Federal safety data shows 5 recalls and 780 complaints for the 2006 Nissan Xterra, a high safety profile overall. Check the known issues section below for the most common problem areas.

Recalls

780

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

10E0190002010-20-05

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

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.

View at NHTSA

10V5170002010-28-10

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.

THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

View at NHTSA

07E0460002007-03-07

EQUIPMENT

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.

View at NHTSA

View all 5 recalls

10V0750002010-03-03

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.

THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

View at NHTSA

08V6900002008-29-12

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

Of 780 issues reported over 1 model years, fuel system, gasoline problems are the most common for the 2006 Nissan Xterra. A pre-purchase inspection should focus here first.

01Fuel System, Gasoline215

02Power Train114

03Engine And Engine Cooling,power Train77

04Fuel/propulsion System64

05Engine40

780 total across 1 model years (2006–2006)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Nissan Xterra Fuel Economy

16–17mpg combined

14-15city

19-20hwy

$2,600-$2,750/yr

The 2006 Nissan Xterra delivers 16 to 17 MPG combined across 4 powertrain combinations. If fuel cost matters to you, pay attention to engine and drivetrain. The spread is significant.

By Trim

Xterra 2WD - Manual 6-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city20 hwy~$2,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 4WD - Manual 6-spd

17mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

15 city19 hwy~$2,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 2WD - Automatic 5-spd

16mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

14 city20 hwy~$2,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Xterra 4WD - Automatic 5-spd

16mpg

4.0L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

14 city19 hwy~$2,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2006 Nissan Xterra

31States

26%in top 3

Colorado has the most inventory at 10%, with options spread across 31 states. Willing to ship? Your selection opens up significantly.

COColorado

2310%

CACalifornia

198%

TXTexas

188%

AZArizona

177%

WAWashington

125%

NCNorth Carolina

125%

FLFlorida

125%

DEDelaware

94%

UTUtah

94%

GAGeorgia

94%

MDMaryland

73%

OROregon

73%

PAPennsylvania

73%

DCWashington DC

73%

CTConnecticut

52%

ILIllinois

42%

INIndiana

42%

NHNew Hampshire

42%

NJNew Jersey

42%

MIMichigan

42%

MOMissouri

42%

OHOhio

42%

MA3

ID3

MN3

NY3

WI3

KY3

NV2

OK2

TN2

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2006.

Buying a 2006 Nissan Xterra?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2006 Nissan Xterra a good car to buy?

The 2006 Nissan Xterra has its strengths and its watch-outs. 5 recalls have been issued, so verify completion with the dealer. Owners report fuel system, gasoline as the area to watch most closely. Check the safety section for recall details and the pricing data to see if the numbers work for you.

Are there recalls on the 2006 Nissan Xterra?

There are 5 documented recalls for the 2006 Nissan Xterra. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2006 Nissan Xterra?

You'll get between 16 and 17 MPG combined from the 2006 Nissan Xterra, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 2006 Nissan Xterra?

Out of 780 owner complaints, fuel system, gasoline issues lead the pack. Get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers this area. The known issues breakdown has all the details.