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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Nissan Quest engine problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Nissan Quest in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION After ECM reprogramming, the Calibration Verification Number (CVN) needs to be automatically calculated prior to State emissions testing (also known as Inspection Maintainence, I/M, or SMOG testing depending upon location). Allowing the vehicle to idle for 22 minutes will allow for faster CVN calculation. It is recommended that customers utilize this method if the vehicle needs to be tested for emissions soon after ECM reprogramming. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: REVISED VQ35 ENGINE TIMING CHAIN PROCEDURES. REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR THE VQ35 ENGINE FRONT TIMING CHAIN CASE AND TIMING CHAINS (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY) HAVE BEE UPDATED TO NO LONGER REQUIRE REMOVAL OF ROCKER COVERS AND INTAKE COLLECTOR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: THE MIL IS ON AND CODE P1402 EGR OPEN IS STORED IN THE ECM. INSPECT THE EGR VALVE FOR METALLIC DEBRIS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant failure here is a design defect in the Teflon-based plastic timing chain guides and tensioners used in the VQ35 engine. Owners describe it starting as a subtle tapping noise a couple years into ownership, then progressively worsening to loud rattling and banging—especially at startup and idle. The guides degrade and lose tension, letting the timing chain develop slack. This slack causes the chain to bang inside the engine, rattle against guides, and eventually skip or jump teeth on the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets. The result: check engine light, no start, stalling at highway speed, power loss, misfires, and backfires.
The kicker: this typically hits between 51,000 and 120,000 miles, placing most failures outside factory warranty. Dealers quote $1,700–$2,200 to replace guides and often advise against driving the vehicle because a broken chain could cause sudden shutdown or engine damage. Nissan issued a 2004 TSB instructing dealers to approve "goodwill adjustments" that delayed repairs until warranty expired. Owners report Nissan Consumer Affairs denies all warranty claims for this defect. The same engine appears in Maxima, Altima, and X-Terra models with identical failures, yet no recall has been issued.
Less commonly reported: engine stalls from crank position sensor failure, and ECM corrosion under the wiper area leading to loss of engine control.
Same Nissan Quest engine reports on nearby years: 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain guide degradation and slack
The Teflon-based plastic timing chain guides prematurely wear and degrade, causing the timing chain to lose tension. This creates audible rattling, tapping, or banging noise, particularly at startup and during idle. As the guides break down, slack develops in the timing chain, which can cause the chain to jump teeth or slip, throwing off engine timing and preventing the engine from starting or running. In advanced stages, the chain can wear or break prematurely, risking sudden engine shutdown at highway speeds.
When: Typically between 51,000–120,000 miles; some owners reported tapping beginning after 2–3 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Subtle to loud tapping, ticking, rattling, or banging noise from engine, especially at startup and idle; Check engine light illumination; Engine will not start or stalls without warning while driving; Loss of power, hesitation at acceleration and on hills; Misfires and backfires
Codes mentioned: Timing-related codes (unspecified by owners), Check engine light (cause confirmed as timing chain issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quoted $1,700–$2,200 for timing chain guide replacement; Nissan later redesigned the replacement guide part, confirming design flaw awareness; one owner had repair performed and reported recurrence of problems
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2004 Nissan TSB instructed technicians to issue 'goodwill adjustments' delaying repairs until vehicle was out of warranty; Nissan Consumer Affairs refused coverage citing out-of-warranty status; similar engine (VQ35) used in Maxima, Altima, and X-Terra with same defect; no recall issued despite known design flaw
Engine stall—crank position sensor failure
Engine stalls without warning during driving, occurring multiple times. Independent mechanic diagnosed a failing crank position sensor and performed replacement; no indication the sensor is related to the timing chain issue but appears as a distinct failure mode in the complaint set.
When: Mileage and timing unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving at various speeds; Multiple stall events
Repairs/costs cited: Crank position sensor replacement performed by independent mechanic
Engine control module corrosion and moisture intrusion
The engine control module (ECM) mounted under the wiper area becomes wet, corrodes, and causes loss of vehicle control. One owner reported the dealer blamed rats for damage to the CPU (likely the same component); after replacement, service engine light returned.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stops while driving; Service engine light illuminates; Loss of vehicle control (owner's report); Recurring fault after dealer CPU replacement
Codes mentioned: Service engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced CPU; owner skeptical of 'rat damage' explanation and suspects corrosion/moisture as root cause
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2005 Nissan Quest?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2005 Nissan Quest?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 47,000 and 121,000 miles, with the median around 85,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 121,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Nissan/Quest.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.