VehicleVerdict

2006 Nissan Pathfinder problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,224 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 9.8 times the median Pathfinder year — the 2006 model ranks #2 of 40 Pathfinder years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 18 injuries in total across these filings.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 451 reports (37% of the total).

1,224

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

16

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2006 compare to other Pathfinder years?

See all Pathfinder years to avoid →

What are the most common 2006 Nissan Pathfinder problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission45137%
Engine33327%
Fuel System23819%
Other484%
Steering413%
Electrical System393%
Speed Control161%
Airbags151%
Suspension101%
Brakes91%
Body & Structure60%
Tires & Wheels60%
Seat Belts50%
Visibility & Wipers30%
Latches & Locks30%
Seats10%

Does the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V517000EngineOctober 28, 2010 · 747,480 units

Defect

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

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.

10E019000SuspensionMay 20, 2010 · 1,873 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V075000Fuel SystemMarch 3, 2010 · 80,689 units

Defect

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

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.

08V690000AirbagsDecember 29, 2008 · 242,720 units

Defect

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

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.

07E046000OtherJuly 3, 2007 · 3,500 units

Defect

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

Consequence

THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy

HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARD, A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. IT ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CLIPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 30, 2006 · crash

TRIED TO SELL THE CAR AND THE BUYER POINTED OUT THAT THE RADIATOR MUST OF CRACKED AND MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE DID NOT BUY THE CAR AND NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND THEY NEED TO FIX…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · October 1, 2014

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO RADIATOR HOSE LEAK. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MILAGE LIMITS EXCEEDED. I HAD THE CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME. VEHICLE PAID OFF 12/2012- FAILURE 3/2013. TOTAL COST FOR NEW TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR WAS 7,000.00. I HAD TO BORROW THE MONEY SINCE THIS VEHICLE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · March 3, 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY AND I WENT TO GO AROUND A CURVE AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP LOOKING UP AT THE BRIDGE. WHEN I WENT OFF THE ROAD MY TRUCK HIT A HILL (IT HIT AROUND BY MY RADIATOR) MY TRUCK THEN FLIPPED AND THEN HIT ANOTHER HILL (HIT BY MY RADIATOR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · February 25, 2018 · crash

2006 Nissan Pathfinder — common questions

Is the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,224 complaints put the 2006 model at #2 of 40 Pathfinder years. It is one of the Pathfinder years to avoid.

What are the most common 2006 Pathfinder problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (451 complaints), engine (333 complaints), fuel system (238 complaints).

Does the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Pathfinder years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Pathfinder years to avoid are 2005, 2006, 2013, 2007, 2014, 2008, 2015, 2001, 1997, 2017, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2022, 1998, 2003, 2004. The cleanest record among Pathfinder years belongs to 1986.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.