2006 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Recalls (832 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder is Transmission / driveline (35% of 832 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 832 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?

287 of 832 filings named Transmission / driveline (35% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Fuel system (203 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2005 has 1,045 reports on file; this year has 832. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 287 complaints · 34.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 11
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2005 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 287 of 832 owner complaints (34.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 287 complaints, 34.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 287 · 34.5% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 203 complaints, 24.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 203 · 24.4% Engine (ENGINE): 199 complaints, 23.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 199 · 23.9% Steering (STEERING): 36 complaints, 4.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 crash reports 36 · 4.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 20 complaints, 2.4% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 20 · 2.4% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 11 complaints, 1.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 crash reports 11 · 1.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 9 complaints, 1.1% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 9 · 1.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 6 complaints, 0.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 6 · 0.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 0.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 · 0.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 262 complaints, 31.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 crash reports 262 · 31.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 287 34.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 203 24.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 199 23.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 36 4.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 20 2.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 11 1.3% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 9 1.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 6 0.7% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 0.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 262 31.5% 3 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2006; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2007. 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2009-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2009-Q2: 15 owner reports 15 2009-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2009-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2010-Q1: 26 owner reports 26 2010-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2010-Q3: 31 owner reports 31 2010-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2011-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2011-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2011-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2012-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2012-Q2: 26 owner reports 26 2012-Q3: 34 owner reports 34 2012-Q4: 41 owner reports 41 2013-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2013-Q2: 43 owner reports 43 2013-Q3: 36 owner reports 36 2013-Q4: 26 owner reports 26 2014-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2014-Q2: 38 owner reports 38 2014-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2014-Q4: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q1: 22 owner reports 22 2015-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2015-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2015-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2016-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2016-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2016-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2018-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2006 Apr 2025 Recall campaign 07E046000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E046000 Recall campaign 08V690000 ◆ Recall campaign 08V690000 Recall campaign 10V075000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V075000 Recall campaign 10E019000 ◆ Recall campaign 10E019000 Recall campaign 10V517000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V517000 Investigation DP12004 ● Investigation DP12004
  • Campaign 08V690000 was reported 81 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V075000 was reported 915 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 3
2007-Q3 Owner reports 2
2008-Q3 Owner reports 3
2008-Q4 Owner reports 5
2009-Q1 Owner reports 10
2009-Q2 Owner reports 15
2009-Q3 Owner reports 8
2009-Q4 Owner reports 11
2010-Q1 Owner reports 26
2010-Q2 Owner reports 37
2010-Q3 Owner reports 31
2010-Q4 Owner reports 20
2011-Q1 Owner reports 7
2011-Q2 Owner reports 8
2011-Q3 Owner reports 19
2011-Q4 Owner reports 11
2012-Q1 Owner reports 22
2012-Q2 Owner reports 26
2012-Q3 Owner reports 34
2012-Q4 Owner reports 41
2013-Q1 Owner reports 36
2013-Q2 Owner reports 43
2013-Q3 Owner reports 36
2013-Q4 Owner reports 26
2014-Q1 Owner reports 23
2014-Q2 Owner reports 38
2014-Q3 Owner reports 27
2014-Q4 Owner reports 24
2015-Q1 Owner reports 22
2015-Q2 Owner reports 24
2015-Q3 Owner reports 25
2015-Q4 Owner reports 12
2016-Q1 Owner reports 20
2016-Q2 Owner reports 20
2016-Q3 Owner reports 21
2016-Q4 Owner reports 13
2017-Q1 Owner reports 4
2017-Q2 Owner reports 7
2017-Q3 Owner reports 5
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 9
2018-Q2 Owner reports 13
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q1 Owner reports 3
2019-Q2 Owner reports 6
2019-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 3
2020-Q1 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 07E046000
Recall campaign 1 08V690000
Recall campaign 1 10V075000
Recall campaign 1 10E019000
Recall campaign 1 10V517000
Defect investigation 1 DP12004
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 07E046000

    Safety recall 07E046000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 08V690000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 10E019000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 10V075000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 10V517000

    Safety recall 10V517000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 832 complaints · page 1 of 34
2025-06-24Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11668994
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I've ran out of gas twice my indicator the gas tank gauge does not show that the vehicle is empty it shows it's full and then I run out of gas on the side of the road almost get hit by cars trying to get to gas station to get more gas in the middle of traffic very dangerous have my daughter with me trying to push my vehicle out of the way so I don't get hit apparently it's a recall that says mine was done but it's not done because it's still having problems I am the third owner of mine so I think it was mislabeled as completed if that's the case then how do I know any of these recalls have been done properly
2025-01-16Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11636259
CrashFireInjuryDeath
See attached document for complaint.
2024-10-11Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11619336
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact stated that the company owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the fuel gauge displayed a full tank, then suddenly displayed that the fuel was empty, improperly displaying the fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the fuel level sensor was high causing the fuel pump to fail. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
2024-06-12Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11593953
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of transmission failure during the gear shifting. The contact stated that the gear shifter would remain in neutral. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,364.
2023-11-24Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11556631
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was hit on the drivers side, where the front drivers door stops and the back door begins. The other drivers was estimated at going 50-60 mph. My car spun and rolled over 360 degrees. None of the airbags deployed. The sheriff, ambulance, firefighters all told me to report it. The car was totaled at the scene so unfortunately no inspections were able to be made. There were not warning lights previous to the accident.
2022-09-14Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11484498
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission oil cooler line in radiator broke causing coolant and transmission oil to mix and car is not driveable and needs $3,000 repairs
2022-09-02Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11482604
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Car shuts off In the middle of driving & also when simply parked. It starts jerking like it’s trying to catch up then it kills. It’s happened in front of traffic and busy roadways/intersections. It has happened more than once.
2021-12-02Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 11442381
CrashFireInjuryDeath
UNKNOWN. Every time I drive above 50 mph the car vibrates hard and it’s audible. It feels like the engine. I had it checked out by two mechanics but they couldn’t figure it out. I had my wheels balanced, bought new tires at the mechanic suggestion. That hasn’t helped. I’m not sure if this is safe to drive and it doesn’t make me feel safe. This has been going on for months. Please let me know if they’re similar complaints and what I should do about it. Thank you
2021-07-17Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11425281
CrashFireInjuryDeath
.Transmission failed do to coolant in transmission. .got stuck in traffic and couldn’t go anywhere .this is a known problem with these vehicles .vehicle has been inspected by owner who is a mechanic .there were no warning signs
2021-03-20Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11404042
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING A LITTLE LET FOR US WHEN I START FROM THE STOP SIGN OR FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN THE ENGINE IS COOL AND I 1ST STOP IT RUNS FINE FOR THE 1ST MINUTE OR 2 BUT THEN AS I'M DRIVING ALL OF SUDDEN IT START SLIPPING REAL BAD IF I'M IN REGULAR DRIVE WOULD YOU OVERDRIVE ON WHICH IN 5TH GEAR CANNOT GO ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER 55 MILES AN HOUR AND JUST THAT SLIPPING REAL BAD UNLESS I PUT IT IN 4TH GEAR BY TAKING THE OVERDRIVE OFF DANIEL RIDE OKAY FOR A WHILE BUT IT'S SOON AS I GO TO A STOP SIGN OR I STOPPED THE VEHICLE TAKING OFF IT'S SLIP SO BAD IT ALMOST IS NOT MOVE AT ALL ONCE YOU GET SOME MOVING AND RUNS NOT TOO BAD BUT THE LONGER I DRIVE IT TO WHERE SHE GETS UNTIL I SHUT IT OFF COOLED OFF AND THEN IT WORKS AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 287 of 832 reports (35%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources