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
837 reports, newest first.
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
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Aug 31, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR NEEDLE REMAINS ON THE EMPTY SYMBOL, EVEN WHEN FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TWO WEEKS LATER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS A SHORT IN THE CLUSTER AND THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM PUERTO RICO. THE PART ARRIVED A WEEK AND A HALF LATER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUSTER. ONE WEEK LATER, THE ODOMETER BEGAN TO DISPLAY THE INCORRECT MILEAGE. THE ODOMETER WAS LATER REPAIRED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AS SOON AS IT WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE TENSION BELT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BELT, BUT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNSURE IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD BE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, SPEED, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,566 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 693.
Power train, Aug 22, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, IT PROCEEDED TO ROLL BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT'S SON SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY AS HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE STREET AND ROLLED INTO A DITCH. ROSSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED CASE NUMBER 070703509. NISSAN SENT AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE TOW YARD TO THE DEALER. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND NISSAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,013.
Suspension, Equipment, Apr 21, 2007
FOR ALL THOSE REPORTING THE SWAYING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I HAVE A NISSAN TERRANO WHICH LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SWAYING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE TRIED EVERY MECHANIC I KNOW, CHANGED MY SHOCKS, AND YOU NAME IT...LATELY, I WOULD HEAR A THUMP IN THE REAR WHEN I PULLED OFF FROM STOP POSITION. THE THUMP ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I RUN OVER A SHORT SPEED BUMP. WHEN I CAME HOME ONE EVENING, I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT A VISUAL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I WILL FIND ANYTHING. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSHINGS OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN OUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BREAKING UP(THE BUSHINGS) WHICH ALLOWS METAL TO RUB OR HIT ANOTHER METAL AND THAT EXPLAINS THE THUMP THAT I WILL USUALLY HEAR. IN MY OPINION THE WORN OUT BUSHINGS ALSO EXPLAIN THE SWAYING THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE JUST FIGURE IT OUT, THE BUSHINGS OF THE ARMS THAT LINK THE REAR AXLE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE WEAK, BUT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE SWAYING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN IF IT DID IT WILL BE UN-NOTICEABLE. THIS SWAYING AT HIGH SPEEDS IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR OR FRONT. MY ADVISE IS TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY THE BUSHINGS OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THERE SHOULD BE FOUR OF THEM, TWO LONG ONES AND TWO SHORT ONES. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AFTER ALL THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD! ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE CONTROL ARMS ARE BENT. FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL. *TR
Tires, Dec 7, 2006
TIRE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS LESS THAN 7,000 MILES. THE TIRE SHOWS CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE TIRE NOT JUST ON THE SPOT OF FAILURE. THE OTHER TIRE HAD THE SAME VISIBLE CRACKS BUT THE TIRE RETAILER CLAIMED THAT TIRE FAILED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4X4. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONGTRAIL T/A, P265/70 R16 111T M+S. *JB
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 16, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WERE STOLEN. IN ORDER TO FUEL THE VEHICLE, ALL THE LOCKS MUST BE UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.
Seats, Oct 9, 2006
THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT BACK WILL NOT HOLD A CONSTANT POSITION. THE SEAT GRADUALLY MOVES FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND IS NEVER IN THE SAME POSITION WHEN YOU GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY ANNOYING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT NEEDS READJUSTED EVERY TIME YOU SIT DOWN TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW SWITCH 4 WEEKS AGO AND CLAIMS THAT IT IS OWN BACK ORDER.
Power train, Oct 3, 2006, crash
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 CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. A PASSENGER HAD A MINOR INJURY TO THE ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB
Steering, Sep 21, 2006
ON JULY 6, 2006 > 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER LE. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TIGHTEN. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS BECOMING HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION TO CHANGE LANES. WHICH WAS SCARY BECAUSE I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER AND BY THE TIME I GOT THERE I COULD BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO TURN IN. WHEN THEY EXAMINED THE CAR THEY FOUND THE UPPER BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHEARING AND HAD COME APART. I WAS LUCKY I WAS CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HOME OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WERE I COULD NOT PULL OVER. THEY HAD MY CAR IN THERE OVER A WEEK AND A HALF WHICH WAS A BIG INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS LOCATING THE PART AND I WAS GETTING A RUN AROUND ABOUT IT. I WOULD CALL AND THEY WOULD NOT CALL ME BACK FOR A DAY OR TWO. THEN I WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS HAPPENING TO THE NEW PATHFINDERS AND THEY HAD MADE A NEWER PART FOR IT THAT WOULD NOT COME APART. SO THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A NEW ONE AND SO FAR IT HAS DRIVEN GREAT. IT WAS A BIT UPSETTING TO GET A BRAND NEW CAR THOUGH AND IN ONLY 5 MONTHS I WAS ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. *JB
Steering, May 15, 2006
I BOUGHT MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE NEW FROM THE DEALER. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FELL OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WERE BROKEN CLIPS. THEY ORDERED A NEW SEAT-BACK AND INSTALLED IT. A WEEK OR SO AFTER THIS, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE REAR AIR WAS ON FULL-BLAST. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED A FINISHING CLIP AND RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. DURING THIS VISIT TO THE DEALER, I ALSO POINTED OUT HOW THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE A PROBLEM. BEING THAT THIS "LOOSE" STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING ANNOYING, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS WITH THE STEERING. A TECH CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINT AND ARE NOW ORDERING A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *NM
Other or unspecified, Mar 27, 2006
I GOT THIS VEHICLE FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON 3-11-2006. THIS DEALERSHIP DID FRAUD. FIRST OF ALL THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO MILES ON IT BUT IT DID HAD MILES ON IT AND PLENTY OF THEM. THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG CAR. THE CAR THEY SHOWED ME THAT I WAS GOING TO RECEIVED IS NOT THE CAR I RECEIVED. WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS TOO LATE. THIS DEALERSHIP IS A COMPLETE LIAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT GETS BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WANT TO CANCEL THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. *JB