CarComplaints.com Notes: In a very limited selection on small pickup trucks, the Frontier is one of the best options except -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- for one problem that makes it an avoid-at-all-costs pain in you know what: the radiator ruptures and leaks coolant into the transmission, killing it. Such a buzzkill.

This problem affects most 2005-2008 (and maybe beyond) Frontiers.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
110,238 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Nissan Frontier drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Nissan Frontier Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #234

Mar 012022

Frontier

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The truck loss power stalling, shuddering, bucking, want pick up speed even when excellerating, slow take off, loss of speed

- Pelham, GA, USA

problem #233

Dec 162021

Frontier

  • 88,700 miles
The contact owns a?2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle came to a complete stop and then hesitated to accelerate. Additionally, a burning odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with transmission and radiator failure. The transmission and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,700.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #232

Jul 182012

Frontier

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving 75 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was no warning light before or after the failure. The vehicle was towed by an independent mechanic. The mechanic performed a diagnostic test and found that coolant had leaked into the transmission and caused the transmission to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #231

Oct 192020

Frontier

  • 137,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2005 Nissan Frontiers transmission failed at 137,000 miles. I was driving on the freeway when it seemed to jolt out of 5th gear to 4th. Check engine light came on. I headed to Nissan but it seemed to only remain in a high gear (3rd or 4th). They diagnosed it as a failed transmission due to coolant leaking into the transmission. Its a known problem. I called Nissan headquarters and asked for help they said no. I had an extended powertrain warranty through aul, but because it was the radiator that leaked and not a transmission failure they won't cover it.

- West Haven, UT, USA

problem #230

May 172019

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
When the truck hit about 115,000 miles, it started shifting oddly. At 120,000 miles it would not drive. I let it sit for a week and then it would drive. I can only drive it 5 miles or less in order for it to drive. Anymore than that, the check engine light comes on and it doesn't have the power to go over 10mph. After driving, even less than 5 miles, it leaks antifreeze.

- Emporium, PA, USA

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problem #229

Oct 112013

Frontier

  • 142,463 miles
Transmission failed due to cross contamination with radiator. Transmission and radiator had to be replaced.

- Williamsport, PA, USA

problem #228

Jun 012017

Frontier

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The cause of the failure was not determined. Orr Nissan located at 2323 viking dr, bossier la, was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Princeton, LA, USA

problem #227

Nov 152019

Frontier

  • 139,000 miles
Transmission failure caused by mixing of radiator coolant with transmission fluid through cracks in coolant tubes. Transmission slippage, loss of power experienced on local trip, had vehicle towed to mechanic.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #226

Sep 042019

Frontier

  • 1,180,000 miles
Lost power could not move truck on city street. Dealership told me it was the transmission coolant was leaking into the transmission fluid wariness the gears and the transmission had to be replaced. They told me there was a recall but I never received a notice they said the recall has expired and I have to pay for the repair.

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #225

May 302019

Frontier

  • 120,000 miles
Total transmission failure due to a faulty transmission radiator, resulting in a total transmission rebuild.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #224

Mar 082019

Frontier

  • 93,450 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission damage caused by transmission cooler.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #223

Aug 032018

Frontier

  • 197,000 miles
Truck would not crank. The indicator for the gears went out. I was at home parked when it would not start. Had a mechanic test it. The test indicated the transmission computer is the problem. There is transmission fluid in the antifreeze. This is a defect from Nissan.

- Franklin, LA, USA

problem #222

Feb 022015

Frontier

  • miles
Radiator/transmission failed, caused transmission to fail, had to be replaced

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #221

Jul 252018

Frontier

  • 145,717 miles
When truck gets warm first gear start slipping and hard to get the truck to move fluid levels are where they should be the vehicle was in motion at a drive-thru tobacco shop

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #220

Apr 122018

Frontier

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle was operating normally and then suddenly stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility where it was diagnosed that the transmission assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from an extended warranty campaign and there was no recall on the vehicle; however, there were four tsbs for the power train. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Perry, GA, USA

problem #219

Apr 092018

Frontier

  • miles
Vehicle shaking and complete turn off. A/T cont fuse blows out. Known issue in internet regarding transmission and coolant leak.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #218

Apr 042018

Frontier

  • 80,800 miles
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.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #217

Dec 132017

Frontier

  • 129,500 miles
While driving down the highway the radiator failed leaking coolant into the transmission resulting in them both needing to be replaced.

- Mediapolis, IA, USA

problem #216

Aug 222010

Frontier

  • 700,000 miles
Hi, im just gonna make this short. Ive owned 2 Nissan Frontiers both 2005 SE models and 4 tranmissions later im done with Nissan never again my first tranny replacement was at 70,000 right when my warrenty ended nonethess 7,000 dollars later I am done with Nissan forever !!! believe me I have all paper work for work done but im not gonna waste my time inputing anymore crap about Nissan.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #215

Jun 012016

Frontier

  • 155,448 miles
Chugging, slipping, hard shifting transmission when driving most any speed. Over the last 1 1/2 years

- Houston, TX, USA

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