IllustrationI HAVE 2006 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAS THE "SES" LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY. I HAVE CHANGED THE GAS CAP. THE LIGHT WENT OUT BUT RECENTLY CAME BACK ON, I HAVE 54K MILES AND NOW THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. *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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD FAILED. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK) THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD FAILED. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK) THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE READING INACCURATE GASOLINE FUEL LEVELS. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK) BUT WAS TOLD HIS VIN WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE READING INACCURATE GASOLINE FUEL LEVELS. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK) BUT WAS TOLD HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
I HAVE A 2006 XTERRA SE WITH 67000 MILES THAT IS GIVING ME A ERROR CODE OF P0463 FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. I FILED A COMPLAINT TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT THEY DECLINE THE REPAIR. THE ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY XTERRA IS FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON IS ON. BELOW ARE SOME LINKS OF OTHER NISSAN CUSTOMERS…
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I HAVE A 2006 XTERRA SE WITH 67000 MILES THAT IS GIVING ME A ERROR CODE OF P0463 FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. I FILED A COMPLAINT TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT THEY DECLINE THE REPAIR. THE ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY XTERRA IS FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON IS ON. BELOW ARE SOME LINKS OF OTHER NISSAN CUSTOMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE: HTTP://X.NISSANHELP.COM/FORUMS/XTERRA/4151-FUEL-GAUGE-PROBLEM-SEVICE-ENGINE-SOON-LIGHT-10.HTML HTTP://WWW.CLUBXTERRA.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=10923 HTTP://WWW.THENEWX.ORG/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=4454 HTTP://WWW.CLUBFRONTIER.ORG/FORUMS/F23/P0463-CODE-57501/ I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY RISK NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
2006 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL SENDING UNIT ERROR/FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD READ INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WOULD READ THE FUEL TANK AS EMPTY WHEN IT WAS FULL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000 COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD READ INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WOULD READ THE FUEL TANK AS EMPTY WHEN IT WAS FULL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V075000 COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF
I FILL MY GAS TANK, THE GAUGE FALLS TO THE BOTTOM AND THE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN SHORTLY THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A RECALL BUT ONLY TO A RANGE OF VIN'S AND UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT IN THIS RANGE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 10V075000. THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN…
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I FILL MY GAS TANK, THE GAUGE FALLS TO THE BOTTOM AND THE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN SHORTLY THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A RECALL BUT ONLY TO A RANGE OF VIN'S AND UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT IN THIS RANGE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 10V075000. THE SYMPTOMS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THIS CAMP. ID NUMBER. *TR
2006 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL GAUGE MISREADS CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK (I CURRENTLY HAVE A FULL TANK AND IT READS EMPTY ON THE GAUGE) THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME I FILLED MY TANK, WHICH IS OFTEN BECAUSE I COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES A DAY. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN BECAUSE THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNI…
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2006 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL GAUGE MISREADS CURRENT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK (I CURRENTLY HAVE A FULL TANK AND IT READS EMPTY ON THE GAUGE) THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME I FILLED MY TANK, WHICH IS OFTEN BECAUSE I COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES A DAY. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN BECAUSE THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, WHICH THEY ADMIT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS, HOWEVER MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA IS NOT IN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL MEANT FOR 2006 XTERRAS, CAUSING ME TO PAY FOR THE UNIT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET, WHICH IS ROUGHLY $400. I SEE THIS AS A PROBLEM SINCE I CANNOT HAVE AN ACCURATE READING ON MY FUEL GAUGE, IT MAY CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC. THERE ARE MANY OTHER NISSANS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TWO WEEKS AFTER NISSAN DEALER DID A 60K SERVICE IN MY 2006 XTERRA THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPPED UP WHILE DRIVING AND MY GAS GAUGE WENT FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND BACK IN RAPID SUCCESSION WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING MAJOR DISTRACTION. THE ODB CODE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS P0463. *TR
1. I FILLED MY GAS TANK, THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. 2. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY TANK READS AS EMPTY AND THE SES LIGHT IS ON, EVEN THOUGH A FULL TANK. 3. NISSAN HAS A RECALL ON MY TYPE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM (FUEL SYSTEM). BUT MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL; EVEN THOUGH …
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1. I FILLED MY GAS TANK, THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. 2. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY TANK READS AS EMPTY AND THE SES LIGHT IS ON, EVEN THOUGH A FULL TANK. 3. NISSAN HAS A RECALL ON MY TYPE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM (FUEL SYSTEM). BUT MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL; EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT YEAR AND TYPE IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED. *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.