IllustrationFUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ FUEL LEVEL ANYMORE. SPOKE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT (OR SENSOR UNIT) THAT HAD GONE BAD. APPARENTLY THERE WAS BEEN A LOT OF THIS HAPPENING IN XTERRA'S. *TR
2006 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xterra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
380–25K
13625–50K
14750–75K
14775–100K
191100–150K
61150K+
720 reports with mileage · 60 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 268 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 237 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
237 reportsFUEL SENDING UNIT #25060-ZZOOA FOR NISSAN XTERRA FAULTY, SENDS INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT FUEL LEVELS. SUBJECT TO RECALL ON CERTAIN VIN#, BUT MANY MORE ARE AFFECTED. *TR
2006 NISSAN XTERRA OFF ROAD, GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING JUST OVER 30,000 (WARRANTY RAN OUT), WOULD FILL GAS TANK AND GAUGE WOULD NOT REFLECT FILLING. SOMETIME NEEDLE WOULD MOVE TO FULL FOR A WHILE, THEN DROP TO EMPTY WITHOUT NOTICE. NO WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF MILEAGE. HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS 4 TIMES. *TR
AFTER FILLING TANK WITH GAS COMPLETELY, FUEL GAUGE STILL READS 1/4 FULL. THIS HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED. *TR
MY FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. THE GAS GAUGE IS SHOWING MORE GAS THAN THERE IS IN THE TANK, THEN I WON'T "REFILL" WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED UP. THE TRUCK ALSO HAS A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH THE CODE P0463 WHICH IS RELATED TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT. THIS SITUATION COULD LEAVE ME TO STALL OUT DUE TO A LACK OF GAS WHEN THE SENSO…
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MY FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. THE GAS GAUGE IS SHOWING MORE GAS THAN THERE IS IN THE TANK, THEN I WON'T "REFILL" WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED UP. THE TRUCK ALSO HAS A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH THE CODE P0463 WHICH IS RELATED TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT. THIS SITUATION COULD LEAVE ME TO STALL OUT DUE TO A LACK OF GAS WHEN THE SENSOR IS SHOWING GAS IN THE TANK. *TR
MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA HAS A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, MY FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED FULL. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT SHOW A LOWER FUEL LEVEL. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE EMPTY INDICATING LIGHT TURNED ON. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN 100 …
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MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA HAS A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM. AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, MY FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED FULL. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT SHOW A LOWER FUEL LEVEL. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPPED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY AND THE EMPTY INDICATING LIGHT TURNED ON. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN 100 MILES SO I KNEW THAT THE TANK WAS NOT EMPTY. A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT MAY BE AT FAULT. (MY DAUGHTER OWNS A HONDA ELEMENT AND SHE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HER FUEL GAUGE AND HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY.) I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND MUST USE THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER TO CANCEL THE "SERVICE CAR" LIGHT. MY CODE READER SAYS THAT THE FUEL TANK LEVEL SENSOR IS THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS JUST RUN PAST ITS WARRANTY PERIOD SO COSTLY REPAIRS WILL RESULT WHEN I GET THE CAR REPAIRED. COULD IT BE THAT THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNITS WITHIN THE FUEL TANK WERE MANUFACTURED BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER (JAPANESE)? I READ AN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE STATING THAT NISSAN WAS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS FUEL TANK PROBLEM BUT THEIR REPLY TO MY EMAIL WAS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FORTH COMING. *TR
NAME: [XXX]. VEHICLE: NISSAN XTERRA, 2006, VIN [XXX]. FUEL TANK LEVEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ERRATIC READING AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH TOTAL CHARGES OF $377.93 (INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES). I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS GAUGE IS REPLACED BY THE MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A…
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NAME: [XXX]. VEHICLE: NISSAN XTERRA, 2006, VIN [XXX]. FUEL TANK LEVEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ERRATIC READING AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITH TOTAL CHARGES OF $377.93 (INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES). I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS GAUGE IS REPLACED BY THE MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE FUEL INDICATOR WOULD DISPLAY EMPTY FUEL LEVELS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, THE FUEL INDICATOR WOULD DISPLAY EMPTY FUEL LEVELS. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILIARY TANK) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING, SUDDEN ONSET AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE. *TR
1. MALFUNCTIONING PART THAT NISSAN IS FULLY AWARE OF (ISSUED A RECALL OF FUEL SENDING UNIT OF SEVERAL SUV'S INCLUDING THE XTERRA) BUT OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ARE NOT GETTING REPLACEMENTS COVERED BY NISSAN. 2. OCCURS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT NOW; FUEL GAUGE REPORTING ERRATIC, NEEDLE …
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1. MALFUNCTIONING PART THAT NISSAN IS FULLY AWARE OF (ISSUED A RECALL OF FUEL SENDING UNIT OF SEVERAL SUV'S INCLUDING THE XTERRA) BUT OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES BUT NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ARE NOT GETTING REPLACEMENTS COVERED BY NISSAN. 2. OCCURS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT NOW; FUEL GAUGE REPORTING ERRATIC, NEEDLE RANDOMLY MOVES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. 3. AS OF RIGHT NOW, A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED WITH NISSAN CORP, TO WHICH THEY DO NOT RESPOND, OR SEEM TO HAVE ANY INTENTION FOR REPLACING OR REIMBURSING THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE DOCUMENTED FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. I HAVE NOT PURCHASED A NEW UNIT TO THIS DATE. *TR
Official recalls
310V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 28, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
10V075000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank
Mar 3, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS A MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.