2006 Nissan Xterra Engine Problems
Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2006 Nissan Xterra, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 112,117 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (19% of reports).
- 104engine complaints
- 112,117median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 20 of 104 complaints (19%)
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 18 of 104 complaints (17%)
- Radiator coolant: mentioned in 8 of 104 complaints (8%)
- Whining noise: mentioned in 7 of 104 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2006 Nissan Xterra at $2,550, and half of them between $1,800 and $3,450.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 94 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 104 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Nissan Xterra engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Xterra | 1 | 10% | 147 |
| 2013 Xterra | 2 | 50% | 14,717 |
| 2012 Xterra | 4 | 25% | 1,540 |
| 2011 Xterra | 5 | 21% | 54,000 |
| 2010 Xterra | 4 | 11% | 37,200 |
| 2009 Xterra | 3 | 16% | 103,500 |
| 2008 Xterra | 23 | 19% | 90,000 |
| 2007 Xterra | 85 | 15% | 113,000 |
| 2006 Xterra | 104 | 13% | 112,117 |
| 2005 Xterra | 114 | 13% | 108,000 |
| 2004 Xterra | 8 | 10% | 134,000 |
| 2003 Xterra | 6 | 8% | 124,500 |
| 2002 Xterra | 8 | 5% | 144,750 |
| 2001 Xterra | 6 | 4% | 110,000 |
| 2000 Xterra | 2 | 1% | 152,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ecm relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
THE TIMING CHAIN HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO DIE ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A FEW CARS. i HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR GOING ONLY 40 MPH ALL THE WAY BECASUE THAT IS ALL IT WOULD DO. IT HAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD ANYMORE. I HAVE READ AND NISSAN…
Timing chains making noises and I have change my oil and it still making the noise...
Engine noise: - Noise coming from time belt support - The timing chain guide wore out fast. - Timing chain guide inner plastic wore out causing chain to rely metal bracket then the metal causing noise and eventually break the the timing chain.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2006 Nissan Xterras have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 104 owner complaints about engine for the 2006 Nissan Xterra (13% of the 780 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Nissan Xterra engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 112,117 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2006 Nissan Xterra?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,550 (half paid between $1,800 and $3,450), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2006 Nissan Xterra?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 20 of 104 complaints, followed by “transmission fluid” (18).
Other 2006 Nissan Xterra problems
See all 2006 Nissan Xterra problems or engine problems across all Xterra years.