Which Years Of Used Nissan Titans Are Most Reliable?
Nissan Titan by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0
Pickup truck buyers certainly don’t have a shortage of options. However, most people’s shortlists generally consist of popular trucks like the Ford F Series, RAM 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado – which is unfortunate since there are plenty of great choices out there, especially if you’re buying a used truck.
That said, one of the less popular pickup truck models worth checking out is the Nissan Titan. Nissan is a car manufacturer that has always been considered “middle of the road,” with a few hits like the Murano SUV and plenty of misses. Based on its sales performance, the Titan can be considered a miss, but it does have a dedicated following.
The Nissan Titan might be worth adding to your shortlist if you plan to buy a used pickup truck with plenty of power and reliability. However, not all Titan trucks are created equal, and some are more reliable than others. For today’s post, we walk you through the current Titan generations and the most reliable Nissan Titan year (and the least).
THE NISSAN TITAN YEARS TO AVOID
Outside of the very beginning of the model’s life, there have been very few Nissan Titan model years to avoid, and CoPilot is here to walk you through them.
2004-2015 Nissan Titan (First Generation)
Nissan’s full-size pickup truck debuted in 2014 with an impressively large cabin, a comfortable ride, and a smooth transmission. Let’s check out some used Titan model years you should buy or avoid.
Avoid: 2004 Nissan Titan
The 2004 Nissan Titan marked the company’s first foray into the full-size pickup truck market. While it has proven to be a strong alternative to domestic-branded trucks like Chevy and Ford, the debut 2004 Titan doesn’t quite deliver in terms of reliability due to its wide range of mechanical issues.
According to the online automotive complaint resource, CarComplaints, the 2004 Titan had over a thousand complaints and seven recalls. One of the main complaints for this truck is the faulty rear differential. Several owners have reported that the rear differential failed and nearly caused a fatal accident. Another sore spot for this Titan model year is the cracked exhaust manifolds, which can be expensive to fix or replace.
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Avoid: 2005-2007 Nissan Titan
The 2005, 2006, and 2007 Titans were when Nissan was still trying to figure out what to do with its full-size pickup truck. The previous model years had many complaints (the 2006 had fewer complaints), and their top reliability issues were rather major.
For instance, one of the top issues of the 2005 Titan is the faulty rear axle. Adding to the owners’ frustration, the problem was mainly experienced at around 70k miles and the fact that Nissan won’t help fix them. Meanwhile, the 2006 model year also struggled with issues related to the rear axle. Unfortunately, the typical repair cost for this problem is $2,300 on average. Finally, the 2007 also had the dreaded rear axle failure, although it’s generally a more reliable model than the two previous trucks before.
Buy: 2009 Nissan Titan
The 2009 model is a great starting point if you are searching for the most reliable Nissan Titan year. This model has capitalized on the powerful 5.6L Endurance V-8 engine and the smooth five-speed transmission. Start the engine, and you’ll get the powerful urge to drive the truck and play off-road. Fortunately, it’s also a highly reliable Titan year.
According to CarComplaints, the 2009 Titan only has 57 NHTSA complaints and four recalls. Moreover, its top reliability issues were the clogging 02 canisters and the falling ceiling entertainment system – both relatively minor issues with only one complaint.
Buy: 2010-2015 Nissan Titan
Thankfully, the final six models of the first-gen Titan were widely considered reliable. The 5.6-liter direct injection V8 engine remains the star for this pickup truck, plus they offer agile handling, an excellent transmission, and comfortable ride quality. On the negative side, the first-gen Titan offers only one engine option, while its competitors offer two or three powertrains.
Another common complaint about the first-gen Titan is its comparatively smaller cargo bed. Buyers weren’t too happy with the Titan’s fuel economy, which seems to be on-brand with Nissan models a decade or so ago. Regardless, the rest of the first-gen Titan, starting with the 2010 version, have strong reliability scores.
2016-Present Nissan Titan (Second Generation)
Nissan planned the second generation Titan to be a rebadged version of the Dodge Ram, but that plan never panned out. Also, the second-gen Titan is available in two forms: regular and XD.
Buy: 2017 Nissan Titan
The 2017 Nissan Titan was a redesign year and came with a punchy 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. More importantly, a V6 engine was also available for the Titan pickup. As per Consumer Reports, the 2017 Titan excelled in performance, specifically with the transmission and braking. It also delivers an excellent driving experience and comfort.
In addition, the 2017 Nissan Titan only received 150+ complaints and three recalls, as per CarComplaints.com. It’s undoubtedly one of our top picks for the most reliable Nissan Titan year.
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE USED SEDANS
If you’re ready to start shopping for a used car and reliability is a priority for you, take a look at our list of the top 10 most reliable used sedans on the market today.
Avoid: 2018 Nissan Titan
To be clear, the 2018 Nissan Titan is not an awfully unreliable truck. In fact, most models from the second generation are better in terms of reliability. However, the 2018 Nissan Titan gets our “avoid” pick due to its widespread transmission problems. Although, in general, the 2018 Titan provides a comfortable ride quality, it’s compromised by its transmission woes. Buyers have reported experiencing rough shifting and wobbling when switching gears.
Once again, the 2018 Titan is not a terrible pick for a used pickup truck, especially if you can get it for a reasonable price.
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Buy: 2019 Nissan Titan
The 2019 Nissan Titan is an easy recommendation because it’s a solid pickup truck with good reliability. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a newer model with little to no issues. We dare say it was a solid effort by Nissan to dethrone the pickup truck greats like GMC Sierra 1500 and Toyota Tundra.
Regarding issues, the 2019 Titan was reported to have gear shifting delays, but it’s not exactly widespread. Some buyers also said some knocking sounds from the engine at around 30k miles. Meanwhile, this model also received complaints for its Nissan Connect system, which tends to malfunction while driving.
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