Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Car shuts off In the middle of driving & also when simply parked. It starts jerking like it's trying to catch up then it kills. It's happened in front of traffic and busy roadways/intersections. It has happened more than once.
While driving on the freeway or the city street, the car started to jerk and then suddenly cut off and lose power. This has happened at least five times at normal highway and freeway speeds in a straight forward motion. While on the freeway, I was able to glide over to stop the car and restart it. The car starts right back up and is drivable.the last time was on the city street, I was going about 35-40mph and the car again jerks and the engine cuts off and looses power. However, this time the steering wheel locked up preventing me to get over. I had to stop the car by breaking directly in the lane nearly causing cars to slam into me. Again, once I come to a complete stop and put the car in park I am able to start the engine and drive again. After this first happened, I took my car in for a tune-up, oil change, and a diagnostic test but nothing read as an error. …
Have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder se, while driving at 65 MPH the car shut off and I lost total power of the car and thankfully was able to pull over without getting killed. This has happened 2x I loos total power and the car shuts off. I called Nissan to see if there was a recall and they said no, however there is a recall #10V517000 which Nissan says my car is not involved in that advised this model had a recall for this very problem having the engine shut off while driving it. If there is a recall for this very reason and I have the make & model while Nissan will not investigate why this is happened as it is a direct safety problem. I was told that I could take it into Nissan for them to see what the problem was of course at my expense.
I took my Pathfinder in to the local Nissan dealer for a check up--chugging at 35mph, check engine light sporadically goes on and off, gas gauge stopped functioning. Nissan ran the diagnostics and told me the check engine light is because I need to pay $500.00 to replace the fuel sensor. I believe this is a part that was previously recalled. I don't know if Nissan considers the fix once and done but vehicles driven in salt and sand winter conditions will need extra attention. The transmission trouble is something Nissan knows about but refuses to recall. I was told I needed to replace the radiator and transmission--over $5000.00. If Nissan knows about these problems, why must I, a now unhappy owner, pay for these repairs?
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact noticed that the fuel gauge was not working. Normally, the instrument panel would display how many miles remained until fuel was needed according to the fuel amount. Ever since the failure began approximately three months ago, the contact was refueling the vehicle more often since the fuel to mileage system failed. The dealer (dartmouth Nissan, 83 s state road, north dartmouth, massachusetts) was informed of the failure and stated that there would be a diagnostic fee. Due to the fee, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and all the instrument panel warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road, waited a few minutes, and restarted the engine. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V517000 (engine and engine, cooling). The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that there was no open recall on the vehicle. The vehicle would need to be taken to the dealer and repaired at the contact's expense. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Timing chain is messing up which its clear that all Nissan pathfinders made from 2004-2010 have that problem as well as the automatic windows not working going up or down when using automatic as well as passenger airbag light going off randomly. Oh if it helps I worked at Nissan north America manufacturing and I can't even begin to tell you how managers would send defected parts to the line for assembly because they would always say "quantity over quality". Its a shame and I hope that this will help push to hold Nissan responsible to fix what they already knew was bad.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the fuel gauge displayed incorrectly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel gauge sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V075000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 114,200.
Nissan stalled while at stop sign and again at gas station. Left us stranded again. Have had the ECM replaced three times, fuel pump three times, all to find this problem. Nissan recalled ECM and that has been replaced three times once under recall. The recall does not solve the problem.
Auto failed to start or if started failed to run with computer coordinated power production. Engine misfiring and powerless and immobile. Check engine light on. Garage said there have been several of these failures on Nissan autos and expect a recall to replace defective part failing with increasing regularity. Ipdm failure diagnostic is complete engine power failure and stop after extremely rough idling, even when accelerator engaged. The problem is without warning, instant and erratic onset with no preventative maintenance protocol. This is a part failure which will strand the driver wherever it happens until the part (ipdm) is replaced , after which the various computers on the car will perform as normal and auto functions normally. This part should be improved, recalled and reinstalled with defect free replacement to avoid further damage and stranding of other Nissan drivers. …
Electrical complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, 4% of the model year's 837 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Nissan Pathfinder electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Nissan Pathfinder electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.