Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2006 Nissan ArmadaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 266 owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan Armada. Most complaints involve service brakes (138) and service brakes, hydraulic (51). The EPA rates it 14 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
14mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Oct 2010
Owner complaints
266
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$4,450est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 28, 2010NHTSA 10V517000

Suspension: lower arm

Free remedy

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

SuspensionReported May 20, 2010NHTSA 10E019000

Fuel system

Free remedy

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE MAY INACCURATELY DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.

Fuel system, otherReported Mar 3, 2010NHTSA 10V074000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

266 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2006 – Mar 2026
  1. Service brakes138
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic51
  3. Electrical system24
  4. Air bags22
  5. Power train9
  6. Engine and engine cooling9
  7. Engine9
  8. Structure8
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Armada model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2005373
2006266
200786
2008161
200923
201048
201140
201217
201317
201413
201521
201781
201876
201980
202010
202113
202210
20235
20244
202522
20269
Crashes reported
14
Fires reported
13
Injuries reported
12
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

138 reports8 crashes1 fire
“Earlier in the year the brake light (some times with slip and ABS) came on the dash and suddenly braking was diminished. There was a horrid grinding sound plus vibration under the pedal. I was on highway 17 (a dangerous mountain freeway in CA) going downhill and it was extremely scary as has a car full of friends kids and hardly any brakes. I braked as much as it would allow, down shifted and pulled to the side (which again if you google that highway people die all the time from idiot drivers/speeders/tight corners). I instinctively turned off the car and got out to check off something had gotten caught in my wheel but nothing. I turned the car on and the problem had gone so drove to the nearest garage but he couldn't find anything wrong. I called Nissan but they said they knew of no problems with breaking systems on the Armada and said to bring it in and pay for an expensive diagnosis. When I got home I googled it and found 100s of similar experiences with all sorts of repairs at Nissan that hadn't worked. Some say brake booster, others sensor, other reset or upgrade hardware. Not one actually fix so far but I did find a couple of lawsuits for the same reason…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2025Service brakesODI 11684631

Service brakes, hydraulic

51 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Armada. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal sound emanating from the brake pads, requiring increased effort to slow the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2024Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11579520

Electrical system

24 reports1 crash7 fires
“The contact owed a 2006 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed fire and smoke coming from the front passenger side underneath the glove compartment area. The contact stopped and parked the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed the vehicle was on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was left on the shoulder of the road. The contact stated the local police authorities later placed a sticker on the disabled burned vehicle because it was left on the shoulder of the road and had to be removed. The contact stated that the vehicle was junked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,100.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2023Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11559927
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
5.6L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Armada 2WD
Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.60 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,450635
Armada 4WD
Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.60 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121714$4,450635
  • Armada 2WD
    Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.60 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • Armada 4WD
    Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 5.60 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,450/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Nissan Armada as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 1945
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Armada questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Nissan Armada have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Nissan Armada problems?

Owners filed 266 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (138), service brakes, hydraulic (51), electrical system (24). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Nissan Armada get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Nissan Armada at 14 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026