IllustrationCHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY FUEL GAUGE READS ZERO FUEL WITH A FULL TAKE. *TR
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 reportsWHEN FILL UP GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I BOUGHT PART WILL INSTALL MYSELF. *TR
2006 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL GAUGE REPORTS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION AT ALL TIMES. VERIFIED ERROR CODE (P0463) AND THE ERROR POINTS TO A FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT) WHICH MEANS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS FAILED. THIS FAILURE WILL TURN THE (SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT ON THE DASH. ERROR CODE P0463. *T…
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2006 NISSAN XTERRA FUEL GAUGE REPORTS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION AT ALL TIMES. VERIFIED ERROR CODE (P0463) AND THE ERROR POINTS TO A FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT) WHICH MEANS THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS FAILED. THIS FAILURE WILL TURN THE (SERVICE ENGINE SOON) LIGHT ON THE DASH. ERROR CODE P0463. *TR
FAULTY FUEL SENSOR IN NISSAN XTERRA 2006. APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT FAILURE WITH NISSAN VEHICLES AFTER 36 MONTHS (DUE TO CORROSION IN THE UNIT). UNIT CAN READ FAULTY CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGES DEFECT BUT WILL NOT RECALL AND REPLACE THESE UNITS. *TR
I FILLED UP MY 2006 XTERRA WITH GAS (THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON BEFORE I FILLED UP) AND RIGHT AFTER I FILLED UP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS GAUGE BARELY MOVED. I HAVE 36,088 MILES. MY FACTORY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED. I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DROVE HOME (5 MILES AWAY) AND THE LIGHT DID NOT G…
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I FILLED UP MY 2006 XTERRA WITH GAS (THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON BEFORE I FILLED UP) AND RIGHT AFTER I FILLED UP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAS GAUGE BARELY MOVED. I HAVE 36,088 MILES. MY FACTORY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED. I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DROVE HOME (5 MILES AWAY) AND THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF. I ALSO TRIED RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES.*TR
AFTER FILLING UP MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE NEEDLE ON EMPTY. DISCOUNT AUTO PARTS TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS THAT THE FUEL SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN XTERRAS AND WAS ONCE RECALLED IN 2004 FOR ALL 2000-2004 MODELS…
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AFTER FILLING UP MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE NEEDLE ON EMPTY. DISCOUNT AUTO PARTS TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS THAT THE FUEL SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN XTERRAS AND WAS ONCE RECALLED IN 2004 FOR ALL 2000-2004 MODELS, BUT NISSAN ISN'T RECALLING THEM ANYMORE. I FEEL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURERS ERROR AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED! *TR
THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONTACT NOTICED BEFOREHAND THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 66812. BML
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MANEUVERED TO T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MANEUVERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. HOWEVER, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE WHICH RESULTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DROVE WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 51,000.
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY READS EMPTY ALL THE TIME SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TWO MODELS OF NISSANS. *TR
WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC MY STEERING BECAME TIGHT. ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE. ONCE YOU DROVE FOR A FEW MINS. THE STEERING WOULD GET BETTER. THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. I COULD MOVE IT UP AND DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER TO FIND THAT MY STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN! 06 WITH 55,000 MILES…
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WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC MY STEERING BECAME TIGHT. ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE. ONCE YOU DROVE FOR A FEW MINS. THE STEERING WOULD GET BETTER. THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE. I COULD MOVE IT UP AND DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER TO FIND THAT MY STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN! 06 WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK. I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT COVERED. I CALL MANY DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY STEERING COLUMNS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. IT WAS A SCARY DAY FOR ME WHEN YOU PULL OUT AND EXPECT THE STEERING TO WORK. *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.