2005 Nissan Frontier Key Replacement in Los Angeles

The 2005–2021 Frontier uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Nissan Frontier key guide.

2005 Nissan Frontier: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

One long D40 generation: bladed NI04T ID46 key and keyed ignition throughout.

What key does a 2005 Frontier use?

The 2005 Frontier is part of Nissan's long D40 generation, and across that whole run the setup is the same: a bladed key, listed as NI04T, with a transponder chip inside the plastic head, turning a traditional keyed ignition. There is no push-to-start on this truck and no key card to deal with.

The chip family is ID46, which is a Philips Hitag-2 chip. That matters because the truck's immobilizer looks for the chip's code when you turn the key. If the blade is cut correctly but the chip has not been programmed to the truck, the key will turn in the ignition and the engine still will not start. The same is true of a copy cut at a hardware store with no chip in it. It may open the door and feel perfect in the cylinder, but it will not run the truck.

Keys on this vehicle also come with a mechanical blade that does the physical work in the locks. If your key head is cracked, the buttons on a remote have stopped responding, or the battery in the remote is dead, those are separate problems from the chip, and it helps to tell us which one you have when you call.

Key type: transponder key with a bladed NI04T profile
Chip: ID46 (Philips Hitag-2)
Ignition: keyed, not push-button
Programming method: through the OBD port, with no NASTF/SDRM secure-access registration needed

Duplicate key or all keys lost: how each works

These are two different jobs on this truck, and the first one is the easier one.

If you still have a working key, we can duplicate it. For the 2005 Frontier, an original key needs to be present for a straightforward copy. We cut the blade, then program the new chip to the truck through the OBD port. Having a spare made while you still own a working key is the lighter-cost way to handle this, because nothing has to be reconstructed from scratch.

If every key is gone, we can still make a new one. All-keys-lost is possible on this setup. We cut a blade to the vehicle's lock, prepare a new ID46 key, and program it to the truck. It involves more steps and more time than a duplicate, but it does not require towing the truck to a dealer in most cases, because we come to you with the van or you can come to our Westwood storefront if the truck is drivable some other way.

Tell us the year, model and what happened: lost, broken, stolen, or worn out.
We confirm the key and chip against your VIN and the truck itself.
We cut the blade to the ignition and door locks.
We program the new transponder to the truck through the OBD port.
You test the key in the door, the ignition and any remote buttons before we finish.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a replacement key?

We don't quote numbers in a web page, because the job decides the cost, not the model year alone. Here is what actually moves it on a 2005 Frontier:

Duplicate versus all keys lost. A copy from a working original is usually the more economical route; building a key from nothing takes more labor.
Whether you want a plain key or one with remote buttons. Remote functions are a separate item from the chip.
The condition of the locks. On high-mileage trucks, worn ignition wafers and a worn key blade can make a new key feel loose or stick, and that can add work.
Where the truck is. A van visit to a driveway or parking lot is a different job from a drive to the shop on Wilshire.
Time of day. We answer the phone around the clock, and after-hours calls take more of our schedule than daytime ones.

What is confirmed and what we still check by VIN

The chip family, the key type, the OBD programming method and the keyed ignition are all verified for this model year. Still, we confirm by VIN and in person before cutting anything. A truck that is twenty years old may have had a lock cylinder or ignition swapped, or may carry a remote that is different from the original. If anything on your truck does not match what we expect, we say so before we start rather than after.

Common problems we see on this truck are worn ignition wafers and blades on high-mileage examples, cracked key shells, broken remote buttons, and dead remote batteries. Sometimes the fix is a new shell or a battery and not a new key at all, and we will tell you that if it is the case. For more on the model across years, see our Nissan Frontier key guide or the wider Nissan key replacement page.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for this truck

We have been in business since 1987 and work from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile vans that cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The person you reach is at our company, not a dispatch middleman, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.

California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start. Our license number is being added to this site. You can see other models on our car keys hub, or contact us with your truck's details and we will tell you what the job involves.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2005 Nissan Frontier have a transponder key?

Yes. It uses a bladed NI04T key with an ID46 (Philips Hitag-2) transponder chip. The chip must be programmed to the truck or the engine will not start.

Can you make a Frontier key if I lost all of them?

Yes. All-keys-lost is possible on this truck. We cut a new blade, prepare an ID46 key, and program it to the truck through the OBD port.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

For a straightforward duplicate, yes, an original key needs to be present. If you have no working key, we handle it as an all-keys-lost job instead.

Will a hardware-store copy start my truck?

No. A copy cut without a transponder chip may turn in the lock and ignition but will not start the engine, because the immobilizer does not see the right chip code.

Is this a push-to-start truck?

No. The 2005 Frontier has a keyed ignition. There is no push-button start and no smart key.

Do I need a dealer for programming?

Not for this truck. Programming is done through the OBD port, and no NASTF/SDRM secure-access registration is required, so we can do it at our shop or where the truck is parked.

My key works but the remote buttons do not. Do I need a new key?

Not always. Cracked shells, broken buttons and dead remote batteries are common on this truck, and sometimes a battery or shell replacement solves it. We check before recommending a new key.

How do I reach you?

Call (213) 577-1366, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use our contact page.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.