CarBrief

NHTSA has 373 owner complaints on file for the 2005 Armada, more than for any other Armada model year[1][2]. Brakes lead the list, Brakes lead the list, and each recall has a dealer remedy listed[3][4][5][6]..

373owner complaints[1]
3recalls[2]
14MPG combined (EPA)[7]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 373 complaints with NHTSA for this model year[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several parts. Here are the component groups with the most complaints.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Brakes[3] 210 67,100
Fuel/propulsion system[8] 43 121,217
Engine[9] 40 90,000
Air bags[10] 34 67,000
Fuel system, gasoline[11] 24 110,000
Electrical system[12] 24 90,700

Brakes. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe the steering wheel or pedal shaking when they brake, often early in the vehicle's life. Some say they were told the rotors had warped, or that a fix or parts were still to come. We saw this in 10 of 12 brake texts, and a few of those texts were repeats[3]. Four crashes and 1 injury are tied to the brake group[3].

Fuel and propulsion. Owners in our sample describe a fuel gauge that showed fuel when the tank was empty, and the SUV then stalled. We saw a gauge or fuel sender complaint in 11 of 12 texts[8]. This matches the fuel gauge recall below[5].

Engine. Some owners describe the engine stalling or shutting off while driving, which we saw in 6 of 12 texts[9]. A few describe a hole in the radiator, which we saw in 3 of 12[9].

Air bags. Owners describe the air bag warning light staying on or coming back after repairs, which we saw in 8 of 12 texts[10]. The air bag group has 3 crashes and 3 injuries[10].

Electrical. The electrical group has 24 complaints, including 5 fires[12]. We did not read a sample of these texts, so we cannot say what owners describe.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year[2]. All three list a dealer remedy. Two of them, 10V517 and 10V074, say it is free[4][5][6].

Some owners in our complaint sample said they were told their vehicle was not included in the fuel gauge recall[8]. To be sure, ask a Nissan dealer to check your VIN for open recalls.

Fuel economy

EPA rates both versions at 14 MPG combined[7][13]. Both have a 5.6L 8-cylinder engine, an Automatic 5-spd transmission and use regular fuel[7][13].

Version City Highway Combined Annual fuel cost
Armada 2WD[7] 12 18 14 $4,800
Armada 4WD[13] 12 17 14 $4,800

The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the SUV was new[7][13].

How 2005 compares with other years

2005: 373 complaints, 3 recalls37320052006: 266 complaints, 3 recalls2007: 86 complaints, 2 recalls20072008: 161 complaints, 6 recalls2009: 23 complaints, 3 recalls20092010: 48 complaints, 4 recalls2011: 40 complaints, 1 recalls20112012: 17 complaints, 1 recalls2013: 17 complaints, 2 recalls20132014: 12 complaints, 1 recalls2015: 21 complaints, 3 recalls20152017: 81 complaints, 0 recalls2018: 75 complaints, 1 recalls20182019: 79 complaints, 1 recalls2020: 27 complaints, 2 recalls20202021: 13 complaints, 2 recalls2022: 9 complaints, 1 recalls20222023: 5 complaints, 1 recalls2024: 4 complaints, 1 recalls20242025: 21 complaints, 2 recalls2026: 9 complaints, 2 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Armada model year. The 2005 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20053733
20062663
2007862
20081616
2009233
2010484
2011401
2012171
2013172
2014121
2015213
2017810
2018751
2019791
2020272
2021132
202291
202351
202441
2025212
202692

The 2005 model year has the most complaints of any Armada year in NHTSA's list, with 373[2]. The 2006 year is next with 266, then 2008 with 161 and 2007 with 86[2]. Every year after 2008 has fewer than 100 complaints[2].

Recalls are a different story. The 2008 year has 6 recalls and 2010 has 4, while 2005 has 3[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide[2].

Should you buy a used 2005 Armada?

The 2005 Armada has a heavy complaint record, led by brake shake and followed by fuel gauge, engine stalling and air bag light reports[1][3][8][9][10]. All three recalls list a dealer remedy, so ask for proof they were done on any SUV you consider[4][5][6]. Fuel use is 14 MPG combined and $4,800 a year by EPA's estimate[7][13]. Complaints are unverified and small samples can mislead, so a careful inspection and a VIN recall check matter more than any single number.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Armada?
Brakes have the most complaints, 210 of 373[1][3]. Fuel/propulsion has 43, engine 40 and air bags 34[8][9][10].
Does the 2005 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3: engine relay (10V517), fuel gauge (10V074) and A/C fan motor (08V284)[4][5][6][2]. Each lists a dealer remedy, and two say it is free of charge[4][5][6].
What is the gas mileage of a 2005 Nissan Armada?
EPA rates it at 14 MPG combined for 2WD and 4WD, with 12 city and 18 or 17 highway[7][13].
Does the 2005 Armada have the most complaints of any Armada year?
It has the most complaints of any Armada year at 373, ahead of 2006 at 266[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 373 owner complaints on file for the 2005 Nissan Armada (8 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 7 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Armada model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. 210 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,100). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. Recall 10V517, filed October 28, 2010: Engine And Engine Cooling. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 10V074, filed March 3, 2010: Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 08V284, filed June 27, 2008: Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner. NHTSA recall database
  7. EPA rating for Armada 2WD, 5.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 18 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  8. 43 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 121,217). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 40 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 34 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 24 complaints name the fuel system, gasoline component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 110,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 24 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,700). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Armada 4WD, 5.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.