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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
- Petal, MS, USA
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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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ## VIN passed ## Nissan Frontier V6 4X4 2005 ##
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"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Vidor, TX, USA