Problems · by component

2005 Nissan Frontier engine problems

80 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Frontier cite engine, 15% of all 532 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
80
15% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2023EngineODI 11522632
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2020EngineODI 11343216
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2019EngineODI 11288301
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2019Unknown or other, EngineODI 11207829
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2018EngineODI 11103888
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2018EngineCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11084601

Showing 6 of 80 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.