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2006 Nissan Frontier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 617 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Nissan Frontier, most often about the fuel system (41% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Frontier model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2006 Nissan Frontier problems
Fuel system
251 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
The fuel level sensor on my 2006 Nissan Frontier crew cab stopped working right after the warranty period was up. It started fluctuating and giving false readings, then stopped working all together. Since the fuel sensor is tied to the check engine light, I was unable to obtain a safety inspection sticker until the…
Service light comes on when fueling truck fuel gauge reads empty after fueling this happens every time I fill up. Nissan refuses to recall the truck with bad fuel sensors.
Transmission
220 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 103,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
Coolant fron radiator entered transmission causing shuttering. Vehicle was brought to Nissan for repair. Engine coolant had entered the transmission causing failure to transmission. Coolant system was replaced and transmission was flushed. After 5000 miles the transmission had completely failed. The failure occured…
Automatic transmission slipped when changing gears when vehicle was cold. Took it in for service and was told water was in the transmission caused by a leak in the radiator. Problem was a known issue with the Nissan design and since it was past the 80k mile warranty it was not covered. Radiator and transmission both…
Engine
155 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
Camshaft sensors (cps?) replaced today at dealer. Friday my truck stalled as I pulled into a highway at night. Almost got broadsided by tractor trailor truck. These sensor failures cause a rapid stall under power and hard starting after the stalls. Last month I had the crankshaft sensors replaced as well. Before that…
A transmission line from the cooler runs through the radiator. The line failed allowing fluid from the radiator to enter the transmission. This caused massive vibrations and vehicle stalling when attempting to accelerate onto the freeway or to pass, creating a hazardous situation in traffic.
Steering
34 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: column.
Steering column became loose, had a lot of play in it. We had it checked by a reputable auto repair shop & it was discovered the top bearing on the steering column was broken. The entire column had to be replaced they dealer told them the bushing which broke could not be replaced. The repairman said this could be…
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact was traveling 5 MPH when a popping noise emitted from the steering column. The contact confirmed that the vehicle became hard to steer but the power steering assist did not completely fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the steering…
Electrical
31 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 105,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
I had driven aprox 20 miles on interstate when I noticed when truck shifted between 4th and overdrive the motor was racing. I turned off cruise control and turned of the overdrive with the trailer switch. I stopped at station checked fluids but everything seemed ok. When leaving station the transmission was slipping…
The evidence of engine and power transfer evidently progressed over of days and regressed within a matter of hours, then minutes to the point where engine would barely start and obviously barely propel the truck over 10 MPH w/engine dying out regardless of throttle or automatic shift position. I limped the vehicle to…
Air bags
26 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH a vehicle crashed into the rear of her vehicle causing her to crash into an embankment and the air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained a one inch laceration over her eye, a black eye and bruising. The vehicle was not repaired.…
My air bag light has been on and took it into the dealership. Was told the front impact sensor was the issue, which was covered under a Nissan campaign for known issues. Truck was initially purchased in ny and driven on salted roads, which was the cause for sensor failure, however I lived in fl at the time the recall…
Brakes
21 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages, foundation components.
Rear differential pinion seal and rear axle seal leaks causing gear oil to leak on brakes causing loss of rear brakes. First and last Nissan!
I was driving down a steep hill and applied the brakes they went to the floor and I had no brakes, I went over an embankment. I continued to pump breaks and they finally came up enough to stop me in the field. The air bags deployed.
Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 103,000 miles.
Coolant fron radiator entered transmission causing shuttering. Vehicle was brought to Nissan for repair. Engine coolant had entered the transmission causing failure to transmission. Coolant system was replaced and transmission was flushed. After 5000 miles the transmission had completely failed. The failure occured…
Recently my 2006 Nissan Frontier transmission started to make a grinding noise at speeds when shifting to a lower gear. I checked the computer about possible problems; that is when I found out about the transmission lines failing inside of the radiator. The water was leaking into my transmission. Nissan and the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Nissan Frontier recalls
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: auxillary tank
Risk: This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: filler pipe and cap
Risk: This may result in a fuel spill which in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel cap tether pin assembly with a modified one free of charge. The recall began on april 24, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
On certain king cab trucks, in a severe side impact crash, there is a possibility that deformation of the vehicle's body could cause the fuel filler cap tether to be stretched to the point of unscrewing the fuel filler cap.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel smell and loss of motive power
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has completed its review of a petition dated february 5, 2026, requesting an investigation into model year (my) 2006 nissan frontier vehicles. The petition alleged that the vehicles pose an imminent fire hazard due to a powerful and persistent odor of raw gasoline emanating from the vehicle, indicating a breach in fuel system integrity. The petition also alleged that the vehicles can experience sudden engine stalling during startup and operation, creating an unreasonable risk of collision or loss of vehicle control. The petition further asserted these symptoms are identical to conditions addressed in previous NHTSA recalls (recalls 10v-075, 07v-435,
Transmission failures
Summary
On february 29, 2012 the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into my 2005-2010 nissan pathfinder, frontier, and xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.it will also be published in the federal register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfa
Questions about the 2006 Nissan Frontier
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Nissan Frontier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (251 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); transmission (220 complaints, typically around 103,000 miles); engine (155 complaints, typically around 98,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Nissan Frontier have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 28, 2010 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Nissan Frontier?
- It is the most complained-about Frontier model year since 2000, with 617 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.