Power Train. Review the 268 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 237 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

106 reports

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58,600 miles · Dec 17, 2008

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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I PURCHASED THIS XTERRA IN MAY OF 2006. IN THE PAST 8 WEEKS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY 06 NISSAN XTERRA TOWED TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE OF NOT STARTING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF GAS. SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN TOLD THE SECURITY MODULE HAD GONE BAD, I HAD CORROSION ON THE BATTERY TERMINAL CAUSING IT TO GO IN TO STOLEN MODE, THE FUEL PUMP HAD GONE BAD (REPLACED TWICE), AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP HAD A SHORT IN IT (REPLACED TWICE). THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WANT TO GIVE ME MY CAR BACK WITHOUT ACTUALLY FINDING OUT THE REAL ISSUE. THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE AND I DO NOT DO ANY TOWING OR OFF-ROAD WITH IT. PRIOR TO THESE ISSUES, MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 11K MILES AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE FOR OVER 3 HOURS WHILE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK, AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252143

12,000 miles · May 5, 2008

Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

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2006 NISSAN XTERRA OFF-ROAD MODEL. VEHICLE HAD SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS (6) IN THE PAST WHILE STOPPED OR COMING TO A STOP AT INTERSECTIONS. DEALER HAD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY IN A PARKING LOT RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. NISSAN HAS CONTACTED ME AND ADVISED THEY CANNOT (OR ARE NOT PREPARED) TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN REPORTED BEFORE, BUT I SEE THE VERY SAME SITUATION REPORTED AT THE MYCARSTATS.COM WEB SITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226735

1,577 miles · Jul 18, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES OR MORE REGARDING THE AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING. WHEN THE A/C WAS ACTIVATED IN APRIL OF 2006, HOT AIR BLEW OUT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE A/C SYSTEM WAS NEVER CHARGED. THE DEALER CHARGED THE SYSTEM AND STATED THAT IT SHOULD WORK. ON MAY 9, 2006, AT 2,128 MILES, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE IPDM CONTROLLER WAS NOT ALLOWING THE A/C TO REMAIN ON CYCLE AND COOL THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 19, 2006, THE A/C WAS NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH COLD AIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS MINOR ENGINE FAILURE. TWO SEALS WERE REPLACED FOR THE HIGH AND LOW SIDE FROM THE PREVIOUS VISIT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PLACED BACK ON DURING THE PREVIOUS VISIT. ON JULY 17, 2007, AT 10,753 MILES, THE COMPRESSOR WAS SHORT CYCLING AND SHUTTING ON AND OFF TOO QUICKLY. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS A HALF PINT LOW ON REFRIGERANT AND THEY REPLACED THE O-RING. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE IS A LEAK, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 10,760 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,577. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED REPAIR INVOICES PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT AND ALSO LEGAL DOCUMENTATION IN REFERENCE TO THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10196696

13,000 miles · Apr 6, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

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ENGINE TAPPING NOISE IN ENGINE ON COLD START AS WELL AS CHIRPING NOISE. WE NOTICED A TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE ON OUR 2006 XTERRA. IT HAS 14,000 PLUS MILES. THE NOISE HAS NOW BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED EVERYDAY. IN THE MORNING WHEN WE START THE VEHICLE WE'VE HEARD THE NOISE SINCE MARCH 30, 2007. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM ON VIDEO, AND EVEN SHOWED IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. ALSO, I HAVE GONE TO NISSANHELP.COM AND FOUND SOME SOLUTION AND SYMPTOMS TO MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, EVEN WITH VIDEO AND DOCUMENTATION PROOF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DEALERSHIP HAVE IGNORED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER WANTS TO HEAR IT LIVE FOR HIMSELF BEFORE DOING ANYTHING. THIS MORNING THE SECOND IN COMMAND SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I WAS NOT WELCOMED TO THE DEALERSHIP ANYMORE. I TOLD HIM I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE HERE, IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, THERE IS NO WAY I'M GOING TO DRIVE OUT OF MY WAY TO GET ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND SURE ENOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY ISSUES WITH THE CHIRPING OF BELT OR TENSION ITEM RELATED. THE TAPPING NOISE I BELIEVE IS AS NOTED ON NISSANHELP.COM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187187

9,460 miles · Mar 25, 2007

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE GETS 10 MPG, RUNS ROUGH. VEHICLE WILL HESITATE THEN TAKE OFF LIKE YOU HAVE FLOORED GAS PEDAL. SURGED .SAFTY ISSUE AS I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAID NOTHING WORNG. 2006 XTERRA OR 4X4. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10186103

900 miles · May 4, 2006

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWN A SLOPED DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DESCENDING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, BUT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED BUT THERE WAS NO TENSION. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10156784

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.

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

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