IllustrationWHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GROWLING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 60+ MPH HAD DIFFICULTY AVOIDING MY AUTOMOBILE. *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
Power Train complaints
450 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND FLUS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WIFE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 120K MILES ON IT WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY. WHEN SHE GOT HERE IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY INFORMED US THAT A COOLANT LEAK CAUSED OUR TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I NOTICED IT IS…
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WIFE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 120K MILES ON IT WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY. WHEN SHE GOT HERE IT WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY INFORMED US THAT A COOLANT LEAK CAUSED OUR TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I NOTICED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN YEARS OF NISSANS. IT WAS OUR PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO HASSLE WITH THE NISSAN RUN-AROUND SO HAD IT REPAIRED FOR OVER $3,800. WE WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN IF THIS IS HOW THEY DO BUSINESS. IF ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND CAUSE SO MANY CUSTOMERS SO MUCH GRIEF WITH THEIR POOR DESIGN, THEY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES AND THEN SOME FOR NOT BEING CONSIDERATE AND INFORMING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS FLAW. WE WILL BE SURE TO STEER CLEAR FROM ANY NISSAN FOR ANY UPCOMING PURCHASE. THAT IS JUST AN OUTRAGEOUS BILL TO PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS LIKE THAT. *TR
TRANSMISSION HEAT UP AND FAILED. IT STARTED SLIPPING UNTIL IT WOULD NOT GO. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT GEARS. TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER. THEY STATED HAS COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING. COOLANT HOSE RUPTURED INSIDE TRANSMISSION. *TR
WATER ENTERED INTO TRANSMISSION DUE TO FAULTY VALVE. *TR
WATER ENTERED TRANSMISSION FLUID DUE TO FAULTY VALVE. *TR
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VIBRATE AND WHINE AND WITHIN 1 MILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. HAD CAR TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THE SHOP AUTOMATICALLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION…
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2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO VIBRATE AND WHINE AND WITHIN 1 MILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND COULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. HAD CAR TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THE SHOP AUTOMATICALLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE RADIATOR. HE SAID IT WAS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN PATHFINDERS AND IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WAS NOT RECALLED. I HAD 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT. I AM KNOW STUCK WITH A $4,000 BILL TO GET THIS FIXED. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A NISSAN AGAIN IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
MY RADIATOR CRACKED FLUID LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED TWICE. *TR
ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FEEL AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. THE COOLANT LIGHT INDICATOR MOVED RAPIDLY TO THE HIGH END, WHICH SEEMED TO INDICATE A RADIATOR OR COOLANT PROBLEM. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN, BEFORE PROCEEDING ON BACK ROADS TO GET HOME. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACT AS IF I…
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ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FEEL AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. THE COOLANT LIGHT INDICATOR MOVED RAPIDLY TO THE HIGH END, WHICH SEEMED TO INDICATE A RADIATOR OR COOLANT PROBLEM. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN, BEFORE PROCEEDING ON BACK ROADS TO GET HOME. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL EVEN AT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. NISSAN IS AWARE THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT AS MY CAR IS OVER 80,000 MILES, I WILL NEED TO PAY $2,500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM! *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.