2005 Nissan Frontier

small pickup / Extended cab pickup

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Moderate overlap front: original test
Head restraints & seats

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2005-12 models

Tested vehicle: 2008 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab

The Nissan Frontier Crew Cab and King Cab were redesigned for the 2005 model year and are significantly larger and heavier than previous models. The Suzuki Equator Crew Cab and Extended Cab were introduced in the 2009 model year. Two tests of the Frontier were conducted, one by the Institute of a 2wd King Cab and the other by Nissan of a 2wd Crew Cab as part of frontal crash test verification. The overall rating of Good is based on review of both tests, which independently result in overall ratings of Good. The ratings and vehicle specifications based on Nissan's test are shown below because the 2wd Crew Cab is similar to the configuration of other pickups tested more recently.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the Institute's frontal offset crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well (Institute test vehicle shown).

Dummy movement was well controlled in both tests. During rebound, the dummy's head hit only the head restraint.

In both tests, forces on the left knee and the right lower leg were high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries (Institute test shown).

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF0504 VTF0812
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 11 12
Left (cm) 12 13
Center (cm) 14 15
Right (cm) 12 13
Brake pedal (cm) 7 6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1 0
Right (cm) 1 -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 4 3
Rearward (cm) 0 1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 2 3

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF0504 VTF0812
Head
HIC-15 255 252
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 21 19
Maximum Nij 0.25 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34 35
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.4 2.0
Femur force - right (kN) 0.0 1.0
Knee displacement - left (mm) 13 14
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.95 1.05
Maximum tibia index - right 0.35 0.58
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.4 3.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 4.3 4.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 111 140
Right 117 162

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Seats without adjustable lumbar AHR

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Seats without adjustable lumbar AHR
Geometry
Backset (mm) 80
Distance below top of head (mm) 50
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Fail
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.8
Head contact time (ms) 81
Force rating 3
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 195
Max neck tension (N) 876

Seat type: Seats with adjustable lumbar AHR

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Seats with adjustable lumbar AHR
Geometry
Backset (mm) 65
Distance below top of head (mm) 58
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Fail
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.3
Head contact time (ms) 73
Force rating 3
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 302
Max neck tension (N) 1,477

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.