IllustrationCAR RANDOMLY WILL SHUT OFF
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
26 reportsRADIATOR CRACKED AT 91,000 MILES CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. $3800 COST TO REPAIR
RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION . MY TRUCK IS NOW SITTING AT AAMCO WITH 5200 DOLLARS WORTH OF TRANSMISSION RADIATOR AND COMPUTER BOARD DAMAGE.
I BOUGHT MY XTERRA IN SEPT. 2014 AND JUST THIS LAST MONTH. NOT EVEN PUTTING 20,000 MILES ON IT AND STILL HAVE A LOAN ON IT HAD TO PUT 4700 INTO IT BECAUSE OF THE RADIATOR FLUID RUNNING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS GOING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND IT STARTS JERKING ON ME AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 20 MILE…
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I BOUGHT MY XTERRA IN SEPT. 2014 AND JUST THIS LAST MONTH. NOT EVEN PUTTING 20,000 MILES ON IT AND STILL HAVE A LOAN ON IT HAD TO PUT 4700 INTO IT BECAUSE OF THE RADIATOR FLUID RUNNING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS GOING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND IT STARTS JERKING ON ME AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 20 MILES AN HOUR. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN A ACCIDENT WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS. WHAT I HAVE READ FROM OTHER PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT. DON'T YOU THINK NISSAN WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THEIR MISTAKES!
I WAS DRIVING NISSAN XTERRA ON THE BUSY STREET AND SUDDENLY I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND TRIED TO GO AWAY FROM THE CAR. I WAS SCARED IT WILL BLOW UP. AFTER FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE STOPPED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED TOWING AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS TRANSMI…
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I WAS DRIVING NISSAN XTERRA ON THE BUSY STREET AND SUDDENLY I NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND TRIED TO GO AWAY FROM THE CAR. I WAS SCARED IT WILL BLOW UP. AFTER FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE STOPPED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED TOWING AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WAS TRULY HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
THE SOURCE OF THE CONTAMINATION IS A CRACKED ATF LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH AN ENGINE COOLANT CHAMBER IN THE RADIATOR. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION.
TRANSMISSION FALIURE DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM OF THE OIL COOLER LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $3300. WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM!
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015, WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA, ON A SPEED LIMIT OF 55, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TRANSMISSION WONT ENGAGED WHILE ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL, RPM WAS GOING TO THE HIGHER NUMBER/RED ZONE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE FASTER UP TO THE NOTED SPEED LIMIT. WHEN WE STOP AT THE LIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS TURN GRE…
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ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015, WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA, ON A SPEED LIMIT OF 55, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TRANSMISSION WONT ENGAGED WHILE ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL, RPM WAS GOING TO THE HIGHER NUMBER/RED ZONE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE FASTER UP TO THE NOTED SPEED LIMIT. WHEN WE STOP AT THE LIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS TURN GREEN, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND MAKE LOUD NOISE AND RPM GOING HIGHER TO THE RED ZONE NUMBERS. THIS CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND US BACK UP BECAUSE OF SPEED TOO SLOW IN A 55-MILE PER HOUR SPEED. I WAS AFRAID IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 200-MILE TRAVEL FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA. I READ THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN VEHICLES ABOUT RADIRATOR WATER LEAKS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING THE PRICE TRANSMISSION EXPERTS, THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE COST TO REPAIR WILL COST $4,400.00 I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NISSAN PAY THE REPAIR COST.
RADIATOR FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RADIATOR. CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. NEED TO REPLACE BOTH NOW BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN ADF LINE.
MY CAR WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER TO INSPECT IT AN FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AN OR RECALL. AS SEARCHED ONLINE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS, AND THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS AN…
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MY CAR WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER TO INSPECT IT AN FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AN OR RECALL. AS SEARCHED ONLINE FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARS, AND THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS AND NEVER REVEALED IT TO THE PUBLIC OR HAD A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD FALL ONTO THE CONSUMER.( THIS PERTAINS TO THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN AND OTHER ASSOC. PARTS)
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.