Problems · by component

2006 Nissan Frontier engine and engine cooling problems

74 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Nissan Frontier cite engine and engine cooling, 12% of all 617 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
74
12% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. Additionally, the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The dealer later called the contact and informed the contact that the bank #1 and #2 cam sensors and the coil packs needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer later called back and stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal sound and upon performing a diagnostic test, the dealer advised that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2024Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 11571478
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RADIATOR COOLANT TO MIX TOGETHER. THE FAILURE EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BANISTER NISSAN OF NORFOLK (1250 N MILITARY HWY, NORFOLK, VA 23502) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,967.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2018Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 11152898
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE RPMS ELEVATED TO RED AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR HOSES, AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2017Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10986366
“I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. AS IT WAS NOT REGISTERED, I HAVE NOT TRIED. I SUBSEQUENTLY OVERVIEW, THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT NORMAL. I LOOKED AT THE WORST DEFAULT OF THE FRONTIER ON THE INTERNET AND I FIND THAT EVERYONE HAS A PROBLEM RADIATOR CRACK LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE BEEN TO THE GARAGE. THEY SAID THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE OIL TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR COOLANT RADIATOR BYPASS. IT COST ME $ 2,408 CAD”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10860780
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR COOLANT TANK LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10821554
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE IDLING OR COMING TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING THE COOLANT TO SEEP IN TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10711906

Showing 6 of 74 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

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
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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