IllustrationTRANSMISSION STARTED VIBRATING BADLY AT 55 OR MORE MPH CAUSING US TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IN A VERY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT IN THE FREEWAY. WE WAITED FOR 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR
2006 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder 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
210–25K
5525–50K
11950–75K
22575–100K
256100–150K
66150K+
742 reports with mileage · 95 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 450 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 185 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 147 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
4 reportsI HAD MULTIPLE POSTING PREVIOUSLY ON MY 2006 BRAND NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER. FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ECM WHICH WAS LATER FIXED FOR ABOUT $2000, LATER NISSAN REIMBURSED. AS LITHIA SPRING GA. NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAD MY SUV TO FIX THE ECM, ON DAY OF PICK UP, 2 FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE DEFECTIVE EVIDENCE BY A LOUD HOLLOW NOISE …
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I HAD MULTIPLE POSTING PREVIOUSLY ON MY 2006 BRAND NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER. FIRST PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ECM WHICH WAS LATER FIXED FOR ABOUT $2000, LATER NISSAN REIMBURSED. AS LITHIA SPRING GA. NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAD MY SUV TO FIX THE ECM, ON DAY OF PICK UP, 2 FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE DEFECTIVE EVIDENCE BY A LOUD HOLLOW NOISE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP DENIED. FEW MONTHS LATER I WAS NOTIFIED BY NISSAN MANUFACTURERS TO TAKE MY SUV FOR A RECALLED MAINTENANCE ON RADIATOR ASSEMBLE ISSUES. I TOOK MY SUV TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WITH MY NOTICED, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COMPLETE THE RECALLED MAINTENANCE AND CLAIMED THAT MY SUV HAD A HIGHER MILEAGE THAN WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE RECALLING. TWO WEEKS LATER MY SUV WENT INTO A CLOUD OF SMOKE WITH A ROOTING EGGS ODOR AND AS I TOWED THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, I WAS CHARGE $98 TO COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC AND I WAS INFORMED THE VALVES BODY, THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND MY TRANSMISSION NEED A REPLACEMENT FOR THE TOTAL OF OFFER $5000. I MANAGED TO COMPLETE PAYMENT ON THE CAR, I HAD JUST CANCELLED THE REGISTRATION ON MY SUV. I STILL NEED HELP TO GET MY SUV RUNNING AGAIN. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASED I DROVE OF WITH ONLY 20 MILES IN MY SUV. IT IS UN-ACCEPTABLE THAT NISSAN AND NISSAN DEALERSHIP AROUND THE NATION WOULD NOT STAND OUT TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS; RATHER, TO TRY TO CLEAN OUT THE POCKETS OF NISSAN OWNERS. I HAD A SERVICE MANAGER AT NISSAN LITHIA SPRING GA. ASKED ME WHAT TYPE OF JOB AM I DOING? I TOLD HIM THAT IS IRRELEVANT. MY SPEED ON THE DAY MY SUV WENT INTO FULL WHITE SMOKE WAS BETWEEN 35-40 MILES. *TR
VDC / ABS / LIGHTS ON AND HAVE NO REASON FOR IT. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON 12/24/08. ROAD CONDITION WAS WET WITH SOME SLUSH. THE TRACTION LIGHT (SLIP) AND LOW TIRE INDICATORS WERE ON AS THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH FLAGPOLE NISSAN IN ONEONTA NY AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH A C…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON 12/24/08. ROAD CONDITION WAS WET WITH SOME SLUSH. THE TRACTION LIGHT (SLIP) AND LOW TIRE INDICATORS WERE ON AS THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH FLAGPOLE NISSAN IN ONEONTA NY AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED THEN EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER TWO TIMES. SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, BEING STOPPED BY SEVERAL TREES, SO IN ADDITION TO ROLLOVER DAMAGE, SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE RESULTED, THE IMPACT INTO THE TREES SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FRONT END TO BEND, SO ONE FRONT WHEEL POINTS LEFT WHILE THE OTHER POINTS RIGHT. SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FULLY, DASHBOARD AIRBAGS DID NOT. THE AIRBAGS WERE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THERE REPAIR ONLY CORRECTED THE WARNING LIGHT BUT ITS OPERATION WAS STILL FLAWED. THIS CAN BE PROVED AS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, MY MECHANIC ACCESSED THE CODES STORED AND FOUND NUMEROUS FAULTS, SOME BEING AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FAILURE AND CRASH ZONE COMM. AND UNIT FAILURE, AMONG OTHER RELATED TROUBLE CODES. ALSO AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE ENGINE STARTED LIKE A TOP, NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE BRAKES HAD FULL POWER (THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID LEAK). MY WIFE HAD INJURIES TO HER HEAD, (FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL), NECK, BACK AND LEG INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *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.