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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,251 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 Frontier engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Nissan Frontier Owner Comments (Page 4 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #20

Oct 092013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 87,870 miles

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

Vehicle began to shift upward and downward erratically at various speeds and RPM. It would also shake and shudder like the whole vehicle was on a rocky road -- everything vibrating from the frame to the steering wheel. Very sudden, alarming, and disconcerting.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #19

Sep 202013

Frontier

  • 117,800 miles
The vehicle struggle to accelerate when pressing on the accelerator.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #18

Jan 012013

Frontier 4WD 6-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
I have a 2006 Nissan Frontier and for the last 9 or 10 months it becomes "herky-jerky" at various speeds. I only drive this vehicle in the winter so yesterday I took it in to the dealership and today they informed me the coolant had leaked into the transmission. The dealership informed me the cost for the repair is $6500. I asked them if this was something normal and they said it was unusual. I did some checking on the internet and found out there was a settlement agreement regarding this defect. Other sites directed me to make a complaint with you because this appears to be a widespread problem and due to the fact the settlement agreement was essentially worthless. Given this I am filing this complaint with you in hopes this will turn into a recall. Also, made a claim today with Nissan and expecting a case worker to call back tomorrow. If they do not agree to pay for the cost of the damage I will take them to small claims. Of note, I have only sued one entity before in my life (49yo) and it was Nissan back in 1997 and I won. It was a defect in the wiring of my previous Frontier. I can say Nissan likes to play hard ball and not settle or admit to any of their faults. I gave them more than sufficient evidence and was very patient in this prior claim, but they kept denying. I learned my lesson that time and this time I will not be so patient and will inform them I will taken more expeditiously this time.

- Cumming, IA, USA

problem #17

Sep 092013

Frontier

  • 106,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into reverse, the vehicle failed to respond without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was advised that the radiator fluid was leaking into the transmission. As a result, the radiator and the power transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 106,000. The VIN was not available.

- North Tonawanda, NY, USA

problem #16

Aug 082013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 143,396 miles
I have a 2006 Nissan Frontier SE 4X4 crew cab with 143396 miles and going about 40-45 miles per hrs I hear a chatter in the rear of the truck. Made an appointment with a Nissan dealer in my area and the out come was.. the truck needs a transmission and radiator replacement and it is out of warranty the replacement at the dealer would be a cost to me of $5132.13. Nissan had a class action suite in New York and the only win for us consumers was that they extended the mileage to 100,000. I called Nissan and was informed that if I had 120,000 miles on the truck that there would be a cover under the warranty. Nissan knows that there is a issue with tranny and radiator but they did no recalls so now we are stuck. If you are on a fixed income who has over $5000 dollars laying a round for this kind of repair. I can still drive the truck but its not safe if the tranny shuts down on the hwy then what ? looks like a accident waiting to happen. Cant have that. So the truck will sit in my yard till I get some answers that will help me get this issue solved.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #15

Aug 032013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 82,893 miles
As I began to enter the highway and increase speed to about 65 mph, I noticed what felt to be a slip in gears. Each time I decreased by speed and increased over 50 mph, I could feel the same type of slip. Although I drive my vehicle daily, it is usually for very short distances, as I am in town driving. I have only noticed this slip of gears while on the interstate. Today I took my vehicle to the Nissan dealership for diagnosis. I was informed that I was no longer under warranty and would have a $2500 deductible for the replacement of the radiator & transmission. My vehicle is properly maintained at recommended intervals, with low mileage. I came home to do some research and learned about the reported radiator/transmission problems for some 2005-2010 Nissan truck and SUV models. I do not remember ever receiving any information from Nissan regarding the potential transmission failure for my make and model and I am disappointed to know that a recall was not issued, as this is a serious safety issue. The service manager also did not mention any of this to me. The only thing that clued me in to an issue was that he mentioned "deductible" and that I was just about 3,000 miles over the warranty. Knowing that a power-train warranty is usually 36/36000, I started thinking, how could I only be 3,000 miles outside of the warranty? Nissan should be held accountable as numerous reports have been made. Extending a warranty to 8/80,000 is also a joke, since most of the reported issues, have not occurred until after 80,000, as in my case. I should not be stuck with this maintenance bill; this is Nissan's responsibility. Sometimes doing the right thing as opposed to doing the most profitable is in order. Too bad Nissan does not care enough to keep their customers satisfied, but most importantly, safe!

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #14

Jul 082013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 105,401 miles

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

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 when shifting. I was able to drive it home. Next day transmission shop told me transmission would need to be rebuilt. After google info I told shop to also replace radiator also. I got the truck back 2 weeks later. After 5 days of driving while traveling home from job. Transmission locked up and truck came to stop in middle of road. I looked under hood and found oil in radiator. The truck was towed back to shop. Come to find out the shop had replaced with used radiator. The same thing had happened again where antifreeze mixed with transmission oil causing extensive damage, still in shop and waiting on its return. Spent 12000 on truck and in first month. 400 miles and 3000 in repairs. And still climbing.

