RoadVitals

2006 Nissan Xterra Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 11, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 780 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Nissan Xterra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 11, 2016

2006 NISSAN XTERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STRUGGLING FOR WAYS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL SHE WAS FORCED TO TRY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE OF OTHER VEHICLE. THE THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IT FINALLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10836167
Incident
May 8, 2012
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 11, 2015

THE ACCELERATOR STARTED NOT SWITCHING GEARS AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. THE FLUID FROM THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR AND BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $4,000 TO GET FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10789803
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
130,200 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2015

ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015, WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA, ON A SPEED LIMIT OF 55, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TRANSMISSION WONT ENGAGED WHILE ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL, RPM WAS GOING TO THE HIGHER NUMBER/RED ZONE AND CAR WILL NOT MOVE FASTER UP TO THE NOTED SPEED LIMIT. WHEN WE STOP AT THE LIGHT, AND THE LIGHTS TURN GREEN, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND MAKE LOUD NOISE AND RPM GOING HIGHER TO THE RED ZONE NUMBERS. THIS CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND US BACK UP BECAUSE OF SPEED TOO SLOW IN A 55-MILE PER HOUR SPEED. I WAS AFRAID IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING A 200-MILE TRAVEL FROM MARYLAND TO VIRGINIA. I READ THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN VEHICLES ABOUT RADIRATOR WATER LEAKS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING THE PRICE TRANSMISSION EXPERTS, THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE COST TO REPAIR WILL COST $4,400.00 I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NISSAN PAY THE REPAIR COST.

NHTSA ID
10760589
Incident
Aug 30, 2015
Mileage
94,522 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 18, 2015

WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO ENTER A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE, I HAD TO PULL OUT TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR...I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE TRUCK WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND REMAINED ON 1ST SHIFT STRUGGLING TO GET TO 2ND AND THEN 3RD....I GOT HOME AND HEARD THE ENGINE OR RADIATOR MAKE BUBBLING NOISE....AFTER 3 OR 4 HOURS I OPENED THE RADIATOR AND SAW ALL SORTS OF GUNK LIKE BUBBLEGUM...IT WAS STILL WARM AND IT OOZED OUT FALLING ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY...I PAYED A MECHANIC $300 TO CHANGE THE RADIATOR THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM ...ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS MUCH MORE AND MORE MONEY ALSO....I LOOKED FOR ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WOULD COST $4000 TO FIX EVERYTHING... I'VE WASTED MORE THAN $3000 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.. NOW THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION MODULE VALVE IS NEEDED ....HOW MANY MORE TRUCKS BREAKING DOWN OR COMPLAINTS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED.... I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY NO CARS WERE COMING FULL SPEED...BECAUSE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE I WOULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND GOTTEN KILLED...I LOVED MY TRUCK AND MISS RIDING IT...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS... THANK YOU..

NHTSA ID
10726117
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Apr 28, 2015

THESE VEHICLES SEEM TO HAVE A SAFETY FLAW. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL IS SUCH THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE HAD TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS (HENDERSON, NEVADA AND BOISE, IDAHO) INSPECT MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD IN BOTH CASES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE...ITS THE WAY THE AUTOMOBILE WAS MANUFACTURED. DURING MY LAST DEALER INSPECTION IN BOISE, IDAHO THE MECHANIC BROUGHT A NEW 2015 MODEL INTO THE GARAGE AND PUT THE TWO CARS SIDE BY SIDE. THE DIFFERENCE IN BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/8 OF AN INCH, SO THE PROBLEM HAS EVIDENTLY NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. TODAY, MY VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE BRAKING. IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT ONE'S FOOT IS CENTERED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; IF YOUR FOOT IS OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE JUST A LITTLE, THE GAS PEDAL WILL BE DEPRESSED WHILE BRAKING CAUSING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE HAD MANY VERY CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713487
Incident
Apr 28, 2015
Mileage
45,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 31, 2015

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY VEHICLE STARTED TO TREMBLE AND SHUDDER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30-40 MPH. EVENTUALLY AFTER MUCH HESITATION AND LOUD ENGINE REVVING I DECIDED TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AND GOT ABOUT A FEW HUNDRED FEET DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T RESPONSIVE WITH THE ENGINE CAUSING ME TO CUT SOMEONE OFF JUST TO PULL OF THE ROAD SAFELY. I HAVE HEARD THE COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN'S TRANSMISSION/COOLANT CONTAMINATION AND DECIDED TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE ISSUE AFTER GETTING TOWED HOME. $100 DOWN THE DRAIN. SURE ENOUGH MY COOLANT RESERVOIR AND RADIATOR CAP WERE SMOTHERED IN A THICK GOOP KNOWN AS THE INFAMOUS "SMOD". THERE IS TRANS FLUID MIXED INTO MY COOLANT AND MORE THAN LIKELY, COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION. THIS IS DESIGN FLAW IN NISSAN. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RESOLVED COMPLETELY BY NISSAN WITH NO FAULT TO THEIR DEDICATED CUSTOMERS. WARRANTIES NEED TO BE EXTENDED PAST 100K BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE ISSUE IS OCCURRING IN MOST XTERRA, PATHFINDER, AND FRONTIERS. I'LL BE DAMNED IF NISSAN ONLY PARTIALLY COVER MY COST REPAIR LEAVING THE BULK TO ME. I AM A STUDENT WORKING A FULL TIME JOB TRYING TO PAY FOR THEIR EDUCATION BIT BY BIT. THIS IS NOT WHAT OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATION NEED TO DEAL WITH AND NEITHER DO I. REMEMBER, NISSAN IS ONLY SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHY BECAUSE OF US, THE CONSUMER. GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO HELPED YOU BUILD A REPUTABLE AUTO MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680238
Incident
Jan 30, 2015
Mileage
112,056 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 5, 2014

MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND I LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE DESPITE MY ABILITY TO REV THE ENGINE. LUCKILY I COASTED INTO MY LOCAL "KWIK KAR" AT THE END OF THE STREET. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY BELIEVE THE RADIATOR IS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558568
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
137,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 25, 2013

THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR RATHER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT MOSTLY OUT FORTH TO FIFTH, OR EVEN THIRD TO FORTH. THE ENGINE SEEMS FINE. PULL THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK, THE FLUID IS DARK AND SMELLS BURNT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557237
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
94,673 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 14, 2013

IN DEC 2012 I HAD TO TAKE MY 2006 NISSAN XTERRA TO THE GARAGE, THERE I WAS TOLD THAT MY RADIATOR HAD CRACKED IN 3 PLACES AND THAT I HAD COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED SEVERAL TIME. THEN ON APRIL 10 I WAS DRIVING HOME. WHILE GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO GO (LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ANY GAS). TOOK THE XTERRA BACK TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REBUILD OR REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO DO RECALLS AND REIMBURSE EVERYONE THAT HAS ALREADY HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY WERE ANY KIND OF "GOOD" COMPANY THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO! VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10508163
Incident
Dec 2, 2002
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2013

I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN I ACCELERATED IT WAS LIKE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING ANY GAS. I ALMOST GOT HIT DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER. I TOOK MY XTERRA TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT MIXED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION ARE RUINED. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $8000.00 TO FIX. AT LEAST I DIDN'T HAVE A WRECK, ALTHOUGH IT WAS CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505707
Incident
Apr 1, 2013
Mileage
125,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2013

THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT ARE MIXING CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO LOCK IN 1ST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10501843
Incident
Mar 1, 2013
Mileage
119,440 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 30, 2013
Crash reported

I WAS GOING APROX. 15 MPH ON A STRAIGHT WAY OFF OF A DIRT ROAD AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN A LITTLE WAY FROM IT , APPLIED THE BRAKE LIKE NORMAL, WHEN I HEARD MY ENGINE SOUND LIKE THE ACCELERATOR WAS BEING ROMPED ON, AND REALIZED IT WAS IN FACT SPEEDING UP RAPIDLY. I THEN STARTED THINKING FAST, PUT MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TOO AND PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I KNEW I COULDN'T MAKE THE TURN AT THE STOP SIGN ONTO A HWY. I WOKE UP AFTER BEING UNCONSCIOUS FOR AROUND THREE HRS. DUE TO SEVERAL INJURIES CAUSED BY THE AIRBAG THAT APPARENTLY INFLATED AT THE FIRST LARGE TREE IMPACT. PROCEEDING TO HIT SEVERAL OTHERS BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP AND ALOT OF SHAKING AROUND AND FORTUNATELY I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON OR OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN EJECTED THRU THE WINDSHIELD ON THE LAST IMPACT FOR SURE HITTING THE LARGEST TREE OF ALL, STOPPING ME FROM ENTERING INTO A CREEK ABOUT 5 FEET AWAY, WHEN I WAS TAKEN TO THE SITE THE NEXT DAY I STILL DIDN'T REALIZE JUST WHAT HAPPENED, AND COULD ONLY REMEMBER THAT SOUND OF THE ENGINE REVVING SO LOUD WHILE I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN SEEING THE STOP SIGN A WAYS UP AHEAD AND THEN REALIZING THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO SLOW DOWN AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE MORE AS I THEN WAS HOLDING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND HAD PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND KNOWING I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TURN WITHOUT ROLLING AND WAS NO WHERE TO GO BUT STRAIGHT IF I COULDN'T GET IT TO STOP, AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS GOING WAY FASTER THAN I WAS ORIGINALLY GOING QUITE A WAY BEFORE THE STOP SIGN ONLY MAYBE 15MPH WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS USUAL BUT IT FAILED LIKE OTHERS I HAVE RESEARCHED HAVE DONE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS A LONG TIME AGO , BUT NISSAN HAS LOST THEIR HONESTY AND BLEW OFF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OVER VERY , VERY MANY PROBABLE FAILURES THAT SHOULD HAVE MAJOR ALERTS AND RECALLS FOR THE SAFETY OF HUMAN LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10495177
Incident
Dec 31, 2012
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 20, 2009
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, BUT BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

NHTSA ID
10259468
Incident
Feb 17, 2009
Mileage
42,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 28, 2006

2006 NISSAN XTERRA LUNGES FORWARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT INTERSECTION AND AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES THE MOTOR SEEMS TO SPEED UP AND THE CAR MOVES FORWARD A FOOT OR MORE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10177170
Incident
Dec 6, 2006
Mileage
11,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .