Power Train. Review the 220 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

617 reports

1,711 miles · Aug 18, 2006

Air Bags

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MY SON WAS TURNING AROUND OUR 2006 FRONTIER NISMO OFF ROAD 4WD ON A RUTTED DIRT ROAD AT A SPEED OF NO MORE THAN 15 MPH WHEN THE ROLLOVER AIRBAGS, ON BOTH SIDES, DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. NISSAN OF AMERICAN INVESTIGATED. BELOW IS A PORTION OF NISSAN'S LETTER TO ME. I WILL FORWARD VIA US MAIL A COMPLETE COPY OF THIS LETTER TO NHTSA: "AIR BAGS MUST BE MADE SO THAT THEY INFLATE FAST ENOUGH IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. THE SPEED AT WHICH AN AIR BAG INFLATES AND THEN DEFLATES IS SIMILAR IN ALL DESIGNS. AIR BAGS ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE IN LESS THAN 1/20 OF A SECOND. AIR BAGS ARE PREDICTIVE. THE SIGNAL WHICH IS SENT TO THE SENSOR IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SIGNAL SENT TO THE SENSOR IN ROLLOVER SITUATION. BOTH DIAGNOSTIC AND VISUAL CHECKS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT SYSTEMS IN YOUR VEHICLE." AS A RESULT OF NISSAN'S DESIGN, A SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR, 2 ROLLOVER AIR BAG ASSEMBLIES, 2 SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES, A HEADLINER AND PLASTIC TRIM ITEMS WERE REPLACED. THE OLD PARTS, EXCLUSIVE OF THE HEADLINER, ARE AVAILABLE. ON THE REAR QUARTER PANEL, THE VEHICLE IS LABELED "OFF ROAD" AND IS CLEARLY INTENDED FOR THAT USE ACCORDING TO NISSAN''S ADVERTISING. NISSAN'S OWN STATEMENT PROVES THAT THEIR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ROLLOVER AIRBAGS IS DEFECTIVE IN THAT THEIR ROLLOVER AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY BECAUSE THE "SIGNAL WHICH IS SENT TO THE SENSOR IN SOME UNDERBODY IMPACTS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SIGNAL SENT TO THE SENSOR IN ROLLOVER SITUATION"'. CONSUMERS RELY ON NISSAN TO DESIGN A ROLLOVER AIR BAG SYSTEM THAT DEPLOYS IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER, NOT A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WHICH CAUSES AN UNDERBODY IMPACT TO INITIATE AN UNNECESSARY ROLLOVER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. ROLLOVER AIR BAGS THAT OPERATE IN A MANNER UNPREDICTABLE BY THE CONSUMER ARE NOT SAFE. NISSAN SHOULD REDESIGN THIS SYSTEM ON FUTURE VEHICLES AND RECALL CURRENT VEHICLES TO MAKE THE NEEDED CHANGES, BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED BY AIRBAGS THAT NEEDLESSLY DEPLOY. *NM UPDATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165936

3,100 miles · Aug 16, 2006

Steering

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER FROM CARRIAGE NISSAN (770) 532-6335 IN MARCH 2006. AT MILE 3100, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE TRUCK BROKE. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THE WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAD- SEVERAL NEW FRONTIERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED, AS IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE . THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT FOR THE 2006 MODEL NISSAN HAD GONE WITH A DIFFERENT VENDOR FOR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, AND THAT THEY ALREADY HAD TO FIX SEVERAL OF THEM AT THAT DEALERSHIP ALONE. CARRIAGE NISSAN DID FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT NISSAN USA IS TRYING TO COVER THIS UP. WHEN YOU CALL THEM THEY ACT AS THOUGH THERE IS KNOW PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER MANAGER TOLD ME THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THAT PROBLEM BEING A "LOW BIDDER" INFERIOR PART. I HAVE SENT SEVERAL EMAILS TO NISSAN USA EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS, AND HAVE GOTTEN NO REPLY. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE COULD GET BADLY INJURED OR WORSE IF NISSAN DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL. THE DEALER TOLD US A RECALL SHOULD BE COMING SOON, BUT THAT WAS 3 MONTHS AGO. FURTHERMORE, THE DEALER MANAGER TOLD US THAT OUR REPLACED PART WOULD PROBABLY GO OUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME LOW BIDDER PART. THEY CANNOT GET A GOOD PART UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED. OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FRONTIERS AND NISSAN. SEE THIS FORUM: LOOK UNDER TECHNICAL PROBLEMS HTTP://WWW.NISSANFRONTIER.ORG/DEFAULT.ASP. *NM *TR

