TRUCK WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO LESS THAN 1 MPH. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564501
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 10, 2013

2 MONTHS AGO I HAD A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR AND I FIXED IT. THEN AFTER THAT I START HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE SPEED DOES NOT CHANGE IMMEDIATELY AND WHEN IT CHANGE YOU FEEL LIKE SOME HAS PUSHED YOU FROM THE BACK. AND NOW THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555483
Incident
Oct 19, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 20, 2013

STARTED IT UP... HARDLY MOVED. SQUEAKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKS LIKE THE INFAMOUS RADIATOR LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10536423
Incident
Aug 20, 2013
Mileage
90,780 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 23, 2013

THE 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

NHTSA ID
10513283
Incident
Jan 23, 2013
Mileage
147,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10512814
Incident
Jan 16, 2013
Mileage
92,861 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2013

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE #1 LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON THE 60 EAST FREEWAY CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION OF THE 57 NORTH FREEWAY CONNECTOR, I LOST FULL POWER AND WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY EXIT NARROWLY MISSING SEVERAL TRUCKS AND CARS IN THE PROCESS. AFTER LIMPING HOME AND LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A FEW DAYS, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO PUENTE HILLS NISSAN COMPLAINING THAT I LOSE POWER ONCE THE TRANSMISSION COMES TO TEMPERATURE AND THAT I NEEDED THEM TO ASSES THE DAMAGE AT A COST TO ME OF $130. THEIR EVALUATION EVENTUALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE RADIATOR HAD RUPTURED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION THEREBY DAMAGING IT BEYOND REPAIR. THEY QUOTED ME APPROXIMATELY $4,500 FOR THE REPAIR WHICH MAINLY INCLUDED LABOR, TAX, A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION, A NEW RADIATOR, AND ALL NECESSARY HOSES AND PARTS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM MY HOME, I LOST POWER ONCE AGAIN AND WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED THE REST OF THE WAY. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10497833
Incident
Feb 9, 2013
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 23, 2012

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60-65 ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND STARTS TO GRIND. THIS OCCURS ONLY UNDER ACCELERATION AND I DO NOT MEAN HARD ACCELERATION. I AM SIMPLY AT A CRUISING SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO SIMPLY MAINTAIN A SPEED AND THE NOISE OCCURS DAILY. I AM NOT POSITIVE THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I AM NO MECHANIC, BUT THE SOUND IS A GRINDING SOUND WHICH MEANS IT IS A GEAR GRINDING SOMEWHERE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER THREE TIMES AND ALL I WAS TOLD IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OKAY. I DO NOT HAVE A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON SO MAYBE THAT IS THE REASON, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SHOW THE DEALER THE NOISE AND STILL NO HELP. ALL I WANTED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IS A RELIABLE CAR AND I DO NOT HAVE ONE. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING OUT A SUBPAR PRODUCT. I KNOW BASED ON THE ONLINE FORUMS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10485837
Incident
Jul 24, 2012
Mileage
54,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 3, 2012

NISSAN HAS A KNOW RADIATOR PROBLEM. INTERNAL LEAKAGE INTO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. CAUSES CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PULLING AWAY FROM STOP SIGN. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD TWICE. THEN HAD NO FORWARD MOTION, ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT NOT MOVE THE VEHICAL. TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILE NISSAN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WAS FIRST TOLD BY THE DEALER. 100% COVERED. LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER, WAS TOLD NOT COVERED. COST $5000 PLUS. CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. GABBY AT NISSAN SIAD THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. TOOK A WEEK FOR THEM TO FINALLY CALL BACK. THEY ASKED ME TO COVER $2000. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE WHOLE BILL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. AND THE TRUCK HAS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I PAID $2192.43 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND DEFECTIVE RADIATOR REPLACED. ASKED IF THE RADIATOR WAS AN UPDATED PART. WAITING ON A CALL TO FIND OUT IF IT IS A BETTER RADIATOR OR JUST A NEW ONE WITH THE SAME DEFECT. RIGHT NOW. ITS A TICKING TIME BOMB, IF THE FAILURE OCCURED IN TRAFFIC ON AN INTERSTATE, A MAJOR CRASH COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457375
Incident
Apr 22, 2012
Mileage
95,634 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR REFUELING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYED AN INACCURATLY LOW READING OF FUEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY AND IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURES DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10390072
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
82,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 10, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY JUMPED THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT WALL OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED YET THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, LEGS AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID
10389711
Incident
Mar 7, 2011
Mileage
71,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 28, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 50 MPH, AND AS CAR STARTED INCLINE, ACCELERATOR ENGAGED ABRUPTLY AND RPM INCREASED TO MAXIMUM. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE AND REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TRUCK WENT OFF ROAD ON CURVE AND HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TREE OCCURRED. DRIVER HAD BOTH FEET ON BRAKE, YET WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10385989
Incident
Jan 23, 2011
Mileage
95,200 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 9, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. WHILE AT A RESTAURANT DRIVE-THRU, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT KNEE AND BACK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND IS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID
10273210
Incident
May 13, 2009
Mileage
57,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .