2006 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
837 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
93,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 741 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 413 of 837 complaints (49.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 497 | 59.4% |
| Engine operation | 83 | 9.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 65 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 45 | 5.4% |
| Braking behavior | 24 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 413 |
| Engine | 147 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 137 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 98 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 71 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 38 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 37 |
Power Train: 413; Engine: 147; Engine And Engine Cooling: 137; Fuel System, Gasoline: 98; Fuel/Propulsion System: 71; Unknown Or Other: 43; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank: 38; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 37
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 55 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 119 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 225 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 256 |
| 150,000 and above | 65 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 55; 50,000 to 74,999: 119; 75,000 to 99,999: 225; 100,000 to 149,999: 256; 150,000 and above: 65
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (256). 96 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 116 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2012 | 123 |
| 2013 | 141 |
| 2014 | 112 |
| 2015 | 83 |
| 2016 | 74 |
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 8; 2009: 45; 2010: 116; 2011: 45; 2012: 123; 2013: 141; 2014: 112; 2015: 83; 2016: 74; 2017: 22; 2018: 25; 2019: 15; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 497 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 83 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 65 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10274737 · 2009-06-23 (June 23, 2009)
THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR AND CRACKED. THIS RESULTS IN THE MIXTURE OF ANTI-FREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. SO THE ENDING RESULT IS ANTI-FREEZE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING THEN FAILS.......THERE IS A LONG LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AT THE EDMUNDS CAR WEB SITE. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?ED_DISPLAYMAKEMODELRELATEDDISCUSSIONS@@.EF14C39!MAKE=NISSAN&MODEL=PATHFINDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291086 · 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR VEHICLE "SHAKING" AT 40 MPH AND AGAIN AT 60 MPH. WE HAVE HAD IT INTO THE SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT BUT AFTER REPLACING U-JOINTS, SOME OTHER ITEMS AND PUTTING NEW TIRES ON OUR VEHICLE IT DIDN'T GET BETTER. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR PATHFINDER HOME ONE NIGHT WITH OUR DAUGHTERS IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING. SHE THOUGHT THAT POSSIBLY SHE WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS ALTHOUGH IT WAS SHOWING A 1/4 TANK BUT WE HAD BEEN NOTICING THAT THE GAS GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE WHEN WE WOULD FILL THE VEHICLE UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258253 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
I PURCHASED AN AFTER-MARKET ENGINE COLD AIR INTAKE FOR MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER I INSTALLED THE INTAKE A PIECE OF METAL FROM THE INTAKE BROKE OF AND GOT LODGED IN THE THROTTLE OF MY VEHICLE DURING A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES, CA. THE METAL PIECE CAUSED MY CAR'S ENGINE TO STALL THE DIE COMPLETELY ON THE FREEWAY WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN BARSTOW, CA WHO REMOVED THE METAL DEBRIS FROM THE THROTTLE. THE MECHANIC INFORM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10258253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310025 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245824 · 2008-10-17 (October 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
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256060 · 2009-01-23 (January 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
Owner-reported narrative. 40,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157568 · 2006-05-15 (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 D…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168824 · 2006-09-21 (September 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254159 · 2009-01-07 (January 7, 2009)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON 12/24/08. ROAD CONDITION WAS WET WITH SOME SLUSH. THE TRACTION LIGHT (SLIP) AND LOW TIRE INDICATORS WERE ON AS THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH FLAGPOLE NISSAN IN ONEONTA NY AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SLIGHT SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED THEN EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER TWO TIMES. SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, BEING STOPPED BY SEVERAL TREES, SO IN ADDITION TO ROLLOV…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285787 · 2009-09-30 (September 30, 2009)
THE ENTIRE BRAKE PEDAL FELL OFF MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO WAY TO STOP VEHICLE - HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THE MOTOR THAT RUNS THE BRAKE PEDAL DIED AND IT ADJUSTED ITSELF OFF COMPLETELY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274610 · 2009-06-22 (June 22, 2009)
I OWN A 2006 PATHFINDER AND BASED ON RESEARCH DONE ONLINE, IT'S APPALLING TO SEE HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THE VEHICLE. I FILLED UP MY TANK ON 6/19, BUT FUEL GAUGE DIDN'T MOVE FROM HALF TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH THE DEALER, IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT $600 TO FIX THIS WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON THE PATHFINDERS, XTERRAS AND FRONTIERS. THE ISSUE IS A FUEL SENDER SENSOR THAT CAN REDUCE OR STOP GAS FROM FLOWING INTO THE ENGINE. THIS IS A PART FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,454 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294879 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)
I HAVE A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT JUST OUT OF THE BLUE, THE SERVICE ENGINE JUST CAME ON. I HAVE READ IN THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GASOLINE, A VERY FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE LIQUID, COMBINE THAT WITH A DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL FUEL SENSOR AND WE ARE TALKING FIRE OR WORST. NISSAN IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, EXCEPT TELLING PEOPLE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. MY NISSAN JUST WENT OVER 39, 000 MILES, HOW CONVENIENT, OUT OF WARRANTY. I JUST HOPE NOBODY IS WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294879 at NHTSA ↗