CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005-2007 Xterra appears to have a widespread defect where coolant leaks into the transmission, causing transmission failure around 90,000 miles. Repair costs are typically upwards of $3,500.

The same defect exists in the Pathfinder & Frontier as well. And according to the New York Times & a class action lawsuit, the defect actually extends through 2010 model year. More info here.

3.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,065 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Nissan Xterra fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2006 Nissan Xterra Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Apr 082011

Xterra 6-cyl

  • 114,000 miles

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

Engine light activation and fuel level discrepancy. Engine code PO463 (fuel level sensor a high input). Told by Nissan that this individual vehicle is not covered under the recall for this problem even though it is reported that 80, 689 vehicles have been affected.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

problem #36

Mar 102010

Xterra

  • 40,000 miles
2006 Nissan Xterra fuel gauge. The gauge drops to E and sends a check engine code to the dash and doesn't read how much gas is in the Xterra at any give time. I have spoken to Nissan dealership and they have said it wasn't part of the national recall of other Nissan fuel tank issues. This is ridiculous I am still in the 60000 mile engine warranty and it should be covered my the fuel pump 60000 mile warranty as well.

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #35

Oct 032010

Xterra

  • 46,756 miles
Dear sir or madam, my 2006 Nissan Xterra with only 46,000 miles recently showed the check engine light and ran out of gas on the highway. The fuel gauge said there was still a quarter of a tank of gas remaining. When I got to auto zone, the computer threw the code P0463, which indicates a faulty fuel gauge. I went online and discovered that lots of people have the same complaint. For this reason, I request that you add this to the list of recalled parts on this vehicle. Obviously, as I experienced, it is a safety concern. The prevalence of this malfunction indicates a systemic problem rather than isolated, unrelated incidences. It will cost me $600 at the dealer to get this problem fixed. It won't save me that money, but hopefully will prevent someone's future safety issue. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #34

Sep 122010

Xterra

  • 53,370 miles

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

I went to a gas station to fill up my 2006 Nissan Xterra. It said I had about a quarter of a tank left, I put in 40 dollars worth of gas and when I turned the car back on the gauge still said 1/4 of a tank. I parked the car turned it off, checked the cap and then turned it back on, it still said 1/4 of a tank and then the service engine soon light came on. I googled the problem when I got home and found hundreds of other people have had the same exact problem with the same exact circumstances on cars from Nissan from the same model year. The part costs 600 dollars to replace.

- Bridgewater, MA, USA

problem #33

Jul 142010

Xterra

  • 60,000 miles
2006 Nissan Xterra fuel sending unit defective and will not be replaced by Nissan. Pump works fine but fuel gauge goes from full to empty when tank is full. My daughter ran out of gas on highway at 11pm one night.

- West Springfield, MA, USA

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problem #32

Aug 222010

Xterra

  • miles
I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra who's fuel sensing mechanism has failed which causes the "check engine" light to go on. Nissan wants $150 plus labor to fix the problem. After reading several forums, I am filing a complaint against Nissan in hopes of a recall.

- Havertow, PA, USA

problem #31

Aug 042010

Xterra

  • 55,500 miles

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

My 2006 Nissan Xterra fuel gauge is not showing the proper amount of fuel that is going into the tank. I fill it up and the gauge stays on empty. It will not register a full tank. The service engine light remains on and will not go off. After performing a search, I came across many others who have experienced the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the fuel sending unit. A similar problem was found on the 2000-2004 Xterra models and a recall was performed when the vehicle would stop after not getting any fuel, posing a great danger. It seems that something in the unit is faulty and will corrode over time. There is a general consensus that everyone who is having the problem is experiencing the same thing after having the vehicle for over 2 yrs and with around 39K-49K. If this problem existed in previous models, and it was recalled, the 2005-2007 Xterras, frontiers, and pathfinders should get this fixed at no charge to the customer!! why wait for accidents and possible deaths, especially since the problem lies in an integral part of the vehicle. Cost of repair ranges from $300-600."

- Orange City, FL, USA

problem #30

Mar 012010

Xterra

  • 95,000 miles
I have a problem. I fill my 2006 Nissan Xterra up with gas. The gas gauge goes to empty. After driving for about 20 mins if would float slowly up to the full mark. It takes about 4 days to go to full, but at this point the tank has already reached about half(I drive 30 mins one way to work). This causes the check engine light to come on, which makes me fail my emissions test. This problems occurs every time I put gas in my car. I checked the diagnosis for the check engine light and it came up as faulty fuel sending unit. I talked to the Nissan dealership and asked about this recall, but said that I am not covered and would have to pay 300-400 dollars for it to be replace (parts and labor). I feel that this should be covered under the recall and obviously many people are having problems with it.

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #29

Nov 012009

Xterra

  • 48,000 miles
Fuel gauge censor failed 11/01/09 2006 Nissan Xterra, recall on this model for 2006 Xterra, for this exact same problem, does not include my VIN #. Nissan refused to fix the problem.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #28

Mar 272010

Xterra

  • 55,000 miles
Fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank is out on my 2006 Nissan Xterra. This is under recall on certain model/year Nissan and mine is having the same problem. Not sure why mine is not included in this recall as my service engine light has been on for three months as the cost of repair is over $600 as the entire gas tank has to be removed (had light "read" and problem was fuel sending unit".

