IllustrationI have a lot of ticking and stalling lights are blinking I think it’s may be the transmission and I smell gas inside the vehicle.
2006 Nissan Xterra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Xterra years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan Xterra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 78.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Xterra 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
380–25K
13625–50K
14750–75K
14775–100K
191100–150K
61150K+
720 reports with mileage · 60 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 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
Seat Belts complaints
5 reportsGOT INTO ACCIDENT WITH MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA OFF ROAD. WAS DRIVING AT 8:05 PM AT 30 MPH DOWN PONCE DE LEON PASSING 207 IN ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER WAS STOPPED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING I TRIED TO AVOID THE NISSAN, NO TIME TO BRAKE, IT CLIPPED THE BACKSIDE OF THE PATHFINDER WITH MY XTERRA. MY DRIVER SIDE AN…
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GOT INTO ACCIDENT WITH MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA OFF ROAD. WAS DRIVING AT 8:05 PM AT 30 MPH DOWN PONCE DE LEON PASSING 207 IN ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER WAS STOPPED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING I TRIED TO AVOID THE NISSAN, NO TIME TO BRAKE, IT CLIPPED THE BACKSIDE OF THE PATHFINDER WITH MY XTERRA. MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER AIRBAG WENT OFF. (EXPLODED?) IT BROKE MY PASSENGERS ARM AND UNKNOWN OBJECT IN PASSENGERS EYE. AIRBAGS BLOWN OUT DESTROYED MY DASH AIR BAG IS RIPPED LIKE IT HAD A BABY. BOTH MY PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS BOTH RELEASED THE SEAT BELTS THEY DIDN'T LOCK DURING THE ACCIDENT USUALLY THEY LOCK AND WON'T RELEASE MY DRIVER SIDE IS NOT LOCKING IN PLACE AS THE PASSENGER. DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT MY PASSENGER HAD HER (2003 NISSAN SENTRA)RECALLED FOR THE TAKATA RECALL , INSPECTED WAS POSITIVE FOR THE RECALL AND REPLACED IT WAS DESCRIBING THE SITUATION FOR THIS ACCIDENT I WAS TOLD BY A LAWYER TO REPORT THIS TO NHTSA. SUSPECTED TAKATA AIRBAGS. I PULLED THE VIN NO RECALL I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK MAYBE A MONTH PRIOR. I'M COMPLETELY UNKNOWN OF THIS SITUATION. INSURANCE COMPANY WANTED TO TOTAL THE XTERRA I TOOK IT HOME I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE INSIDE WITH AIRBAGS BOTH INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PROGRESSIVE THE DRIVER V02 HAD NO LICENSE THE OFFICER WAS TOO BUSY TO PROCEED WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THE DAMAGES WAS NOT BAD TO BREAK A BONE WITH AN AIRBAG AT THE SPEED AND IMPACT THIS CAR ACCIDENT HAD.
TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE.SAME TIME AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASH. TOOK TO DEALER. CHARGED $124 TO DIAGNOSE AIR BAG LIGHT. CONCLUDED SEAT BELT. REFUSED TO REPROGRAM AIR BAG TIL SEAT BELT REPLACED FOR $500. WROTE TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. CALLED ME 4 TIMES TO DISCUSS. FINAL CONCLUSION: VEHICLE TOO OL…
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TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE.SAME TIME AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASH. TOOK TO DEALER. CHARGED $124 TO DIAGNOSE AIR BAG LIGHT. CONCLUDED SEAT BELT. REFUSED TO REPROGRAM AIR BAG TIL SEAT BELT REPLACED FOR $500. WROTE TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. CALLED ME 4 TIMES TO DISCUSS. FINAL CONCLUSION: VEHICLE TOO OLD TO HELP ME WITH REPAIR. DRIVING AROUND WITH DANGEROUS AIRBAGS.NISSAN WILL NOT FIX AIR BAG RECALL UNTIL I PAY THEM TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT. AFRAID TO DRIVE ON UNEVEN GROUND AS WARNED BY NISSAN IN RECALL NOTICE. WHY IS AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING IF IT IS NOT A WARNING ABOUT AIRBAGS? IF THERE IS A SEATBELT MALFUNCTION WHY IS THE SEATBELT LIGHT FLASHING. PASSENGER SEAT BELT APPEARS TO FUNCTION FINE. DEALER SAID THAT SEATBELTS CURRENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING!!!?? VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED LETTER. REMOVED NAMES FROM THE LETTER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FLIPPED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FLIPPED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
I BOUGHT A 2006 XTERRA, WHEN I WAS STRAPPING A CHILD SEAT IN THE BACK I NOTICED THAT THE CENTER REAR SHOULDER HARNESS BUCKLE AND THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CROSS OVER ONE ANOTHER WHEN PROPERLY BUCKLED. I CALLED NISSAN USA AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DEFECT. I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER 2006 XTERRA'S AN…
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I BOUGHT A 2006 XTERRA, WHEN I WAS STRAPPING A CHILD SEAT IN THE BACK I NOTICED THAT THE CENTER REAR SHOULDER HARNESS BUCKLE AND THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CROSS OVER ONE ANOTHER WHEN PROPERLY BUCKLED. I CALLED NISSAN USA AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DEFECT. I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER 2006 XTERRA'S AND THEY ALL SEEM TO BE MANUFACTURED THE SAME WAY. THIS COULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE AN INJURY. AT THIS TIME NO ONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN INJURED BY THIS DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. *NM
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.