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

What owners actually said

780 reports

126,000 miles · May 25, 2019

Power Train

Read full complaint

APRIL 5, 2019 I PURCHASED A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA WITH 126K MILES. MAY 15TH, 2019 MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS A CODE STATING A SPEED DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AAMCO AND AFTER INSPECTION, THEY VERIFIED WATER FROM THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND I WILL NEED TO REPLACE BOTH MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION TO THE APPROX COST OF $5800. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOT ONLY IS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET SINCE THE LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NISSAN CONCERNING THIS ISSUE EXPIRED IN 2013. BUYER BEWARE!!! DO NOT PURCHASE A NISSAN XTERRA FROM 2005-2010 UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO FORK OUT MORE MONEY THAN EXPECTED TO PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11209950

127,329 miles · May 23, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY WHEN FULL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND UNSURE HOW MUCH GAS IN TANK ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN CAR CAUSE GAS RAN OUT. READ ON LINE ABOUT RECALL #NTB10-031A AND 10V075000 AND YET IM TOLD THEY DONT HAVE ANY RE-CALLS FOR THIS FRUSTRATED PLEASE HELP ME AND MY CHILDREN THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11209525

90,000 miles · May 13, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT AS REPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER BACK IN 2010

NHTSA ODI #11207393

134,700 miles · Apr 30, 2019

Engine

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THIS VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH PLASTIC TENSIONER GUIDES TO THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS. THE ENGINE IS DESIGNED WITH AN "INTERFERENCE" TIMING CHAIN WHICH MEANS THAT IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, IT RESULTS IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH NISSAN DID NOT DESIGN THE TIMING CHAIN AS A MAINTENANCE ITEM, THE PLASTIC GUIDES WEAR OUT LONG AFTER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRES. ALTHOUGH THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS, THEY NEVER CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED THE AFFECTED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM THAT UNLESS THESE GUIDES ARE REPLACED THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS WEARING OUT THE GUIDES CAUSING THE SECONDARY CHAINS THEMSELVES TO RUN METAL ON METAL AGAINST THE TENSIONERS. BECAUSE OF THIS CONTINUED WEAR, THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS ON WITHOUT WARNING AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. NISSAN ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEM BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS THAT AS THE VEHICLES APPROACH APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES OR MORE, THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS MAY FAIL. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE WHICH SHOW THE PLASTIC GUIDE ON ONE NEARLY COMPLETELY WORN THROUGH, AND THE OTHER ONE BROKEN WITH ONLY HALF OF THE PLASTIC GUIDE STILL IN PLACE ON THE TENSIONER. I ALSO INCLUDED MY REPAIR RECEIPT FOR THE $2,123.40 REPAIR. FINALLY, I INCLUDED THE NISSAN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY RECALLED THE V8 ENGINES WITH THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, BUT NOT THE V6 ENGINES (I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THAT HOWEVER,) NISSAN SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS ALREADY MADE BY CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI #11204794

239,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019

Power Train

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I BOUGHT A USED 2006 XTERRA AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLERS FAIL PREMATURELY. ALL SEEMED OK FOR 2 WEEKS. ONE DAY DRIVING BACK FROM DROPPING MY 2 DAUGHTERS OFF AT THEIR MOTHERS HOUSE, I WAS ON AN INCLINE, IN A BLIND CURVE, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED PULLING COMPLETELY. WHILE STOPPED I TRIED TO CHECK THE TRANS FLUID AND WAS ALMOST RAN OVER BY A TRACTOR AND TRAILER BECAUSE HE COULDNT SEE THROUGH THE CURVE TO KNOW I WAS BROKE DOWN IN THE ROAD. THEN 10 MINUTES OR SO GOES BY AND A MINIVAN COMES AROUND THE CURVE AND HAD TO LOCK HIS BRAKES UP TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO ME. I WAS ALMOST HIT 2 TIMES IN A MATTER OF 20 - 30 MINUTES WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11202989

90,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019

Air BagsCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS DESTROYED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND ABDOMINAL/TORSO CONTUSIONS. THE DRIVER WAS PREGNANT AND THE UNBORN CHILD WAS FATALLY INJURED DUE TO THE INJURIES. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11194178

93,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019

Fuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. AFTER THE CONTACT FILLED UP THE FUEL TANK AND CONTINUED DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ON EMPTY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THERE WAS A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED A FULL TANK. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO THE LOSS OF FUEL. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW FUEL TANK WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS EXPIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI #11193096

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2019

Power Train

DEFAULT SHIFTER CABLE

NHTSA ODI #11182429

200,000 miles · Feb 19, 2019

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SHOWING FUEL TANK AT EMPTY AT ALL TIMES

NHTSA ODI #11181010

133,420 miles · Dec 11, 2018

Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemWheels

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING INTERMITTENT NOT REGISTERING PASSENGERS. THE FUEL GAGE KEEPS GOING UP AND DOWN UNAWARE OF FUEL LEVEL. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR IS ON AND TIRES HAVE CORRECT PSI. VEHICLE CAN BE IN START STILL OR DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11160855

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