How much does it cost to fix P0306 on a Nissan?

Repair costs for P0306 on Nissan vehicles typically range from $150 to $450 depending on the underlying cause. The most common fix is: Failing ignition coil on cylinder 6, often worsened by oil leaking into the coil well from a degraded valve cover gasket..

Nissan Check Engine Code

P0306 on Nissan

Cylinder 6 Misfire Detected

Severity: high DIY difficulty: 2/5 Nissan cost: $150–$450

Last updated April 30, 2026 Also covers: Infiniti

P0306 on Nissan: what makes it different

Cylinder 6 misfires are a well-known complaint on Nissan's VQ35DE/VQ40DE V6 engines, where aging ignition coils and oil intrusion into the coil wells are common culprits, especially in older Altimas, Maximas, Pathfinders, and Muranos.

Most-affected engines

VQ35DE 3.5L V6 (Altima, Maxima, Murano, Quest)
VQ40DE 4.0L V6 (Frontier, Pathfinder, Xterra)

Common model years: 2002–2015

Most likely cause on Nissan

Failing ignition coil on cylinder 6, often worsened by oil leaking into the coil well from a degraded valve cover gasket.

Known Nissan engine-family issues

The VQ-series V6 is known for valve cover gaskets that harden with age and let oil seep into the spark plug tubes, which quietly kills coils and plugs one at a time — cylinder 6 (rear bank) often gets hit first since it runs hotter and is harder to inspect.

Nissan-specific causes (most common first)

Ignition coil breakdown on cylinder 6 (common failure point on VQ-series V6s)
Oil leaking past valve cover gasket into the spark plug/coil well, fouling the coil and plug
Worn or fouled spark plug (especially if OEM iridium plugs haven't been changed in a long interval)
Carbon buildup on intake valves reducing airflow to cylinder 6
Vacuum leak near the rear bank affecting that specific cylinder
Wiring harness chafe or corrosion at the rear-bank coil connector

Nissan-specific diagnostic tip

Pull the cylinder 6 coil and check for oil residue in the plug well before replacing anything — if oil is present, replace the valve cover gasket at the same time or the new coil will fail again quickly.

Symptoms drivers report

CEL
Rough idle
Loss of power

Typical repair cost on Nissan

Most Nissan owners fix P0306 for between $150 and $450, depending on which underlying cause turns out to be at fault. Start with the most-likely cause for your vehicle — Failing ignition coil on cylinder 6, often worsened by oil leaking into the coil well from a degraded valve cover gasket. — before throwing parts at it.

Nissan P0306 FAQ

Why does cylinder 6 misfire more than other cylinders on Nissan V6s?

On the VQ35DE/VQ40DE, cylinder 6 sits on the rear bank, which runs hotter and is more prone to valve cover gasket seepage that contaminates the coil and plug over time.

Can I just replace the coil and ignore the oil?

No — if oil caused the failure, a new coil will likely fail again within months unless the valve cover gasket leak is also fixed.

Is this an expensive repair on a Nissan V6?

A single coil and plug is affordable, but if oil contamination is found, budget extra for a valve cover gasket replacement, which adds labor due to the V6's layout.