2006 Nissan Xterra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2006 Nissan Xterra ranks worst of 11 model years, with 780 complaints and a complaint index of 100, earning an Avoid verdict. Fuel system problems dominate at 47% of complaints, followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 34%.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 11 Xterra years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 780
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 12
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 19
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16.5
- 14.5 city / 19.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 19 / 1
Top 2006 Nissan Xterra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System368 (47%)
- Transmission & Powertrain268 (34%)
- Engine218 (28%)
- Electrical System43 (6%)
- Other30 (4%)
- Steering22 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (3%)
- Airbags20 (3%)
- Brakes9 (1%)
- Structure & Body6 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and side-impact crashes, including one at 40 mph and another during a rollover, sometimes with injuries reported.
- Power steering was reported to fail suddenly, in one case causing the vehicle to veer off a bridge shortly after a scheduled service.
- The engine was reported to surge or accelerate unintentionally while stopping or parking, leading to collisions with parked vehicles.
- Owners reported the vehicle decelerating on its own from highway speed down to 20 mph, accompanied by a burning smell traced to a burned-out clutch.
- The transmission was reported to stall or lose power abruptly at highway speed, with smoke emerging from under the hood in one case.
- Brakes reportedly failed to stop the vehicle after unusual noise was heard, resulting in a rollover crash.
2006 Nissan Xterra recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 10V517000Oct 28, 2010Engine747,480 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 10V075000Mar 3, 2010Fuel System80,689 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 08V690000Dec 29, 2008Airbags242,720 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: 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.
2006 Nissan Xterra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14.5 MPG
- Highway
- 19.5 MPG
- Combined
- 16.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,925
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Xterra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Nissan Xterra reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Xterra ranks worst of 11 model years for this model, with 780 complaints and a complaint index of 100. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Xterra years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2006 Nissan Xterra?
- Fuel system issues make up 47% of complaints, the largest share, with a median failure mileage of 60,000 miles. Transmission and powertrain problems follow at 34% of complaints.
- Does the 2006 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2006 Xterra covering the engine control module relay, a fuel tank sender float arm that can deform, and a front crash zone sensor for the airbag system.
- What year Nissan Xterra should I avoid?
- The 2006 model year has the highest complaint index (100) and worst rank among all 11 years of Xterra data, followed by 2005 at 90 and 2007 at 80, both also rated Avoid.
- How many miles do 2006 Xterra problems typically show up at?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 82,000 miles overall, with fuel system complaints centering around 60,000 miles and transmission complaints around 110,000 miles.