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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 →
837Owner complaints

Model-year median: 97

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
110
200367
20041,050
2005837
2006561
2007328
200837
2009
Compare all Pathfinder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
450Engine And Engine Cooling
185Engine
147Fuel System, Gasoline
135Fuel/propulsion System
71
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
43Steering
41Electrical System
34Fuel System, Other
29Vehicle Speed Control
16Air Bags
14Suspension
9Service Brakes
6Structure
6Equipment
5Seat Belts
5Electronic Stability Control (esc)
4Tires
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Visibility
2Wheels
2Seats
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Traction Control System
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
6,845 miles · Dec 7, 2006
Tires

TIRE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS LESS THAN 7,000 MILES. THE TIRE SHOWS CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRE NOT JUST ON THE SPOT OF FAILURE. THE OTHER TIRE HAD THE SAME VISIBLE CRACKS BUT THE TIRE RETAILER CLAIMED THAT TIRE FAILED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4X4…

Read full complaint

TIRE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS LESS THAN 7,000 MILES. THE TIRE SHOWS CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRE NOT JUST ON THE SPOT OF FAILURE. THE OTHER TIRE HAD THE SAME VISIBLE CRACKS BUT THE TIRE RETAILER CLAIMED THAT TIRE FAILED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4X4. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONGTRAIL T/A, P265/70 R16 111T M+S. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175535

1,000 miles · Nov 16, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WERE STOLEN. IN ORDER TO FUEL THE VEHICLE, ALL THE LOCKS MUST BE UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

NHTSA ODI #10173644

7,000 miles · Oct 9, 2006
Seats

THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT BACK WILL NOT HOLD A CONSTANT POSITION. THE SEAT GRADUALLY MOVES FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND IS NEVER IN THE SAME POSITION WHEN YOU GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT NEEDS READJUSTED EVERY TIME YOU SIT DOWN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW SWITCH 4 WEEKS…

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THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT BACK WILL NOT HOLD A CONSTANT POSITION. THE SEAT GRADUALLY MOVES FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND IS NEVER IN THE SAME POSITION WHEN YOU GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT NEEDS READJUSTED EVERY TIME YOU SIT DOWN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW SWITCH 4 WEEKS AGO AND CLAIMS THAT IT IS OWN BACK ORDER.

NHTSA ODI #10170305

2,000 miles · Oct 3, 2006
Power TrainCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARD, A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. IT ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CLIPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. A PASSENGER…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARD, A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. IT ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CLIPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. A PASSENGER HAD A MINOR INJURY TO THE ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169839

50,000 miles · Sep 21, 2006
Steering

ON JULY 6, 2006 > 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER LE. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TIGHTEN. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS BECOMING HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO CHANGE LANES. WHICH WAS SCARY BECAUSE I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO …

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ON JULY 6, 2006 > 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER LE. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TIGHTEN. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS BECOMING HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO CHANGE LANES. WHICH WAS SCARY BECAUSE I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE I COULD BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TURN IN. WHEN THEY EXAMINED THE CAR THEY FOUND THE UPPER BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHEARING AND HAD COME APART. I WAS LUCKY I WAS CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HOME OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WERE I COULD NOT PULL OVER. THEY HAD MY CAR IN THERE OVER A WEEK AND A HALF WHICH WAS A BIG INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LOCATING THE PART AND I WAS GETTING A RUN AROUND ABOUT IT. I WOULD CALL AND THEY WOULD NOT CALL ME BACK FOR A DAY OR TWO. THEN I WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS HAPPENING TO THE NEW PATHFINDERS AND THEY HAD MADE A NEWER PART FOR IT THAT WOULD NOT COME APART. SO THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A NEW ONE AND SO FAR IT HAS DRIVEN GREAT. IT WAS A BIT UPSETTING TO GET A BRAND NEW CAR THOUGH AND IN ONLY 5 MONTHS I WAS ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168824

2,000 miles · May 15, 2006
Steering

I BOUGHT MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE NEW FROM THE DEALER. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FELL OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE BROKEN CLIPS. THEY ORDERED A NEW SEAT-BACK AND INSTALLED IT. A WEEK OR SO AFTER…

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I BOUGHT MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE NEW FROM THE DEALER. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FELL OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE BROKEN CLIPS. THEY ORDERED A NEW SEAT-BACK AND INSTALLED IT. A WEEK OR SO AFTER THIS, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE REAR AIR WAS ON FULL-BLAST. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED A FINISHING CLIP AND RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. DURING THIS VISIT TO THE DEALER, I ALSO POINTED OUT HOW THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE A PROBLEM. BEING THAT THIS "LOOSE" STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING ANNOYING, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS WITH THE STEERING. A TECH CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINT AND ARE NOW ORDERING A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157568

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2006
Unknown Or Other

I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON 3-11-2006. THIS DEALERSHIP DID FRAUD. FIRST OF ALL THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO MILES ON IT BUT IT DID HAD MILES ON IT AND PLENTY OF THEM. THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG CAR. THE CAR THEY SHOWED ME THAT I WAS GOING TO RECEIVED IS NOT THE CAR I RECEIVED. WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP T…

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I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON 3-11-2006. THIS DEALERSHIP DID FRAUD. FIRST OF ALL THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO MILES ON IT BUT IT DID HAD MILES ON IT AND PLENTY OF THEM. THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG CAR. THE CAR THEY SHOWED ME THAT I WAS GOING TO RECEIVED IS NOT THE CAR I RECEIVED. WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS TOO LATE. THIS DEALERSHIP IS A COMPLETE LIAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT GETS BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WANT TO CANCEL THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153850

Official recalls

3

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.

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

1

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)

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.