IllustrationMY TRANSMISSION FAILED BE CAUSE OF WATER ENTERING THROUGH THE COOLING SYSTEM ACCOUNT IT IS CONNECTED TO RADIATOR THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR SOME TIME. *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
What owners actually said
780 reportsTRANSMISSION, RADIATOR PROBLEMS. CAR IS A LEMON. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM THE MALL WHEN I HEARD MY FAN/BELT START TO SQUEAL. NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT I KEPT ON DRIVING NEXT THING I KNOW I'M PRESSING HARDER ON MY GAS PEDDLE JUST TO GO FASTER. MY RPMS WHERE GOING TO HIGH AND I WAS ONLY GOING 65. I WAS ON THE HIGH WHEN THIS HAPPEN SO I DIDN'T NOTICE TILL I HAD TO GO UP A BRI…
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I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM THE MALL WHEN I HEARD MY FAN/BELT START TO SQUEAL. NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT I KEPT ON DRIVING NEXT THING I KNOW I'M PRESSING HARDER ON MY GAS PEDDLE JUST TO GO FASTER. MY RPMS WHERE GOING TO HIGH AND I WAS ONLY GOING 65. I WAS ON THE HIGH WHEN THIS HAPPEN SO I DIDN'T NOTICE TILL I HAD TO GO UP A BRIDGE AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY NOTICE MY ENGINE STRUGGLING TO GET POWER, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DOING A LOT WHEN IT REALLY WASN'T. I KNEW I HAD TO GO TO THE MECHANIC TO GET IT LOOKED AT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A LOSE BOLT. NEXT THING I'M DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR WAS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT WASN'T GOING INTO GEAR IN DRIVE, SO I TRIED 3 GEAR STILL NOTHING SO I WENT TO 2 AND IT STUCK. I PARKED IT ON A SIDE STREET IN OCEAN CITY AND CALLED TRIP A AND HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN OF ATLANTIC CITY TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. COUPLE DAYS LATER THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME MY RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND MESSED ALL THE GEARS UP. AFTER HEARING THAT I LOOKED UP THAT PROBLEM ON XTERRAS APPARENTLY THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF SUCH PROBLEMS BY THE DEALER AND APPARENTLY NISSAN WANT REIMBURSE ME SO I'M OUT 7,500 BECAUSE MY NISSAN IS SITTING IN MY BACK YARD. *TR
TIMING CHAINS ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. REPAIR COST $985. CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING. REPAIR COST $590. *TR
RADIATOR, WHICH WAS RECALLED AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT, CRACKED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *TR
THESE VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE A SAFETY FLAW. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL IS SUCH THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS (HENDERSON, NEVADA AND BOISE, IDAHO) INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD IN BOTH …
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THESE VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE A SAFETY FLAW. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL IS SUCH THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS (HENDERSON, NEVADA AND BOISE, IDAHO) INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD IN BOTH CASES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...ITS THE WAY THE AUTOMOBILE WAS MANUFACTURED. DURING MY LAST DEALER INSPECTION IN BOISE, IDAHO THE MECHANIC BROUGHT A NEW 2015 MODEL INTO THE GARAGE AND PUT THE TWO CARS SIDE BY SIDE. THE DIFFERENCE IN BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/8 OF AN INCH, SO THE PROBLEM HAS EVIDENTLY NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. TODAY, MY VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE BRAKING. IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT ONE'S FOOT IS CENTERED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; IF YOUR FOOT IS OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE JUST A LITTLE, THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE DEPRESSED WHILE BRAKING CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE HAD MANY VERY CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOTAL LOSS OF ABILITY REGARDING STEERING AND BRAKING WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE IGNITION KEY LOCK SWITCH FUNCTIONS BECOME UNRESPONSIVE FOLLOWING THE STALLING ENGINE. MEANING THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REMAIN ON. *TR
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AGAINST NISSAN FROM OTHERS CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED BECAUSE SO MANY CUSTOMERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE ISSUE, THE…
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TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AGAINST NISSAN FROM OTHERS CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED BECAUSE SO MANY CUSTOMERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS CLOSED AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME IN GETTING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE COST TO FIX THE VEHICLE IS OVER $4,000.00. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE NOT READING PROPERLY AND IN FACT THE GAUGE MAY ALSO SHOW THE STEADY AMBER LIGHT INDICATING THERE IS NO GAS IN THE TANK, WHEN IT IS A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FOUND METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE NISSAN DEALER. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHAFT HAVING TROUBLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT W…
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THE GAS GAUGE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE NOT READING PROPERLY AND IN FACT THE GAUGE MAY ALSO SHOW THE STEADY AMBER LIGHT INDICATING THERE IS NO GAS IN THE TANK, WHEN IT IS A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FOUND METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE NISSAN DEALER. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHAFT HAVING TROUBLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC PIN THAT BROKE AND THERE WILL BE NO EFFECT ON THE STEERING. SO I HAD BROUGHT IT BACK AFTER 4 YEARS OF DEALING WITH LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. INVOICE 284857 FROM THE VALLEY HI NISSAN TAG [XXX] WAS REPAIRED 03 APRIL 2015. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL SINCE I FOUND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM MIDAS MECHANIC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ON THE LOCAL STREET AND THE SLIP SENSOR LIGHT AND VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THAT'S IT, FINISHED AT 49K MILES DOA. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS GARAGED. RADIATOR CRACKED LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION NICE TRUCK, SORRY TO HAVE TO LET N…
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I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ON THE LOCAL STREET AND THE SLIP SENSOR LIGHT AND VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THAT'S IT, FINISHED AT 49K MILES DOA. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS GARAGED. RADIATOR CRACKED LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION NICE TRUCK, SORRY TO HAVE TO LET NISSAN GO. TRUCK WAS LIKE NEW. *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.