- Camdenton, MO, USA

problem #13

Jul 082013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
Whilst trying to drive forward, the vehicle is unable to have enough momentum to drive- in other words the transmission is not functioning correctly. According to the mechanic I brought it to, I was advised that he has seen this happen with this make/model/year before and it is caused due to an issue with the radiator leaking anti-freeze into the transmission system.

- Pottstown, PA, USA

problem #12

May 172013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 116,000 miles
The transmission stopped and my vehicle would not go faster than 2 mph. I could not get it uphill. I had to have it towed. It was constantly jumping forward prior to this incident. On the highway it felt like it couldn't get out of gear.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #11

Sep 132012

Frontier

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 87,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #10

Apr 082013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 99,800 miles

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

When driving, a "rumbling" noise would come and go and a "whining" noise while accelerating. The rumbling noise was not consistent but would sound like a was driving on the side of the round. It would usually appear around 40-60 mph when I would let off the gas and "coast" and try to press the gas again. I did not know there was a "warranty extension". I was not notified. Took the truck into the shop only to find out my transmission was going out due to the fact I have radiator coolant (antifreeze) in my transmission fluid; (over a gallon) cause by a factory defect. Something to do with a transmission piece going through the radiator and leaking. Mileage for my truck is right at 99,800. Barely made the 100,000 miles 3000 dollar so-called Nissan warranty extension..

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #9

Mar 292013

Frontier

  • 135,000 miles
Transmission failed completely while my daughter was driving leaving her stranded in a busy intersection. Vehicle was towed. Transmission was found to have radiator fluid in it as well as transmission fluid in the cooling system. After investigating this issue on the internet it is obvious that Nissan has been aware of the issue with faulty radiators for a long time. (when I was still under my extended warranty.) had Nissan informed owners this could have resolved with a radiator change that I would have gladly done at my expense. Now I'm looking at over $4000 in repair costs. Shame on Nissan!

- Mather, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 242012

Frontier

  • 130,000 miles
On my 2006 Nissan Frontier my radiator coolant mixed in with my transmission oil and it caused my tranny to blow out and also for my timing belt to get messed up and so I had to replace my tranny and radiator and timing belts at a total of over 4 thousand dollars. I really think Nissan should make this a recall regardless of your mileage because if they don't hundreds and thousand of people will stop buying Nissan. Please inform me of anything with the investigation with Nissan.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 242012

Frontier

  • 96,792 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the temperature gauge rose and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that there were signs of oil mixed into the radiator. As a result, the radiator had to be replaced and the transmission needed to be flush. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic. The technician decided to replace the transmission since it had started to shift gears independently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 96,792 and the current mileage was 104,000.

- Glenshaw, PA, USA

problem #6

Jan 182012

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
The seal between the engine coolant and transmission fluid portions of the radiator fails, contaminating the transmission fluid with coolant water. Causing my engine to slip when changing 1st and 2nd gear. I just found out about this problem when I received a letter that there was a class action lawsuit about this problem. Nissan knew about this problem and fail to notify owner of the this problem in a timely matter. If I had known this problem then I would have replace the radiator instead of having to replace my whole transmission causing me thousands of dollars.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Jan 112013

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 98,400 miles
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 the ipdm relay recall gave me problems. I'm still fighting to get my fuel sending unit replaced (Nissan will only cover customers that spend a lot of money at the dealers, I was told this by Nissan!). I've had the rear end, transmission and radiator, driveshaft and propeller shaft replaced due to failed U-joints. Axle seals (on the new rear) are leaking again I understand a clogged vent may be to blame. Tire pressure sensors are shot and catalytic converters shot. Get this company to recall some of this stuff and force them to pay to fix this junk before someone gets killed!

- New Milford, CT, USA

problem #4

Sep 192012

Frontier

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, he heard a whining noise coming from the front end of the vehicle while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the timing chain guide needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000 and the current mileage was 45,000. The VIN was not available.

- Kerhonkson, NY, USA

problem #3

Nov 162011

Frontier

  • 60,000 miles
When starting the vehicle a whining clicking noise is noticeable until vehicle is at normal operating temperature. After investigating this problem on the internet I learned that this is not an isolated occurrence and Nissan motor corporation is well aware that this is a manufactures defect in there V6 motors at the timing chain guides but refuses to take responsibility to address and fix this problem and expects the owner of the vehicle to pay for Nissan motor corporation defective timing chain guides that end up dropping downward out of their original position that causes timing chain failure. I paid 24000 dollars for this truck brand new from metro Nissan in Ontario calif, for that kind of money Nissan should treat there customers better and take responsibility for there mistakes and be held accountable to fix this defect.. I will never by a Nissan again and I will never recommend purchasing a Nissan to anyone if this doesn't become a recall!

- Beaumont, CA, USA

problem #2

Nov 022012

Frontier 6-cyl

  • 123,500 miles
Mechanic stated antifreeze is leaking into transmission. Replaced radiator, flushed transmission.

- New Castle, CO, USA

problem #1

Oct 282012

Frontier

  • 220,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but to no avail. The vehicle was pushed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, which the mechanic advised that the transmission radiator and transmission cooler needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000 and the current failure mileage was 220,000.

- Lacombe, LA, USA

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