2006 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 837 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 10 involved a crash. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingOct 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.
THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 10V517000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 20, 2010
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.
IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Campaign 10E019000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, auxillary tankMar 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.
THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 10V075000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalDec 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 08V690000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentJul 3, 2007
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 07E046000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: gasoline
135 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 18, 2009
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE GAS GAUGE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR OVER A YEAR. I'VE NOTICED MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE READ THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENDING UNIT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 5, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO PUT GAS AND WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE THE FUEL LEVEL WAS STILL READING EMPTY AND MY DTE WAS READING ----. THEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE ONLY WAY I CAN TELL IF I HAVE GAS OR NOT IS BY ESTIMATING THE MILEAGE I HAVE DRIVEN. MY PATHFINDER HAS ABOUT 60K MILES. I HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, May 1, 2009
I HAD 1/2 OF A TANK OF GAS AND WENT TO FILL UP. AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I TURNED ON THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DID NOT REGISTER THE FULL TANK. IT CONTINUED TO REGISTER AS EMPTY(------) AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE GAS DID REGISTER IN THE TANK. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND HAD COMPUTER TESTED I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT/SENSOR. I HAVE OVER 60,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND DOING RESEARCH, I WENT ONLINE TO X.NISSANHELP.COM AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH, I CAME ACROSS MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS FOUND ON THE 2000-2004 XTERRA MODELS AND A RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AFTER NOT GETTING ANY FUEL, POSING A GREAT DANGER. IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING IN THE UNIT IS FAULTY AND WILL CORRODE OVER TIME. THERE IS A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WHO IS HAVING THE PROBLEM IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 YRS AND WITH AROUND 39K-49K. IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN PREVIOUS MODELS, AND IT WAS RECALLED, THE 2005-2007 XTERRAS, FRONTIERS, AND PATHFINDERS SHOULD GET THIS FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER!! WHY WAIT FOR ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM LIES IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR RANGES FROM $300-600. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 23, 2009
ERROR CODE PO463 HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED ON MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 40600 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL PUMP/SENSOR UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM TOLD IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I AM CURRENTLY GETTING PRICE QUOTES TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 16, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING, I APPARENTLY RAN OUT OF GAS, EVEN THOUGH MY GAS GAUGE SHOWED I HAD OVER A 1/4 TANK, AND MY DTE SHOWED 61 MILES TO GO. SEVERAL TIMES, MY GAUGE WOULD BE DOWN TO A 1/4 TANK, AND SUDDENLY JUMP UP TO A 1/2, AND MY DTE WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 20-30 MILES. IT'S A GOOD THING I HAVE AAA. THEY BROUGHT ME SOME FUEL, AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION AND FILL UP. THIS IS EQUIPMENT FAILURE ON NISSAN'S PART, AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, AS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS OF BOTH PATHFINDERS, AND XTERRA'S. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 17, 2008
MY FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL AND NOTICED THAT MY DTE READ ---- FROM THAT POINT ON IT EITHER READS 0 OR ---. AT TIMES IT EVEN FLUCTUATES THE MILES LEFT ON THE DTE. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW REMAINS ON. UGH. MY CARE ONLY HAS 60K MILES ON IT. I OWN A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 1, 2008
THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE DTE WERE READING IMPROPERLY. I HAD JUST FILLED THE TANK FULL AND THE GAUGE WAS READING EMPTY AND THE DTE HAD ALL -------. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON FURTHER SEARCHING HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS TO THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 12, 2008
FUEL SENSOR GAUGE NOT WORKING, INCORRECT READINGS WILL SHOW EMPTY WHEN TANK IS FULL. 2006 PATHFINDER, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN HAS HAD FOR YEARS AND HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Aug 14, 2008
AFTER FILLING UP, FUEL GAUGE READS 1/4 FULL AND DTE GIVES READING OF ----. HAPPENS EVERY TIME REFILL FOR THE LAST MONTH. VEHICLE HAS 46K MILES. FRIEND HAS A 2006 XTERRA THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE TOLD TO REPLACE SENDING UNIT MODULE. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 1, 2008
2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER, MY DTE GAUGE READS ---- WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE GETS DOWN TO 1/4 OF A TANK AND MY GAS LIGHT IS ON EVEN WITH A FULL TANK. CODE REGISTERED ERROR CODE PO463 AND THAT I NEED A NEW FUEL SENDING UNIT. *TR