CarComplaints.com Notes: Radiators are still cracking, leaking coolant and destroying transmissions. Which is a shame when you consider that otherwise, this would be a great small pickup truck.

9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,170
Average Mileage:
117,350 miles
Total Complaints:
136 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace radiator and transmission (54 reports)
  2. replace or rebuild transmission (39 reports)
  3. new radiator and transmission! (9 reports)
  4. not sure (9 reports)
  5. replace transmission and radiator (8 reports)
  6. bypass radiator and rebuild/replace transmission (7 reports)
2006 Nissan Frontier transmission problems

transmission problem

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2006 Nissan Frontier Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #136

Jan 022022

Frontier SV 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am truly upset that I experienced this and felt betrayed by Nissan because they knew about this issue and never recommend that I do any type of service when I take/took my vehicle in for maintenance at its required intervals. Only through talking to the service advisors that I found out about this issue. I had my vehicle for 17 years and take fairly good care of its preventative maintenance. If I had been advised of this problem I would have likely had them do a complete inspection of the radiator. My experience with this was awful and so unexpected because my vehicle showed no signs of trouble. Im now is left with a $10,000 repair bill. I will not be fixing this vehicle and in the process of purchasing a new one. This experience has left me wondering if they at the dealership did this on purpose and did so they can make money doing repairs.

- Cleora P., Honolulu, HI, US

problem #135

Sep 112018

Frontier SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 165,000 miles

Driving in a remote area of Tennessee and the transmission jerks then disengages, car stalls. I start it back up, transmission slips and misses, the car goes about 5 mph with the engine racing. Stop and call AAA and am towed to the dealer for $49. Find out Nissan KNOWS about a "cross contamination problem" with the radiator leaking into the transmission. Knows and does nothing! I can't believe what the dealer is telling me. I log into the Internet and discover the problem is even worse. In spite of NC granting a class action suit Nissan refuses to recall. Even worse, Nissan fails to notify us owners. Had we known we could have replaced the radiator and save the transmission.

I have bought 6 Nissans over the past 12 years. I am stunned and shocked by this corporate malfeasance. Are there new execs running Nissan? Seems that an old saying applies here, "A fish rots from the head." Must be very bad actors running Nissan! Thousands of complaints and no action. Awful! Who can afford a $5k repair?

- T C., Nashville, US

problem #134

May 102018

Frontier XE 2.5L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,500 miles

Had to replace both the radiator and transmission. Definitely affecting my belief in Nissan products.

- Glenn S., La Habra, CA, US

problem #133

Nov 132013

Frontier SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Water transferred to transmission, and tranny fluid into the radiator. A known problem by Nissan, but they wouldn't pay for the damages because it happened after my warranty ended. Cost me almost $6000.00 to have radiator and transmission replaced at the dealership. If I hadn't paid for the repairs out of my own pocket, I'd have a $25,000.00 flower pot in the shape of a truck. Pretty chicken sh*t of Nissan not to cover the cost for a known factory defect. I'll never again buy a Nissan regardless of the model.

- wtwlly, Marysville, US

problem #132

Apr 092018

Frontier SE

  • Automatic transmission
  • 177,000 miles

I add myself to the long list of customers who have had this damage. Nissan has managed to avoid the class action, but not the loss of credibility. Too bad because it could be a great truck. No more Nissan for me.

- Marco C., Hermitage, TN, US

problem #131

Mar 292018

Frontier Nismo 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,941 miles

Just bought a used 2006 Nissan Frontier Nismo, realized there was no coolant in the radiator or reservoir so immediately brought back to dealer to be fixed. Dealer stated radiator had small crack in it, replaced it as under 3 day warranty, 2 and a half months after the 3 day warranty has expired, the transmission was found to be full of coolant and clutch plate stripped of its grip coating. Dealer will not replace or rebuild transmission as the vehicle is no longer under warranty and states i am responsible for the damage done when the dealer failed to check this problem out after replacing the radiator. Is the dealer at fault and should they compensate me for cost of repair or am I responsible for damage done? I had no idea about it until the problem occurred?

- Jacob L., Meriden, CT, US

problem #130

Feb 212018

Frontier LS 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,650 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Nissan should be ashamed of themselves for doing nothing about this well known, easily, and quite affordably fixed problem, and doing nothing to prevent it. When the transmission does fail, and it will, it will do so at great cost to the owner. If you have one of these models and your transmission hasn't failed yet, do yourself a favor and do the radiator bypass at your earliest convenience.

- Terry S., Jackson, US

problem #129

Jun 012017

Frontier SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

I just became aware of the radiator defect that destroys the transmission in a Nissan Frontier 2006. I am completely disgusted in the Company and their lack of credibility in standing behind their vehicles. I bought this used, it is in mint condition with only 93k miles. The dealer only gave a 7 day or 500 mile warranty, both of which passed just 5 days ago. I only became aware of the problem after the fact. I am now going to try to be proactive and replace the radiator before it fails. Hopefully it will save the transmission.

However, knowing what I now know about NISSAN, I will NEVER NEVER NEVER buy any NISSAN product ever. I will pass on this information to any and all current owners of any NISSAN and I will tell everyone I can to avoid the company. Nissan is an emotionally bankrupt company that is EVIL to NOT stand by their product.

The class action lawsuit was a failure..... and the attorneys had no balls... they caved.....

