Nissan TITAN Problems & Complaints: Are The Issues Worth Buying?

‍What are the Problems that have Plagued the Nissan Titan?

The Nissan Titan has been in production since 2004 when the company decided to move away from the smaller four-cylinder pickup they had built and challenge the big three to eat into market share. The result was the Nissan Titan, equipped with a 5.6L V8 that produces 390 hp and 394 lb/ft of torque. Over the almost twenty years of production, the truck has seen only two generations (the first was from 2004 - 15, and the 2nd generation was from 2016 - the present).

Transmission Issues

When Nissan owners found that the truck would not shift well when trying to tow loads or climb up mountain roads. Customers complained of jerking or shuddering of their trucks while driving. Anytime an unusual vibration or shaking comes from under the car, it is a sign that things are not good.

One of the primary problems was the transmission cooler lines that were a part of the radiator. The lines were designed to bring transmission fluid into the radiator and let the coolant draw heat away from them before sending the fluid back into the transmission. Transmission fluid and coolant would mix if these lines cracked or the valves or connections worked loose.

When this happened, the transmission usually seized up, which required the replacement of both the transmission and the radiator. Nissan owners who owned first-generation trucks (2005 - 2010) were particularly susceptible to this issue. Since Nissan offered only a 5 yr/60k mile warranty, customers' anger flared even further when they discovered that the replacement was often not covered under warranty. Eventually, Nissan relented and in response to a class action lawsuit agreed to replace the transmission up to 100,000 miles.

Rolling Away In Park

In 2019, Nissan recalled over 203,000 Titans and Frontiers because of a tendency for the truck to roll away while shifted in the park. The recall was initiated due to a failure of the parking components that were supposed to lock the transmission in place. While no deaths or injuries were reported due to the failure, plenty of body shops and dealerships got paid for extra work that should never have been required in the first place.

Catalytic Converter Issues

Owners of the first-generation Titan often complained of a lack of power when needed. Since the Titan was designed with four converters, it is unsurprising that they tended to build up carbon and rust prematurely. Inside the catalytic converters, pieces of metal, carbon, and debris would accumulate, resulting in a clogged or diminished exhaust. The issue also directly affected the fuel pressure, often lowering it, which only compounded the situation. The repair price wasn’t low either, setting owners back close to $1500 - 1800 a piece.

Leaky Rear Axles

Since there was no vent tube on the differentials for the first-generation Titan, the seals around the differential would blow and leak. Customers complained of grinding noises happening while turning or the wheels seeming stuck when turning around a corner. The only repair was to replace the seals, which seemed to fail more often than they should have.

Poor Fuel Economy

No one expects a full-sized pickup to be a gas sipper. No pickup truck is. Yet, the Nissan Titan seemed to guzzle gasoline more than most of its competitors. While there are many reasons for poor fuel economy, including the driver's daily habits, the problems concerning the Titan stemmed from various causes. Some customers found clogged cats the issue, while others ran into faulty oxygen sensors or dirty air filters. Even Consumer Reports noted the issue by rating the city mpg of the Titan even worse than what EPA had printed on the window sticker. (And it doesn’t matter what year of Titan it was - they all get lousy gas mileage in the city, although they fare better on the highway - 22 mpg).

Interior Issues

There are a whole host of interior issues for owners of 2nd generation Titans especially. Customers have complained to the NHTSA about seats coming dislodged from their frames after a few years of use or seats shaking and vibrating even while driving on pavement.

On the 2017 model, owners found that the push button start would fall inside the dashboard, meaning the truck wouldn't start, and the push button was useless. Others reported headlight issues and faulty infotainment screens. (In 2017, Nissan recalled several 2016-17 Titans for rear seatbelt failure).

Wiring Harness to Alternator

In 2019, Nissan recalled over 91,000 Titans for wiring harness failure. Nissan claimed the alternator’s wiring harness was damaged during installation and needed to be replaced. Customers complained of their battery not charging, radio going in and out, or interior lights flickering. Mostly, Nissan labeled abnormal electrical activity. It took Nissan a couple of years to recognize its problem.

Are there any Reasons to Buy a Nissan Titan?

Despite the issues, here are some reasons to consider purchasing a Nissan Titan.

Great Truck Warranty

Currently, for the 2022 model, the Nissan Titan offers a five-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. This is one of the best for any car company, let alone for a truck.

The Titan Can Tow

The second-generation Titan has always had a decent towing rating above 9,000 lbs. (The towing capacity for the ‘22 is 9,360 lbs). With its big V8 engine, the Titan earns its name when pulling a trailer or boat.

Interior Upgrades

The Nissan Titan has made some serious upgrades in the quality of the interior, with the addition of leather seating, advanced telematics, a panoramic moonroof, Android Auto and Apply Car Play, and premium sound. In addition, they have pushed out the dimensions of the cabin to allow more legroom and headroom, particularly for rear-seat passengers.

What is the Best Year of Nissan Titan to Purchase?

The best year of the Nissan Titan seems to be the 2015 model because it has received the fewest minor complaints and reported problems, according to repairpal.com. While the Titan didn't set any sales records that year (only a little over 12,140 were sold), the truck has weathered the years well.

What are the Worst Years of Nissan Titan to Purchase?

The worst two years of Nissan Titan were the 2007 and 2008 model years. These two model years have the most problems and complaints reported by consumers. Many of the issues listed above have plagued these Titan trucks. Most consumer reviews advise avoiding them.

What’s the Future of the Nissan Titan?

Unfortunately, Nissan has decided to discontinue the Nissan Titan. Auto manufacturers are under such pressure to comply with climate air quality standards that Nissan is joining in the push to go all-electric. Instead of modifying existing models to an electric or hybrid base as Ford has done with the F150 Lightning, Nissan has simply scrapped the Titan in favor of a new model.

To their credit, Nissan has embarked on an ambitious plan called NEXT, designed to streamline their production, shake up the model line, and trim the fat from management. Eventually, Nissan wants to make only electric vehicles by the year 2050 globally, which seems like a long way away, but it is only 25 years and will come much sooner than people realize. Other car companies have made similar promises, and there is evidence that those commitments are being taken seriously, as manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and even Kia have introduced electric models in the past few months.

While Nissan has already built some prototypes of electric pickups (EV4 and EV6), the company has been relatively mute on whether they intend to build an all-electric powered pickup. There are some encouraging signs, however. The company has announced a $500 million investment in their Canton, Mississippi plant (where the Frontier is currently made). It has leaked that after the expenditure, the plant will be producing two new EVs for both Nissan and Infiniti. (One of these is likely to be the new Ariya, a mid-sized crossover), but what the other one is, the world will just have to wait and see.