Problems · by component

2005 Nissan Frontier electrical system problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Frontier cite electrical system, 7% of all 532 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
38
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ERRATIC GAS GAUGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SAME ISSUE HAS RECALL ON 2006 AND ABOVE NISSAN FRONTIERS. HAS TO BE SAME ISSUE WITH SENDING UNIT USED IN 2005. TSB IS OPEN TO INCLUDE 2005 VEHICLES”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2019Electrical systemODI 11246096
“I HAVE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH CAR STALLING. THEY'VE REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK. I KNOW THERE'S A RECALL ON OTHER NISSAN FRONTIERS WITH ECM PROBLEMS AND THINK MINE COULD BE AFFECTED.. IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE REALL HOWEVER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2019Electrical systemODI 11191669
“TWICE MY CAR HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES IN SITUATIONS THAT I COULD GLIDE OFF THE ROAD SAFELY IN LITHE TRAFFIC AND AT LOW SPEED. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEED THESE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. RESEARCH SHOWS THE FAILURE IS LIKELY THE ECM RELAY IN THE IPDM OR THE WHOLE IPDM ITSELF. A NEW RELAY ($4 FROM THE DEALER) MAY FIX IT OR A WHOLE IPDM ASSEMBLY ($595 FROM DEALER) MAY BE NEEDED. NISSAN HAS REDESIGNED THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PARTS RELIABILITY. HOW IS NISSAN GETTING AWAY WITHOUT RECALLING THIS DANGEROUS FAILING ELECTRICAL CONTROL PART?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2017Electrical systemODI 10992941
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. AFTER THE DRIVER PARKED THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG CONNECTED TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2016Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10919785
“MY 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER WILL STALL OUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED GOING SLOW AND FAST. THE TRUCK WILL BE RUNNING FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE IN SEVERAL CRASHES. I CAN PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL CRANK BACK UP SOMETIMES TAKING SEVERAL TRY'S. I HAVE REPLACED THE ECM RELAY AND DID NOT HELP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT CAN GET PEOPLE KILLED. THE TRUCK HAS CUT OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. I HAVE BEEN GOING 70MPH ON THE INTER STATE AND THE TRUCK CUTS OFF. THE TRUCK HAS LOST POWER IN A TURN CAUSING IT TO BE REALLY HARD TO TURN. THE WORST IS PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MY TRUCK JUST CUTS OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2016Electrical systemODI 10894473
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FUSE BOX. THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical systemODI 10870655

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.