RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Frontier Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
186
Latest Sep 8, 2023
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.
35%
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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 186 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 186, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 8, 2023

The timing chain has gone out. Other crankshaft sensor went out while driving the vehicle at about 30mph.

NHTSA ID
11543393
Incident
Sep 15, 2022
Engine
Filed May 18, 2023

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. Additionally, the contact stated that the ABS warning light and the check engine warning illuminated then turned off then the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that he noticed that when the coolant temperature gauge was at an undisclosed temperature, the vehicle failed to restart. In addition, the contact added that upon research he related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V517000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

NHTSA ID
11522632
Incident
May 18, 2023
Mileage
189,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11343216
Incident
Jun 23, 2020
Mileage
113,010 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2019

FILED A COMPALINT #11288301.JJUST WANT TO BE PUT ON THE RECALL UPDATE LIST IN THE FUTURE. THANKS

NHTSA ID
11288303
Incident
Dec 6, 2019
Mileage
98,750 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2019

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. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE ON GETTING THIS DEFECT FIXED. THANKS. I HAVE NO PICTURES TO UPLOAD, AS WAS 10:30 AT NIGHT AND I AM NOW 100 MILES FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11288301
Incident
Dec 6, 2019
Mileage
98,750 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 2019

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING , ABOUT 10 MILES TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY NOT A TREE OR CAR INSIGHT , I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD POP / I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS , NOT A TIRE OR ANYTHING I LOOK UP AND SEE MY SUNROOF SHATTERED

NHTSA ID
11207829
Incident
May 15, 2019
Mileage
123,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 8, 2019

TRANSMISSION DAMAGE CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION COOLER.

NHTSA ID
11185423
Incident
Mar 8, 2019
Mileage
93,450 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2018

THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WHIRRING SOUND

NHTSA ID
11121005
Incident
Aug 17, 2018
Mileage
100,908 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11103888
Incident
Jun 21, 2018
Mileage
43,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jun 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD EMERGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WENT AWAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE OTHER TIMES WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID
11102787
Incident
Jun 17, 2018
Mileage
131,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2018
Crash reportedFire reported1 death reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A JERSEY WALL. THE DRIVER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S SON PASSED AWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE POWER FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V517000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT *CN

NHTSA ID
11084601
Incident
Jan 7, 2015
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2018

MY TRUCK JUST REACHED 80,800 MILES AND IT HAS LOST POWER. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT CAME BACK WITH THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION AND THE FUEL PUMP ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME I HAD NO WARRANTY ON ANY OF THESE PARTS AS OF 2010 AND THEY QUOTED ME ALMOST $7,000 TO REPLACE ALL. AFTER GOING HOME AND LOOKING UP TRANSMISSION SHOPS I FOUND HUNDREDS OF ARTICLES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF NISSAN CARS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL ON MY TRUCK. THEN I FIND THEY HAVE SNEAKILY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY WITHOUT NOTIFYING US AND NOW MY TRUCK IS 12YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 80,800 MILES AND I NEED TO COME UP WITH $7,000 BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO NOTIFY THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR MISTAKES.

NHTSA ID
11083756
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
80,800 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2018

THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF 4/26/17, 12/7/17, AND 2/10/18 . WHEN IT WAS REINSTALLED ON 12/7/17 THE MECHANIC SAID THEY FOUND A REFERENCE THAT SAID NISSAN HAS NEW SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT KIT AVAILABLE AND IF CAME OFF AGAIN THEY RECOMMENDED I GET THE NEW KIT INSTALLED. ALL THREE TIMES THE BELT CAME OFF WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE IN MY DRIVEWAY. SEVERAL TIMES IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS SLIPPING WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS AFTER STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN PRIOR TO THE 3D TIME IT CAME OFF.AFTER STOPPING

NHTSA ID
11072107
Incident
Apr 26, 2017
Mileage
118,159 mi
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
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 25, 2017

THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CREATING A TOXIC FLUID THAT IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED EVERYTHING AROUND IT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN FIRST NOTICED. I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SO FLUSHING IT WAS MY ONLY OPTION. IT LASTED FOR A FEW YEARS BUT NOW IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ID
11039791
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 13, 2017

TRUCK CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOUR AT. HAVE TO WAIT A FEW SECONDS TO GET IT TO START AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10985554
Incident
May 13, 2017
Mileage
89,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2017

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. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10983129
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Mileage
200,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2017

TRANSMISSION CROSS CONTAMINATION WITH COOLANT. 72,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING FULL SPEED, FORCING ME TO QUICKLY MOVE OVER 6 LANES WITH NO HIGH GEAR. NOW I HAVE A $4900 REPAIR BILL. I WAS IN THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP JUST 1 WEEK PRIOR FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT NISSAN SINCE IT WAS NEW. I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE RECALL OR THAT I SHOULD BYPASS THE RADIATOR OR BEWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10957695
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 6, 2017

TAKATA INFLATORS TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10940246
Incident
Jan 5, 2017
Mileage
131,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 27, 2016

COMPLAINT RE: TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. IS LOCKED IN 3RD GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. OVERDRIVE GEAR WAS GONE DUE TO COOLANT MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. HAD REPLACED RADIATOR & FLUSHED TRANSMISSION 3 MONTHS AGO HOPING TO BUY ME SOME MORE MILES BEFORE HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. DIDN'T WORK. TOLD BY NISSAN THAT I WAS SOL DUE TO OVER 100,000 MILES. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## NISSAN FRONTIER V6 4X4 2005 ##

NHTSA ID
10919372
Incident
Oct 25, 2016
Mileage
115,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND THE SMOKE DISSIPATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. A REMEDY WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ID
10917163
Incident
Aug 14, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 2016

VEHICLE ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE AT A FULL STOP AND WHILE DRIVING. ONCE WHILE MAKING A TURN AND ONCE WHILE IN MOTION. MANY FRONTIER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME. TOOK IT TO ONE OF THE BEST AUTO TECHS IN FLORIDA. DIAGOSTIC SHOWED "NO CODES"

NHTSA ID
10916006
Incident
Oct 12, 2016
Mileage
164,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL VIBRATION. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED WITH THE RADIATOR FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED WITH THE RADIATOR FLUID AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10903904
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
81,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 8, 2016

2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINEERING ISSUES WITH CROSS CONTAMINATION FLUIDS BETWEEN RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. *SMD

NHTSA ID
10891435
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2016

TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKING INTO COOLANT SYSTEM AND COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
10877152
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
120,000 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 .