Nissan is a Japanese automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers and manufactures the Nissan Titan full-size pickup truck. With its powerful engine, comfortable interior and rugged exterior styling, the Nissan Titan offers superior performance to other vehicles in its class. The quality of engineering ensures every vehicle produced by Nissan provides an enjoyable driving experience for customers around the world.
Nissan Titan pickups have maintained a high level of popularity globally. Despite this, some older models are not recommended due to consumer complaints, numerous Technical Service Bulletins and an excessive number of recalls. As such, it is advised that customers avoid purchasing these models in order to ensure the highest quality and satisfaction with their purchase.
Third-party industry critics have noted that certain model years of the Nissan Titan may be cause for concern. To assist potential buyers and help them make a wise choice, it is important to note any issues associated with such models. Therefore, it is recommended to research and consider all available information before making a purchase decision, as doing so can help one avoid investing in an unsatisfactory Titan model.
Nissan Titan Years To Avoid (List Of Years)
Nissan’s introduction of full-size pickup trucks was not successful in the beginning. It took several years to get production running and issues with the drivetrain, radiator, exhaust system, and brakes were common among early model owners. Despite a lack of catastrophic failures that affected all users, these problems still presented an inconvenience for those who bought one of Nissan’s first pickups.
Here are some of the Nissan Titans we would not recommend-
- 2004 Nissan Titan
- 2005 Nissan Titan
- 2006 Nissan Titan
- 2008 Nissan Titan
- 2016 Nissan Titan
- 2018 Nissan Titan
Concerns about automotive quality have existed for a long time, and the Nissan Titan is not immune to the issue. Even though some issues are specific to one year or another, there were certain ones that arose in all model years and need to be addressed.
What Makes These Nissan Titan Years Worth Avoiding?
Nissan Titan 2004 Year Problems
2014 was a particularly poor year for Nissan Titans of all generations, with more than 400 complaints filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) related to issues such as rear and front differential failure, tire seal leakage, clunking noises when reversing, deteriorating cooling systems due to lack of maintenance, expensive repairs for rear differentials alone and potential wheel lock ups. Additionally users have reported radiator splits and leakages, high-pressure transmission cooler line leaking, transmission fluid leaking into the radiator and coolant loss without any evident defects in the cooling system. This makes 2014 one of if not the worst model year ever for Nissan Titans surpassing only 2005 in terms of quality.
Nissan Titan 2005 Year Problems
The 2005 Nissan Titan has experienced significant problems with its drivetrain, including rear axle failure, leaky seals, differential failure and possible front differential failures. In addition to these issues, many owners of the 2005 model have reported electrical system problems such as 4×4 difficulties, vehicle shutdowns while driving and malfunctioning cruise control switches and wiring harnesses. The electrical system is the second most problematic component after the drivetrain according to consumer feedback.
Nissan Titan 2006 Year Problems
Nissan’s 2006 Titan demonstrated a significant decrease in differential and powertrain faults compared to the prior year, suggesting that Nissan made a strong effort to address these issues. Despite this improvement, users still lodged complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration citing problems with the engine, engine cooling, vehicle speed control and cooling mechanisms over 60 times. Reports of check engine lights turning on during operation, smoke coming from exhaust pipes and slow shifting have been mentioned by users as well.
Nissan Titan 2008 Year Problems
The 2008 Nissan Titan had more faults than its prior model year, but these faults were not related to the drivetrain itself. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most reported problems concerned transmission issues such as a locked gear shifter, coolant leakage into the transmission, failure in reverse and ruptured cooler line in the transmission. Additionally, users noted premature failures of ball joints, outer tie rods, swing arm bushings and upper control arms.
Nissan Titan 2016 Year Problems
The 2016 model of the product had a few more serious issues than its predecessors, which only experienced minor complaints from customers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA received the most complaints about engine problems while users focused on exhaust and gearbox systems. With an average mileage of 5,000 miles, exhaust issues have been reported that are related to pollutants in the cabin as well as fluid use.
Nissan Titan 2018 Year Problems
The 2018 Nissan Titan is a popular vehicle, but many owners have complained of an issue with the fuel system. Reports state that when refueling, a whistling noise can be heard coming from the filler neck. Additionally, some drivers have experienced their fuel pumps failing due to clogged filters. As such, it is recommended for owners to regularly inspect and replace their fuel filters in order to keep the Titan running smoothly.
Which Years Are Safe To Buy Used?
The 2003 first generation of the product was produced for a decade, during which there were some minor issues. However, those problems have been addressed and since the introduction of the second generation in 2016, there have been no major issues reported. The 2017 and 2019 models experienced a few minor faults but these also seem to be resolved as no further complaints have been registered.
Despite these models being brand new, fewer problems have been recorded on them compared to the 2016 and 2018 versions. This indicates positive progress in terms of user experience with the product and a high level of reliability that is expected from such a well-known manufacturer.
- 2007 Nissan Titan
- 2009 Nissan Titan
- 2010 Nissan Titan
- 2011 Nissan Titan
- 2012 Nissan Titan
- 2013 Nissan Titan
- 2014 Nissan Titan
- 2015 Nissan Titan
- 2017 Nissan Titan
- 2019 Nissan Titan
- 2020 Nissan Titan
- 2021 Nissan Titan
Here are some good model years to buy for Nissan Titan models.
Among 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2021 models, these are the best choices due to having the fewest drawbacks. Many users have had a great experience with these models reported that they run effortlessly and are an enjoyable experience to use. These models have also been highly praised for their reliability as there has not been a need for recall at this time.
I hope that this article was helpful and answered the reader’s questions. Now that they know the best and worst years for Nissan Titan, they can make an informed decision. She highly recommends the best Nissan Titan models listed above because they have no functional issues and have never been recalled. If readers are still undecided, further research is recommended but avoiding the worst years is advised as there are multiple major issues associated with them which might be dangerous to drive.