2005 Nissan Frontier: harsh or hard shifting

6 of the 532 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Frontier describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 109,535
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 8 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2026
1
2025
1
2024
2
2023
1
2019
2
2013
1
2012
1
2007
5
2006
3
2005
6
2001
1
1999
2

What owners say

Filed Nov 26, 2017 · Transmission · 155,448 miles · TX

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

Filed Mar 9, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 102,000 miles · NV

In 2013 I received a notice of class action about a nissan vehicles related to possible radiator fluid leak into the transmission due a defect that permits cross-contamination of engine coolant and transmission fluid. It did not include vehicles before it happens. In 2013, I went to a authorized nissan dealer to check if my radiator can be affected but they told me that in that moment the radiator was working well without given me the option of replacing it to prevent damages. At the time I was under the warranty limits, less than 10 years and less than 100,000 miles. Now in february 13, 2016 my vehicle began to have problems to move , had a harsh shift , it slowed down and did not drive at times. I clearly saw a transmission problem. I called united nissan service for a diagnose . They check my vehicle and told me that my radiator leaked fluid into the transmission due the radiator defect. I couldn't understand why this class action did not include vehicles that will face this damage in a future . It did not include prevention of damages. Nissan did not released a recall for the faulty radiator. I know I am now outside the warranty limits, but at the time when I visited nissan service to prevent this no one provided my help or information that would help in prevent such damage. The price for a new transmission is 6,000 dlls. The total cost of repair all goes up 9,000 dlls. Also I received a rude customer service by the service agents of nissan service . Now I have to cover these costs by myself. My son was driven the vehicle when this happen. The good thing is that the failure occurred while he was driven on the freeway making it so dangerous. What will happen with people like us? The legal case was closed in 2012 but nissan still having vehicles suffering this this damage . This is a negligence that pass the financial burden to consumers.

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 96,000 miles · ID

Vehicle shudders bad in 5th gear clunking in and out of gear, and unable to maintain speed on highway. Hard up shifts from gears 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. Hard down shift clunk from gear 2 to 1. Coolant leaked into transmission fluid causing catastrophic failure of transmission and new radiator needed as well.

Filed Aug 10, 2012 · Transmission · 109,535 miles · CA

This problem is in the automatic transmission. Due to nissan producing a faulty and very poorly engineered cooling system for the 2005 nissan frontier, pathfinder, and xterra automatic transmissions they eventually get contaminated with radiator coolant and makes the transmission slip and clunk during shifting. Mine slips from 2nd into third and when I accelerate in any gear. There is no power unless I baby it along. This has been hazardous twice now when entering the freeway and changing lanes. A semi-truck was in the lane I needed to get into and I could not accelerate enough to merge properly. Nissan refuses to admit the problem is theirs even though the consumer complaints are numerous. If you are not already aware of this just go online and you will find horror stories from people with the same problem.

Filed Aug 27, 2011 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · MI

2005 nissan frontier. Transmission failure.. Vehicle shutters around 40 MPH and some loud clunking noises when the tranny shifts. Dealer tried to blame my brakes. Took to transmision shop and was told it would be $5000 to replace tranny because coolant contaminated the transmision.

Filed May 9, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 59,994 miles · OH

3/10/08-transmission is slipping and clunking, took to dealer-turn away, 59994 miles. 4/21/08-62,597 miles returned to dealer and again was told no problem. That day took to local mechanic and he drained transmission fluid. Resembled a milk shake and he diagnosed the problem as a broken transmission line in the radiator. Returned to dealership and they once again turned me away refusing to acknowledge the problem. Local mechanic flushed transmission and repaired radiator. Transmission still slips and clunks and is presently parked.(not drivable) received a letter from nissan admitting to this very problem and they still rejected my request for repairs. Believe engine may have been damaged as a result of this problem. Burns oil and stalls as well. Made many requests to national consumer affairs and totally rejected my concerns.