IllustrationTHE DRIVER SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND SOMETIME THE FUEL GAUGE DO NOT WORK. *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
What owners actually said
837 reportsMY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER RECENTLY BEGAN DISPLAYING THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IN RESPONSE TO BOTH THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE ELECTRONIC DTE FUEL GAUGE WHICH HAVE FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUEL IS CURRENTLY IN THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *TR
FUEL SENDING UNIT IN THE 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER BROKE AND NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THE FIX. WIFE WAS STRANDED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THERE ARE CONFIRMATION FROM MECHANICS THAT THESE FAIL TOO EARLY. *TR
FUEL SENDING SENSOR FAILS TO REGISTER PROPERLY. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM HAVING DONE A GOOGLE SEARCH. GAS GAUGE READS FULL THEN EMPTY. NEVER SURE HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THE VEHICLE WILL THINK IT'S OUT OF FUEL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WHAT IF I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE THI…
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FUEL SENDING SENSOR FAILS TO REGISTER PROPERLY. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM HAVING DONE A GOOGLE SEARCH. GAS GAUGE READS FULL THEN EMPTY. NEVER SURE HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THE VEHICLE WILL THINK IT'S OUT OF FUEL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WHAT IF I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE THINKS THERE'S NO FUEL? NISSAN DEALER SAYS OH WELL. THEY WANT ANY WHERE FROM $500 TO A $1000 TO FIX, THEN THERE'S NOT GUARANTEE IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM? THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER - IN AUGUST THE FUEL GAUGE STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. IN DECEMBER THE RADIATOR COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX AND I HAVE TO REPLACE RADIATOR AND FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN JANUARY THE IPMD MODULE GOES OUT, CAR GOES COMPLETELY DEAD ON FREEWAY AND ALMOST CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. IN FE…
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2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER - IN AUGUST THE FUEL GAUGE STOPS WORKING I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. IN DECEMBER THE RADIATOR COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX AND I HAVE TO REPLACE RADIATOR AND FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID. IN JANUARY THE IPMD MODULE GOES OUT, CAR GOES COMPLETELY DEAD ON FREEWAY AND ALMOST CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. IN FEBRUARY SES LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN THIS TIME CATALYTIC CONVERTER GOES BAD. FEBRUARY 24 COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXING AGAIN TAKING TO SHOP TOMORROW. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ISSUES, IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET YOU WILL DISCOVER THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. PLEASE HELP. I'M SURE I WILL BE POSTING AGAIN NEXT MONTH. *TR
A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2007, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, MY FRONT-AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE AIR-BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STILL ON TILL THIS DAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSOR WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED. I ASKED TH…
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A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2007, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, MY FRONT-AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE AIR-BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STILL ON TILL THIS DAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSOR WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WOULD COME ON EVEN THOUGHT HE AIR-BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED EVENTHOUGH THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE IS A CURRENT A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIR-BAG SENSOR WAS COVERED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE SENSOR. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPLACED THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE SENSOR CAME ON AS OF A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE SENSOR RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIR-BAG SENSOR LIGHT IS STILL ON EVENTHOUGH THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS SEEMS LIKE SOME SORT OF FAILURE IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *TR
THE 2005/06 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR (COOLANT) LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEFECT CAUSES THE CAR TO SMOKE ONCE THE TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT. THIS ALSO AT SOME POINTS CAUSES THE CAR TO SWITCH GEARS VIOLENTLY ON WHEN GOING ABOVE 60 MPH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
NISSAN PATHFINDER, 2006 DEALER STATES RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO & MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION OIL. CAR WOULD HAVE A SEVERE VIBRATION ABOVE 40MPH APPROX. WHEN CHANGING FINAL GEAR. THERE IS NO HEAT FROM HEATER. CAR TEMP WOULD RISE AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH. DEALER ASKED FOR $8000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. CAR UNDE…
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NISSAN PATHFINDER, 2006 DEALER STATES RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO & MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION OIL. CAR WOULD HAVE A SEVERE VIBRATION ABOVE 40MPH APPROX. WHEN CHANGING FINAL GEAR. THERE IS NO HEAT FROM HEATER. CAR TEMP WOULD RISE AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH. DEALER ASKED FOR $8000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. CAR UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BUT THEY STILL WON'T COVER DEFECT RADIATOR. COMMON PROBLEM FOUND ONLINE WITH 2005 & 2006 MODELS, THEY CAN CATCH ON FIRE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT TURNING ON. NISSAN HQ DECLINED ANY HELP. *TR
STARTING IN JANUARY 2008, THE GAS GAUGE 0F MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WORKS ERRATICALLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOON AFTER. WESTERNAUTO CHECKED THE FAILURE, AND FOUND FUEL SENSOR ERROR. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON NISSAN PATHFINDER FORUM, ALL WITH SIMILAR/IDENTICAL PROBLEM. JUST ADDING MY NAME TO THE LIST REQUESTING NISS…
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STARTING IN JANUARY 2008, THE GAS GAUGE 0F MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WORKS ERRATICALLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOON AFTER. WESTERNAUTO CHECKED THE FAILURE, AND FOUND FUEL SENSOR ERROR. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON NISSAN PATHFINDER FORUM, ALL WITH SIMILAR/IDENTICAL PROBLEM. JUST ADDING MY NAME TO THE LIST REQUESTING NISSAN ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE RISK OF RUN OUT OF GAS.
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.