2005 Nissan Frontier Reliability
The 2005 Nissan Frontier has 532 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and fuel system. Compared with nearby Frontier model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Frontier's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
532
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
9
Complaints citing a crash
8
Complaints citing a fire
2005 Nissan Frontier complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 model year, filed between 2005 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 262 | 49% |
| Fuel system | 135 | 25% |
| Engine & cooling | 106 | 20% |
| Engine | 80 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 38 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 25 | 5% |
| Body structure | 17 | 3% |
| Speed control / throttle | 15 | 3% |
2005 Nissan Frontier recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2005 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V092000 | Mar 30, 2006 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly / filler pipe and cap | On certain king cab trucks, in a severe side impact crash, there is a possibility that deformation of the vehicle's body could cause the fuel filler cap tether to be stretched to the point of unscrewing the fuel filler cap. |
| 06E064000 | Jul 17, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 07E046000 | Jul 3, 2007 | Equipment | Certain hopkins aftermarket trailer brake control connection harnesses sold for use on certain models of Nissan vehicles which are listed above. The internal part numbers within hopkins are: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025,… |
| 08V690000 | Dec 29, 2008 | Air bags — frontal | Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, Frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new… |
| 10E019000 | May 20, 2010 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower arm | Nissan is recalling certain front and rear lower links, p/nos. 54501zq00a, 54500zq00a, 551a1zq00a, 551a0zq00a , 54501ea00a, 54500ea00a, 551a1ea500, 551a0ea500, 54501zr00a, and 54500zr00a, sold between November 25, 2009 and May 14, 2010 as replacement parts… |
| 10V517000 | Oct 28, 2010 | Engine & cooling | Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 Frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ecm) relay that has a… |
How the 2005 compares with nearby Frontier years
Verdicts compare these Frontier model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 77 | 7 | Fuel system | Caution |
| 2004 | 66 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2005 (this page) | 532 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2006 | 617 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2007 | 520 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2005 Nissan Frontier
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2005 Nissan Frontier can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2005 Nissan Frontier reliability FAQ
Is the 2005 Nissan Frontier reliable?
The 2005 Nissan Frontier has 532 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and fuel system. Compared with nearby Frontier model years (2003–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Frontier's typical year.
What are the most common 2005 Nissan Frontier problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Frontier are powertrain / transmission (262), fuel system (135), engine & cooling (106), engine (80). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2005 Nissan Frontier have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Frontier, including 06V092000 (fuel system — storage / tank assembly / filler pipe and cap) and 06E064000 (exterior lighting). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2005 Nissan Frontier compare with the 2004 and 2006 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 66 complaints and 4 recalls (caution); the 2006 has 617 complaints and 7 recalls (avoid). The 2005 has 532 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2005 Nissan Frontier?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Frontier research
Other Nissan Frontier model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2005 Frontier, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.