2005 Nissan Armada recalls and problems

The 2005 Nissan Armada has 3 recalls and 373 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

2006 Nissan Armada
Pictured: a 2006 model; the 2005 may differ in details. Photo: 2006 Nissan Armada by DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2005 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 23 Armada model years — 2nd most.

3recalls
373complaints
8crashes
5fires
7injuries
80,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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3 recalls

Engine

Oct 28, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V517000 · 747,480 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Mar 3, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V074000 · 340,000 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 titan, armada, and Infiniti QX56 vehicles. The instrument panel fuel gauge May inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel, typically about one quarter tank, when the fuel tank is empty.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE MAY INACCURATELY DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.

Risk: This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall on the highway, which could cause a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the fuel sender unit inside the fuel tank with a new improved sender card. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on March 22, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Equipment

Jun 27, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V284000 · 180,664 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling 180,664 my 2005-2006 titan, armada and infinity QX56 vehicles manufactured after March 17, 2005, that are equipped with a visteon air conditioning condenser fan motor. The fan motor May not be properly sealed allowing excessive water intrusion and inadequate drainage of moisture.

Original NHTSA wording

NISSAN IS RECALLING 180,664 MY 2005-2006 TITAN, ARMADA AND INFINITY QX56 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER MARCH 17, 2005, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A VISTEON AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER FAN MOTOR. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED ALLOWING EXCESSIVE WATER INTRUSION AND INADEQUATE DRAINAGE OF MOISTURE.

Risk: This could cause corrosion in the motor leading possibly to overheating and a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE CORROSION IN THE MOTOR LEADING POSSIBLY TO OVERHEATING AND A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a 'thermal protector kit' and test the air conditioning condenser fan motor and replace it if necessary. The recall began on August 2, 2008. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2005: 19 complaints20052006: 14 complaints2007: 12 complaints20072008: 14 complaints2009: 21 complaints20092010: 51 complaints512011: 40 complaints20112012: 27 complaints2013: 36 complaints20132014: 39 complaints2015: 28 complaints20152016: 20 complaints2017: 14 complaints20172018: 12 complaints2019: 7 complaints20192020: 5 complaints2021: 6 complaints20212022: 5 complaints2024: 3 complaints20243

NHTSA investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

PE08037 · opened May 30, 2008 · closed Aug 25, 2008 · led to recall 08V284000
Summary

ON MAY 30, 2008, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT SMOKE AND/OR FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005-2006 NISSAN ARMADA AND TITAN VEHICLES.BY LETTER DATED JUNE 24, 2008, NISSAN NOTIFIED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA #08V284) FOR MY2005-2006 NISSAN TITAN, ARMADA AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 17, 2005 TO AUGUST 21, 2006 THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 90-WATT AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER FAN.THE RECALL INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 180,664 VEHICLES.THIS ALSO INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 5,689 SUBJECT CONDENSER FANS, SOME OF WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN MY2004 AND PRE-MARCH 17, 2005 MY NISSAN TITAN, ARMADA OR INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES AS A SERVICE REPLACEMENT PART.NISSAN DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPECIAL THERMAL PROTECTOR KIT ON EXISTING FANS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE TO OCCUR.NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. (NISSAN) INFORMED ODI THAT THE 90-WATT AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER FAN WAS MANUFACTURED OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION ALLOWING FOR EXCESSIVE WATER INTRUSION AND INADEQUATE DRAINAGE OF MOISTURE THAT MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE MOTOR AS A RESULT OF WATER INTRUSION OR CONDENSATION.IF SUFFICIENT MOISTURE ACCUMULATES IN THE MOTOR WITHOUT ADEQUATE DRAINAGE, CORROSION MAY OCCUR.THE CORROSION CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN INTERNAL FRICTION AND AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT DRAW, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN…

SIDE AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT

PE08004 · opened Jan 25, 2008 · closed May 30, 2008
Summary

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS.ALL VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE AIR CURTAINS.INSTALLATION OF THE INCORRECT SRS DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT DOES NOT IMPAIR DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND SIDE AIR CURTAIN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.NO REPORTS OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR BY NHTSA.THE WARRANTY REPORTS CITED ABOVE REPRESENT VEHICLE INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED IN 32 OF THESE CASES.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS A TOTAL OF 151 SENSOR UNITS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ALL PURPOSES.INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A LOW INCIDENCE OF SENSOR REPLACEMENT REQUIRED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO DATE.NO INCIDENTS OF REAL WORLD NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT AIR BAGS WERE IDENTIFIED.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.

2005 vs. other Nissan Armada years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2005. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2005 Nissan Armada have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Nissan Armada, the latest from Oct 28, 2010 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Armada?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (218), fuel system (77), engine (40). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.