2005 Nissan Quest Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2005 Nissan Quest most often describe a rattling or stretched timing chain on the 3.5L V6, a transmission that bangs or slips into gear, and a digital instrument display that blanks out or shows wrong fuel and mileage readings. A separate group of complaints concerns the power sliding doors, water leaking at the overhead console, and the original-equipment tires. Reports span the whole mileage range, from near-new vehicles to well past 150,000 miles, and owners often note the dealer could not reproduce the problem.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Instrument panel blanks out; fuel gauge reads wrong

   • 19 complaints (23%)
   • median 46,063 mi at 6.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2018

   Owners report the digital odometer, fuel and temperature displays going blank, flickering or showing corrupted readings, sometimes returning on their own. A common variant is the fuel gauge staying on empty after filling up or reading incorrectly below half a tank, which some owners had temporarily reset by disconnecting the battery. In several cases the radio, which shares the same console, stopped working later. Reported from around 45,000 miles through 120,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the key on, check that every segment of the instrument display lights and is readable, then confirm the fuel gauge responds correctly after a fill-up. Ask whether the instrument cluster or console has been repaired or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The odometer just stop displaying the mileage, temp and fuel. After about 10 months the stereo stop working, when I looked around in the internet I noticed that many owners of the Quest were having that problem , the console has the radio and odometer integrated.”

   NHTSA complaint #10549291, filed 2013-10, 83,677 miles

   “The alignment adjustment bolt, the bolt that goes through the unibody, broke and dropped the a-arm section that holds the back passenger tire, onto the highway. I had three tires going straight and the back passenger tire turned in at 65 MPH on the highway with sparks and swerving into the oncoming lane. We were able to regain control of the van and get it to the shoulder. For a moment we thought the van might roll. Our mechanic stated he has never seen anything like this before. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10436888, filed 2011-11, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Timing chain noise and wear

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2020

   Owners describe a tapping or rattling from the 3.5L V6 that starts quietly and grows louder over time, sometimes with the check engine light coming on. Several say the dealer traced it to the timing chain, guides or tensioner and quoted a large repair, and a few were advised not to keep driving until it was fixed. A manufacturer bulletin covers revised timing chain service procedures for this engine. Reported from about 40,000 miles upward, most often past 80,000 miles, and in one case after a second repair.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for a cold-start rattle or ticking from the front of the engine and ask for records of any timing chain, guide or tensioner work. An inspection by a shop familiar with this engine is worth the cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this van brand new and after a couple years began to hear a subtle tapping noise every so often coming from the engine. I was told its a lifter tapping and may come and go but not worth repairing because it will cost a lot of money and it really doesn't effect performance. After another year or 2 the noise got really loud and the check engine light came on. After doing research online I found hundreds/thousands of complaints about the same thing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10594288, filed 2014-05, 85,000 miles

   “I own a Nissan Quest 05.I got it brand new.I had it for 6 years and after 51,000 miles I was told by the dealership that I need anew timing chain.they are asking $2200.its a defect and they should cover it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10452713, filed 2012-03, 51,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission bangs, slips or loses forward gears

   • 9 complaints (11%)
   • median 108,565 mi at 10.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2005–2016

   Complaints describe a hard bang when the shifter moves into drive, a whine while moving, and intermittent slipping in and out of gear. Some owners report the van losing power or refusing to go past low speed after a clunk, with shops describing the transmission as neutralising or not changing gears. In some cases dealers suggested unrelated repairs first, such as a muffler or tune-up, before the transmission was diagnosed. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 125,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the van from cold and feel for a delayed or harsh engagement into drive and reverse, and listen for whine at speed. Ask whether the specified automatic transmission fluid has been used at services.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the transmission is in drive, there is almost no power. I pulled into a car dealership to look at some used cars. The van's engine was running and the transmission was in park. When I put the transmission back in drive and pressed the accelerator, we moved forward very slowly. Low and over drive were no better, but reverse seemed fine. Forward gears have very little power.”

   NHTSA complaint #10924402, filed 2016-11, 123,755 miles

   “While driving on the highway, the car started missing gears and was stalling. My wife uses the van for school and drop the baby to daycare. Took the car to Nissan and they said it was a muffler, I fixed that and the issue was still there. They then told me it need a tune up costing $650. Didn't do it because it was too expensive. And unnecessary since I always do oil changes. Had a transmission shop look at it and told me the transmission was neutralizing. Car would not change gears. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10717286, filed 2015-05, 92,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Power sliding doors open or close unexpectedly

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2011

   Complaints describe the passenger sliding door swinging open on its own while driving, failing to reverse when something is in its path, or becoming very hard to open. Dealers in some cases replaced the sliding door actuator or motor and cable assembly, while other owners were told the problem could not be duplicated. Some also mention windows moving when the tailgate button is pressed. Reported mostly between about 30,000 and 60,000 miles, with some at very low mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times, power and manual, and check that they reverse when an object is placed in the opening. Ask whether the door motor or cable assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had the van in the shop at least 4 times(~15 days) with ongoing problems which include: the windows failing to roll up when button is pushed, the gas gauge failing to register gas after filling it up, the gas meter after a half a tank never registers correctly (when light indicates no gas and tank is filled the van will only take 16 gallons and owners manual indicates a 20 gallon tank), the transmission slips, the sliding doors squeak and rattle, rear interior clamps on floor of car are rusting, idiot lights come on intermittently, the …”

   NHTSA complaint #10166604, filed 2006-08, 5,000 miles

   “The consumer's complained that her children's fingers can become stuck in the door and that the third row seat can disengage. The consumer complained to the dealer but they didn't provide her with any assistance.”

   NHTSA complaint #10143218, filed 2005-11
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Water leaks at the overhead console

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe water dripping from the overhead sunglass holder area at the top edge of the windshield, usually after rain or a car wash. Dealers resealed the windshield in some cases, and one owner reported that the reseal made it worse; others were told the leak could not be reproduced with a hose. A related report describes a windshield stress crack on a nearly new vehicle, and a manufacturer bulletin covers windshield cracking. Reported at very low mileage, from a few hundred to around 5,000 miles, and after rain or washing.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the headliner and overhead console for water stains, and run a hose over the top of the windshield to look for drips inside.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was accelrating onto an interstate highway when my windshiield cracked. There was no reason for this since no other vehicles were in the vicinity of my vehicle and the vehicle was new (1500 miles). I reported a stress fracture to the dealership where the vehicle was purchased and to the Nissan corp. Everyone I spoke with said something hit the glass and refused to correct the problem. There was no evidence of anything hitting the glass. My mechanic and an insurance investigator agreed with me. The problem remains unresolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10128968, filed 2005-07, 1,500 miles

   “Dt: contact owns a 2005 Nissan Quest. The angle of the windshield and the color of the dashboard reflect off the dashboard, making it impossible for the consumer to see out of the windshield. The local dealer called Nissan, and Nissan refused to admit that there was a problem. There was only 3,000 miles on the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132636, filed 2005-09, 100 miles

Buying note. A 2005 Quest can be a low-cost minivan, but the timing chain and transmission are the expensive items, so service records and a careful test drive matter more than mileage alone. Check the instrument display, the sliding doors and the headliner for leaks before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.