Two problems related to transmission slip out of gear have been reported for the 2006 Nissan Xterra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Nissan Xterra based on all problems reported for the 2006 Xterra.
The radiator cracked causing intermix with transmission fluid I found after the occurances. While driving the transmission started slipping out of gear while in motion in the middle of traffic on city streets. The next time I drove it seemed okay. I entered a curving onramp and suddenly the transmission slipped out of gear, the engine revved high, and jerked hard back in to gear, spinning the wheels and causing me to go sideways near another vehicle. I quicklyquickly regained control, and continued driving to the nearest exit. The transmission slipped a couple more times, causing me to slow down but no loss of control. This could have caused a fatal accident, and though I was lucky enough to be okay, I had to pay $3700 to fix it. This occurred at 102,000 miles and happens to every Xterra, pathfinder, and frontier from 2005-2007. Their should be a recall before this results in deaths. It will inevitability cause fatalities.
While driving in traffic, automatic transmission slipped out of gear causing loss of speed and near collisions from following vehicles. Diagnosis was a flaw in the radiator that allowed coolant to enter the transmission causing the transmission to fail.