IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
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
What owners actually said
780 reportsGAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE GAS GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
2006 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING RECALL AND REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A RANDOM HARD START AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. *JB
MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA STARTED SHAKING WHEN DRIVING AT AROUND 60MPH. IT WOULD DO THIS FOR 3-5 SECONDS AS I SPED UP OR SLOWED DOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A LEAK BETWEEN MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE IS AT 91,000 MILES AND EVEN THOUGH I PURCHAS…
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MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA STARTED SHAKING WHEN DRIVING AT AROUND 60MPH. IT WOULD DO THIS FOR 3-5 SECONDS AS I SPED UP OR SLOWED DOWN. I WAS TOLD BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A LEAK BETWEEN MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE IS AT 91,000 MILES AND EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE COVER UNLESS I PROVIDED PAPERWORK SHOWING I FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AT 30,000 AND 60,000 MILES. I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PAPERWORK AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT AGREED TO COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT IT HAD EXPIRED AT 72,000 MILES. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 107,600.
FUEL SENDING UNIT LEVEL FAULTY. IT IS A PRATICALLY NEW AND LOW MILAGE CAR. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE AND I WAS RUNNING ON AN EMPTY TANK WHEN IT SHOWED 1/2 A TANK FULL. THAT LED TO MY CAR RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LATE AT NIGHT COMMUTING HOME FROM WORK.
REAR DIFFERENTIAL AXLE SEAL LEAKS OIL INTO THE BREAKS CREATING A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, AND CHANGED PART NUMBERS BUT THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED A RECALL SO ALL DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE. FURTHERMORE DEALERS ARE NOT W…
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REAR DIFFERENTIAL AXLE SEAL LEAKS OIL INTO THE BREAKS CREATING A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, AND CHANGED PART NUMBERS BUT THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED A RECALL SO ALL DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE. FURTHERMORE DEALERS ARE NOT WARNING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS ISSUE. LAST MONDAY WHEN GOING TO WORK, IT WAS RAINING AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS TRYING TO REDUCE MY SPEED THRE TRUCK SKID AND TURN TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE OR ANYTHING. I ASSUME THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE OIL ON THE LEFT REAR BREAK.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ON AN INCLINE FACING UPWARD AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE IT WILL ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A COMMON FEATURE ON ALL THEIR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/05/11
I DRIVE A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER I FILLED MY VEHICLE WITH GAS AND THE GAS GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK. THE GAUGE SLOWLY WENT UP TO 1/2 TANK, BUT NOW I CAN'T TRUST IT. *TR
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.