SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the driver is resting their left foot on the brake pedal while accelerating. Advise the customer not to rest their foot on the brake while accelerating. * Use CONSULT-III plus in Engine Data Monitor to check operation of the brake lamp circuit signal. Monitor the brake switch during the incident; it should be "OFF". Please see this bulletn for further details.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Nissan Quest powertrain problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Nissan Quest, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the transmission intermittently slips out of gear or into neutral while driving, with the engine revving but no power reaching the wheels. Some owners describe the vehicle behaving as if it's in Neutral despite the shift lever being in Drive, while others report complete loss of acceleration when pulling into traffic. The transmission often re-engages after restarting the engine, and no error codes appear to alert the driver to the problem. Dealers have tested vehicles and found nothing wrong, leaving owners stuck. One owner spent $3,000 rebuilding the transmission, only to have the issue persist. Transmission also exhibits hard engagement when shifting into Drive, accompanied by a whine noise, and rough shifting during normal operation with jerking in stop-and-go driving. Some vehicles roll backward on inclines or forward on declines despite being in gear—dealers called this normal and told owners to keep the brake covered. The 3.5L V6 engine shows signs of premature timing chain and valvetrain failure, a problem Nissan documented in a service bulletin back in 2004 but never fixed; it's now part of a class action lawsuit.
Same Nissan Quest powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission slipping out of gear / loss of power in drive
Transmission periodically drops into neutral or loses engagement while in drive, with no error codes detected. Vehicle feels as though it's in neutral with engine revving but no power to wheels. Restarting the engine often restores engagement. One owner reported rebuilding transmission but issue persisted. Another reported transmission 'neutralizing' and refusing to change gears.
When: Occurs intermittently while driving; one case reported at 114,342 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of acceleration when pulling into traffic; Engine revving but no power to wheels; Vehicle behaves as if in neutral despite shift lever in Drive; Intermittent loss of power at random intervals; Low power in forward gears, reverse seems normal; Missing gears and stalling
Repairs/costs cited: One owner spent $3,000 on transmission rebuild with no resolution; dealer found no error codes and awaited technical direction from Nissan
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claimed no error codes present; told owner to cover brake as if vehicle were manual transmission; Nissan had two lawsuits filed against them for premature transmission malfunction but refused to fix the issue
Hard transmission engagement and whine noise
5-speed automatic transmission hesitates when shifted into Drive, then engages with a hard bang. Transmission emits low volume whine when in motion.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation before engaging into Drive; Hard bang when transmission engages; Low volume whine while in motion
Rough shifting and jerking during operation
Transmission exhibits rough shifting during both upshifting and downshifting. Vehicle jerks hard when put in gear or during stop-and-go driving, and sometimes refuses to engage.
Symptoms owners cite: Rough shifting during upshift and downshift; Hard jerking when put in gear; Hard jerking during stop-and-go driving; Intermittent refusal to engage
Vehicle movement while in gear without acceleration
Vehicle rolls backward when on an incline in Drive with foot off brake, and rolls forward when on a decline in Reverse with foot off brake. Dealership claimed this was normal for an automatic transmission and advised owner to keep foot on brake as if vehicle were manual.
When: Occurred 1-2 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Backward roll on incline in Drive with foot off brake; Forward roll on decline in Reverse with foot off brake
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claimed behavior was normal and advised owner to cover brake as if vehicle had manual transmission
Complete loss of electrical power while driving
Vehicle lost all electrical power while driving in traffic. Would start with jump but shortly after would die completely. Diagnosed and repaired as alternator failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of electrical power while driving; Engine dies shortly after jump start
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced by dealer
Timing chain and valvetrain noise indicating premature failure
Noise, vibration, and sounds indicating imminent failure of timing chain and/or valvetrain components in the 3.5L V6 engine. Nissan addressed this issue in a 2004 service bulletin but failed to remedy the defect. Problem is subject of class action lawsuit.
Symptoms owners cite: Noise indicating imminent failure; Vibration in valvetrain; Sounds indicating premature timing chain failure
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced timing chain in December 2015
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued a service bulletin in 2004 but failed to remedy the defect; currently subject of class action lawsuit
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The transmission on my 2005 Nissan quest went out while on vacation in north carolina from out of state in june of 2015. Just replaced the timing chain today 12/16/15 am losing faith on nissans reliability.
5-speed automatic transmission, when shift lever is moved into the drive position there is a hesitation and then the transmission engages into drive with a hard bang. The transmission also emits a low volume whine when the car is in motion. *tr
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.
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2005 Nissan Quest?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 92,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 114,342. A quarter of owners report trouble before 92,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.