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #27

May 042010

Xterra

  • 30,082 miles

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

We have a 2006 Nissan Xterra that we just bought used and the fuel sending unit is bad and there is a recall in your March 2010 for this vehicle. I ran the VIN number and that particular VIN number doesn't show a recall. I have contacted Nissan and the had me do a diagnostic check with our local dealer and he confirms it is the fuel sending unit. The gauge just all of a sudden shows 1/4 tank which can be deceiving and dangerous if it runs out of gas. They Nissan only offered to split cost of the repair but I find it hard to believe there are thousands of others of this same vehicle under recall but not mine for the very same problem. They point to the fact that the ntbs has not recalled this particular vehicle. Can you help this should be covered.

- Great Falls, MT, USA

problem #26

Nov 252009

Xterra

  • 25,000 miles
After fueling my 06 Nissan Xterra, the fuel light read empty and the check engine indicator turned on. Failed emissions.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #25

May 062010

Xterra

  • 73,829 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I own a 2006 Nissan Xterra. I took it to dealer in response to 'service engine soon' light. They informed me that they would have to replace the "fuel level sending unit inside the the fuel tank". in researching the NHTSA site I discovered that there was a recall for this exact problem for 2006 through 2008 Nissan Xterras. Unfortunately my VIN number was not included within this campaign. I would submit that it is only fair that my vehicle be included considering the nature of the malfunction. Please consider extending the coverage that those within my VIN grouping may receive notification and repair. Thank you. [xxx]

- Parma, MI, USA

problem #24

Mar 172010

Xterra

  • 50,000 miles
Many Nissan 2006 Xterra's recalled for fuel sending device not working, in other words, gas gage does not work. I was told by Nissan that they are keeping records of thoe not recalled, may be future recalls. Fuel gage does not work. Their sonsumer complaint line said stick a stick down gas tank line to see if have gas, ridiculous. How do I have the same problem and not qualify for recall.

- Springboro, OH, USA

problem #23

Sep 222009

Xterra

  • miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra with fuel gauge misreading problem. One day, the fuel gauge meter dropped down to empty and light came on despite I had a quarter tank of gas. Ever since then I cannot tell how much gas is actually in the tank. When the gauge shows a quarter tank, it's literally empty, and when I fill up the tank, it takes hours to read full tank. I have researched articles about this problem, and found a lot of people are experiencing the exact same problem. I have called the Nissan hq but they said my VIN is not under the recall models, but on the website (www.autobuyguide.com/2006/12-aut/Nissan/Xterra/recalls/index.html ) it specifically lists the same issue that I'm having and are under recall models. I strongly believe this problem should be a recall for all Xterra owners who are experiencing the inconvenience and are not very happy. This will be my first and last Nissan I will purchase. [xxx]

- Artesia, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 202010

Xterra

  • 27,000 miles
Fuel sending unit failed with 27,000 miles. In earlier Xterra's their is a recall for this problem. Nissan will not cover this under warranty and I must get it replaced because I will not be able to see how much gas I have in the tank and or the reading will be erronious. This could cause the car to run out of gas at any time.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #21

Feb 252010

Xterra

  • 60,000 miles
My 2006 Nissan Xterra consistently shows no fuel in the gas tank when I know there is.

- Braintree, MA, USA

problem #20

Dec 262009

Xterra

  • 67,600 miles
Fuel sending pump fails to register how much gas is in the tank at any given time. This caused the "service engine soon" light to come on. This is acknowledged defect in other 2006 Xterras but I was told that my VIN is not qualified because I have one of the "new pumps" that isn't defective. However, the dealership told me that the pumps is defective and that is why is needs to be replaced. But my VIN doesn't qualify.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #19

Dec 012009

Xterra

  • 60,000 miles
I was driving my 06 Nissan Xterra on a busy highway with 1/4 tank showing on my fuel gauge. All of a sudden, the car shut down. I was barely able to get the vehicle to the breakdown lane without being struck by another vehicle. It turns out the fuel sender unit (error code PO463) is defective and the vehicle had actually run out of gas. The unit will be $600 to repair, and is not covered by a warranty. My research indicates that this is a common failure for Nissan of this age. The gas gauge is now entirely useless, and I must estimate my gas usage to avoid this happening again.

- Newport, RI, USA

problem #18

Dec 202009

Xterra

  • 41,000 miles
I had 1/4 of a tank of gas and went to fill up. After filling up my gas tank, I turned on the car, at which point the needle did not register the full tank. After driving a couple miles, the check engine light came on. I went directly to the dealer and was told that it was a fuel sending unit/sensor and that it was no longer covered after 30K miles. After returning home and doing research, I went online to X.nissanhelp.com after performing a search, I came across many others who have experienced the same problem. Apparently it has something to do with the fuel sending unit. A similar problem was found on the 2000-2004 Xterra models and a recall was performed when the vehicle would stop after not getting any fuel, posing a great danger. It seems that something in the unit is faulty and will corrode over time. There is a general consensus that everyone who is having the problem is experiencing the same thing after having the vehicle for over 2 yrs and with around 39K-49K. If this problem existed in previous models, and it was recalled, the 2005-2007 Xterras, frontiers, and pathfinders should get this fixed at no charge to the customer!! why wait for accidents and possible deaths, especially since the problem lies in an integral part of the vehicle. Cost of repair ranges from $300-600.

- Orlando, FL, USA

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