NHTSA ODI #10165633

400 miles · Jul 4, 2006

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HIT VARIOUS ITEMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE GAS AND BREAK PEDDLE ARE TO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER , THE TRUCK JUMPS UNCONTROLLABLY AS YOU PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE GAS DOWN SIMULTANEOUSLY. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161413

1,000 miles · May 31, 2006

Steering

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ON APRIL 10, 2006 I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER 2WD TRUCK. I TOOK IT IN ON MAY 30, 2006 TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED, KEY NISSAN IN HARDEEVILLE SOUTH CAROLINA, DUE TO A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE NOISE WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE VEHICLE WAS HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED. PLEASE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION IS NOT COMMON IN ALL OTHER 2006 NISSAN FRONTIERS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158719

3,910 miles · May 31, 2006

Steering

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ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT. THOUGHT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT A BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD FROZEN. ORDERED A NEW STEERING COLUMN SECTION AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PART COMES IN. I AM STILL DRIVING THE TRUCK AND IT STILL IS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND FAILS TO RETURN TO CENTER ON OCCASION. AM AFRAID THE BEARING WILL FREEZE AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THEY FIX IT. SUGGEST NISSAN MAY HAVE GOTTEN SOME DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN BEARINGS WHICH COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF THE DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10158652

400 miles · May 11, 2006

Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED SLIGHTLY BACKWARD WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT OWNED TWO OTHER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHIC…

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NHTSA ODI #10157237

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2006

Unknown Or Other

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DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, DO BUSINESS WITH TOWN NORTH NISSAN. NOT ONLY IS THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AWFUL, THEY CAN ALSO GET AWAY WITH SELLING YOU THE WRONG VEHICLE! THE BBB DIDN'T HELP IN MY CASE, WHICH IS WAS VERY EASY. AFTER SCREWING UP MY PURCHASE (THAT INCLUDED A TRADE-IN OF A VERY NICE 02 MAXIMA) AND DRAGGING IT OUT OVER A 6 WEEK PERIOD, THAT INVOLVED NO RETURNED CALLS, LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO HELP, I ENDED UP WITH A TRUCK THAT WAS THE WRONG COLOR. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT BACK. MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I ASKED, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN OFFER TO REPLACE IT WITH ONE OF THE RIGHT COLOR. I COMPLAINED TO THE BBB, TOOK IT TO ARBITRATION, AND LOST. THAT TOOK 6 MONTHS! NOW I'M STUCK WITH A TRUCK IN A COLOR I ABSOLUTELY HATE. THERE IS NO JUSTICE FOR THE LITTLE GUY IN THE WORLD. ALL I CAN DO IS SPREAD THE NEGATIVE WORD. DON"T GO TO TOWN NORTH NISSAN IN AUSTIN, TX!!!! YOU WILL GET SCREWED!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152955

Official recalls

10V517000 · 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.

06V092000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Mar 30, 2006

ON CERTAIN KING CAB TRUCKS, IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT CRASH, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT DEFORMATION OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY COULD CAUSE THE FUEL FILLER CAP TETHER TO BE STRETCHED TO THE POINT OF UNSCREWING THE FUEL FILLER CAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN A FUEL SPILL WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL CAP TETHER PIN ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2006. 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

DP26003 · Fuel Smell And Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Mar 30, 2026 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Fuel System, Gasoline

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated February 5, 2026, requesting an investigation into model year (MY) 2006 Nissan Frontier vehicles. The Petitioner alleges that the vehicle poses an imminent fire hazard due to “[a] powerful and persistent odor of raw gasoline” that he says “emanates from the vehicle” and “indicat[es] a breach in fuel system integrity.” He further alleges that the vehicles can experience sudden engine stalling “during startup and operation,” which he believes could cause collisions or loss of vehicle control. The Petitioner further alleges these symptoms are identical to conditions addressed in previous NHTSA recalls (10V-517, 07V-435, and 10V-075) and that the issues persist in the 2006 MY Nissan fleet despite these past actions. ODI is opening this Defect Petition to evaluate the Petitioner’s allegations and determine whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11718552.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling

Fuel System, Gasoline

DP12004 · 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)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train