Check a VIN

Nissan Frontier overheating problems

85 of the 3,366 owner complaints about the Nissan Frontier describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
85
worst model year
2005
typical repair cost reported
$4,600
typical mileage
102,251
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2025
    1
  • 2023
    1
  • 2020
    1
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    1
  • 2013
    1
  • 2012
    2
  • 2010
    2
  • 2009
    1
  • 2008
    2
  • 2007
    21
  • 2006
    15
  • 2005
    30
  • 2004
    1
  • 2003
    1
  • 2002
    1
  • 2001
    1
  • 2000
    1

What owners say

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

1. Frequent repeated multiple breakdown and damages to all and any MAF sensors, camshaft position sensors bank 2, VVT solenoid sensors as cause of short circuited and fire hazard high risk of IPDM and main loom wiring harnesses from careless, dangerous severe defective workmanship/installation/mounting of metal bolt and loom wiring together by the A-frame on passenger side, below glove box, on side wall/fender close to passenger door. It appears the factory and Nissan installed backward circuit breaker also. The thick black wire (possibly power wire) and loom harness wiring are rubbing into each other causing possible big hole on the wire/loom insulation resulting to overheating of wire and short circuiting all or most wiring/loom harnesses of entire engine and engine bay. 2. The dangerous rubbing of wire and bolt is extremely dangerous fire risk/hazard also endangering lives of vehicle occupants and commuters on the road and posing danger to the public and city/State infrastructures. 3. Already reported/notified both Nissan Consumer Affairs and local Nissan Dealer on 10/6/2026 and both of them malicously refused and declined to recognize the defect, issue, risk, danger, problem. And they also refused to perform necessary repair. 4. Manufacturer Nissan declined and refused to recognize and acknowledge the serious high danger and defective product and severely flawed manufacturing/mounting/assembly. Local police process unknown. 5. Engine sputtering and resulted to inoperative condition on October 2026. Multiple sensors on bank 2 damaged/failed all at once at the same time indicative of serious IPDM compromised/defect and short circuited wires/loom connected to multiple sensors. Short circuit tracing using tracing device and multimeters confirmed damaged and affected electrical wires as result of Nissan manufacturer creation of unsafe and dangerous product. We, all of us,should be resolving/rectifying major serious problems that pose danger to lives of public

Filed Mar 29, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · AL

Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Nissan Frontier Defect Description: The wiring harness connected to the brake stop lamp switch on 2023 Nissan Frontier vehicles contains a design or manufacturing defect that causes premature switch failure. The defect results in the switch overheating and burning out, evidenced by visible charring and sooty residue inside the switch housing. Upon failure, the brake lights may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed, removing a critical safety signal for following drivers. Nissan has acknowledged this defect and issued Technical Service Bulletin NTB22-084. However, owners whose vehicles have exceeded the 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty threshold are required to bear the full cost of repair out of pocket, despite the defect being a known manufacturing issue. Safety Hazard: Failure of the brake stop lamp switch renders the vehicle's rear brake lights inoperative. This creates a significant safety risk to the vehicle's occupants, following drivers, and the general public — particularly under low-visibility conditions such as nighttime driving, inclement weather, or high-traffic situations. In my personal incident, switch failure occurred without prior warning while traveling at approximately 50 mph on a state highway. A warning light did illuminate, but only after the switch had already failed. At that speed and location, safely moving off the roadway was not immediately possible, placing myself and other motorists in a hazardous situation.

Filed Apr 30, 2025 · Brakes · NY

After owningthe vehicle for five months and around 7500 miles, I begin to notice my brake pedal pulsing when I press hard and as time went on, I started feeling vibration in the vehicle and the front wheel. It felt as if the front brake rotors warped. this should not happen. The vehicle was driven normally no overheating or hard use of the brakes.

Filed Sep 18, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · AR

Vehicle alternator failed at 79,000 miles. Instead of shutting off, vehicle disabled the cooling fans but kept the engine and fuel supply systems running leading to the vehicle overheating during diagnostics which require the engine to rev and hold an elevated RPM. Unsure if other systems like braking and steering were affected by the choices the vehicle made to keep the engine running despite no cooling since the truck was not moving when it over heated..

Filed May 18, 2023 · Transmission · UT

Radiator coolant leaked into transmission after125,000 miles

Filed Jan 20, 2023 · Transmission · TX

There was a coolant leak. It was leaking from head gasket. When it was being rebuilt there were two head bolts stripped. The truck only has 58,000 miles. We were told that the engin isn't covered by the warranty.

Filed Oct 26, 2021 · Engine · 100,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated and shut off. The failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that it took a while for the vehicle to regain full power. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle had to be towed after shutting off. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the camshaft and crankshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Transmission · 137,000 miles · UT

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.

Filed Aug 15, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 35,000 miles · HI

Transmission and brain repair by dealership under warranty 20017, and overheating problem due to radiator in 2020 after expire of warranty, $1000 out of pocket repairs.

Filed Mar 1, 2020 · Transmission · 81,000 miles · VA

Transmission contaminated with engine coolant @ 81,000 miles. Catastrophic transmission failure, engine overheated and the vehicle quit moving. Occurred while in motion on a rural road and vehicle had to be towed home.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM): softwareReported August 7, 2025 · 13,719 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Nissan Frontier vehicles. Due to a software logic error, the daytime running lights may dim unexpectedly when the idle start-stop feature cycles the engine from off to on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk
Daytime running lights that dim unexpectedly may cause confusion to other vehicles or pedestrians, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the engine control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800‑647‑7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C3.

Recall number 25V508000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported December 19, 2011 · 14,718 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Risk
If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 11V592000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported October 28, 2010 · 747,480 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 diode for electrical current noise reduction. The ECM relay may allow silicon vapor to form and, over time, the silicon evaporates from the diode molding which causes silicon oxide to develop on the ECM relay contact due to arcing.
Risk
This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ECM relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 10V517000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Frontier overheating

Which Nissan Frontier years have engine overheating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (30 complaints), 2007 (21 complaints) and 2006 (15 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the Nissan Frontier?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $4,600 (median of 19 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Nissan Frontier?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history