- cullen1, St Petersburg, US

problem #128

Apr 052017

Frontier SE 4.0lV6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

I left my truck running outside I was letting it warm up and when I came out truck was running hot because transmission fluid was mixed with water in the radiator. that is a factory problem, they should be the ones to fix it and I am not the only one, this happened to other people my truck has only 93 thousand miles on it. I talked to a nissan dealer before this problem started, they did not find anything wrong with my truck. I am tired of taking it to nissan. this is the only thing I have to drive to work or anywhere, this is ridiculous.

- lupito, Lafayette, US

problem #127

Nov 012016

Frontier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

We bought a Nissan because we trusted the name.....shoulda stuck with a Toyota. Then after an accident, that more than likely accelerated the problem, the technician told the adjuster that this is a common problem with this model so, of course, they wouldn't pay for it. ANYWAY, no one will touch this transmission so we have no option but get a new one from Nissan. I will never buy another Nissan and I will always check with car complaints prior to buying my next vehicle.

Of course, we just paid if off a week or so before this happened.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR RECALL

- Peggi W., Grifton, NC, US

problem #126

Mar 152017

Frontier SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Nissan has known of this poor engineering design since the beginning. This is a dirty little company secret. I have owned two of these trucks and will never own another Nissan product or recommend one. If you own a 2005-2010 Nissan with the automatic transmission watch out it is only a matter of time before every one of these transmissions fail. This transmission should have been recalled early on and now owners such as myself are getting screwed. Don't buy or support Nissan products!

- Nshan E., Saint Joseph, MO, US

problem #125

Mar 182015

Frontier EX 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

WILL NOT BUY NISSAN AGAIN. TYPICAL WELL KNOW TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR PROBLEM.

- Vidia B., Jacksonville, US

problem #124

Jul 252016

Frontier ES 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 168,000 miles

The transmission it's messed up due to the radiator crack that leaked coolant into the transmission!

- Emanuel M., Houston, TX, US

problem #123

Feb 242017

Frontier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,000 miles

Always been a big fan of Nissan. Loved my 2006 Nissan Frontier truck. Totally caught off guard by this known cracked radiator issue which led to my transmission issue. Why did Nissan not notify me? I would have gladly paid to replace radiator to save my transmission. Very disappointing and extremely bad customer service.

- Tony C., Oshawa, ON, Canada

problem #122

Feb 012017

Frontier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

BOUGHT A NISSAN FRONTIER 2006 LOVED THAT TRUCK. EVERY WHERE I WENT SOME ONE ALWAYS ASKED ME HOW I LIKED MY TRUCK .11 YEARS AND 103K MILES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR TRUCK LOOKS ALMOST NEW AND NOW I HAVE A PIECE OF SH*T .NOW I HEAR THESE TRUCKS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS COME ON NISSAN FIX MY TRUCK AND EVERY BODY ELSES

- June Z., Washington Boro, PA, US

problem #121

Dec 222016

Frontier SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

The engine reved up and the transmission started slipping until it would not move. I had to pull over in a dangerous area on the road and push the truck to get out of the path of traffic.

- Jim B., Homosassa, FL, US

problem #120

Nov 152016

Frontier V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,256 miles

My 2006 V6 4 door cab Nissan Frontier has had a bad tire sensor for a year now and the driver side window failed so the electric motor was replaced in 2012 $300.00. In 2015 my oil sending unit sensor went out and that was $90.00. Now My heater was not functioning correctly so I seen that the antifreeze was very low so I filled to correct level. For 4 days the heater worked fine and then it didn't so I checked the antifreeze level and it was very low again. The antifreeze has been leaking inside the transmission causing irreversible damage.

Now (11/16/2016) 6 days later my transmission has no reverse and wont come out of 1st gear going forward. There is a computer built inside these transmissions. To recap I have to replace Computer/Transmission/Radiator and an extra cost to program the computer for a total $4700.00. I have had Nissan vehicles in the past BUT I WILL NEVER NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE AGAIN!!! I suggest you PURCHASE TOYOTA LIKE I DID.

- Parish M., Sacramento, CA, US

problem #119

Oct 012016

Frontier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 144,000 miles

We received a service notice a few years ago and took to Nissan to get replaced. They would not replace unless there was a problem at that time. Recently went out of town to a family reunion. Truck started slipping and jerking. Checked and added fluid. On the way home transmission slipping out of gear. Had to drive slowly in third gear to get home. Check radiator milky foam in radiator. Still sitting in driveway at the moment.

- hoby1, Steele, MO, US

problem #118

Jul 112016

Frontier SE 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

THIS ISSUE REALLY SET ME BACK FINANCIALLY. I MAY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN IF THIS ISSUE ISN'T RESOLVED BY COMPENSATION.

- Patrick C., South San Francisco, US

problem #117

Aug 022016

Frontier SE 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,720 miles

Should this have warranted a recall from Nissan. Most troubling is that with a letter from Nissan (even if not a safety issue) could have warned and allowed for a much cheaper fix in swapping out the radiator. A Nissan mechanic described the problem and symptoms to me without even seeing the vehicle staing 'see it all the time with the Fronteir' and a few other models he mention. "if we get a vehicle in that hase not 'chattered" we automatically change the radiator with a post 2010 radiator, which was when they finally got the problem corrected. Has anyone gone after Nissan re compensation? I know recalls are usulally just for safety but what of customer service and promoting loyalty. Does Nissan wish to appear 'almost' like VW of late? Would appreciate anyone's look at puersuit of compensation. Thanks

Doug

- 72mgbjones, St, Catharines, ON, Canada

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