The Nissan Titan is a full size pickup truck that was introduced as a 2004 model year.
It offers a surprisingly quiet and comfortable cabin, a variety of standard and optional tech, and powerful engine options.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at all of the best and worst model years of the Titan.
Table of Contents
Here’s The Short Answer To What The Best And Worst Years For The Nissan Titan Are:
The best Nissan Titan model years are 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011. The worst model years of the Titan are 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2009, and 2010. This is based on auto industry reviews, NHTSA statistics, reported problems, and consumer feedback.
What Are The Best Years For The Nissan Titan?
2023 and 2022 Nissan Titan
The 2023 and 2022 Titan models offer the latest tech, body styles and features. These models are known for their comfy front seats, a powerful standard V8 engine, and lots of advanced driver safety aids.
There are 4 trim levels to pick from: S, SV, PRO-4X, and Platinum Reserve.
All trims come equipped with a massive 5.6-liter V8 engine (400 horsepower) combined with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing ranges from approximately $44,000 to $61,000 (when purchased brand new).
Auto critics have given the highest praise to the comfort factor and interior quality, although are quick to point out that competitors can tow more and offer more configurations.
2023 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 3.5 / 5.0
- JD Power: NA
2022 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.4 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 3.5 / 5.0
- JD Power: 83 / 100
2022 Titan, Edmunds review:
“After some fairly thorough research, I went with the Titan based on my perception of build quality, comfort, quiet cabin, safety features, awesome V8 engine, and warranty. Honestly can’t see the knocks from the professional reviews that tend to rank the Titan below Ram, Ford, and GM. Seems to me that the biggest negative that gets called out is around lack of power train options – but if you want a rock solid V8, it stacks up well…”
2021 and 2020 Nissan Titan
For 2020, the Titan was rejuvenated with a mild makeover.
Thus both of these models benefit from a cosmetic makeover, a small bump in horsepower to the standard V8 engine, a much better 9-speed automatic transmission (over the former standard 7-speed), and even more standard driver assistance tech and safety features.
Owners love these model years for their reliability, manufacturing quality, value, towing capability, appearance, and engine power.
Either model, when properly equipped, can handle a little over 9,000 pounds in towing capacity.
This towing rating is more than enough to bring standard-sized trailers and campers.
Fuel economy is commendable (for its segment). EPA states that a standard Titan can get you 18 MPG for combined driving, 15 MPG for city driving, and 21 MPG for highway driving.
2021 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.4 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 3.5 / 5.0
- JD Power: 84 / 100
2020 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.7 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 3.5 / 5.0
- JD Power: NA
2021 Titan, Edmunds review:
“This is a pretty good truck. The only downside is bad gas mileage. The steering wheel feels good. The seats are comfy. Never had a problem with any of the three Titans I have owned. I would recommend this truck as long as you shop around and get a good price. The Nissan people in Gallatin, TN are some of the best. The only deal breaker the truck used to have was its terrible infotainment screen. Now they have a large colorful one that looks great.”
2019 Nissan Titan
The 2019 Titan is a pre-facelift, second-generation model that received solid reviews and a handful of new features and capabilities.
Additions include a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with NissanConnect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, an all-new Fender audio system for certain trims, and rear door alert (for the King Cab and Crew Cab configurations).
In terms of configurations, this full size truck has 3: Crew Cab, King Cab, and Regular Cab.
As for trim levels, there are 5 to chose from: S, SV, SL, Platinum Reserve, and the off-road-ready PRO-4X.
Noteworthy safety features include a Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic, Trailer Sway Control, and Surround-View Camera.
Owners praised the following aspects of this truck: comfort, minimal road noise, fuel economy, interior, and seating.
- Edmunds: 4.2 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.5 / 5.0
- JD Power: 83 / 100
2019 Titan, Edmunds review:
“Bought a 2019 Titan as a Dealership left over, saved a couple grand. Plenty of power, nice spacious inside, and gorgeous exterior. When you read the reviews from the sites they don’t rate them the best, but the person reviews are always great. People don’t want all the engine options like car and driver believes. Nissan has the one V8 and doesn’t need anything else, nobody wants a V6 or 4 cylinder turbo in a full size truck.”
2015 Nissan Titan
The 2015 Titan is a great choice for those looking for a trustworthy first-gen model. This was the final first-gen model produced and it was also the most reliable.
It has a spacious and functional cabin, filled with tech features that are intuitive, as well as a responsive handling response.
For 2015, the long wheelbase version was removed from the lineup, which essentially eliminates the 4-door Crew Cab with a 7-foot-3-inch bed.
Therefore the sole bed length is 5-foot 7-inches.
Safety features include ABS, stability control, traction control and numerous airbags. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera is available on most trims.
Speaking of trims, there are 4 to choose from: S, SV, PRO-4X, and the top-spec SL.
- Edmunds: 4.4 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5.0
- JD Power: NA
2015 Titan, Edmunds review:
“We have only had the Titan for 5 months but we have enjoyed it! It met our needs, especially in the tow department, for as good if not better value than the competition. It has a nice ride on the interstate.”
2014 Nissan Titan
The 2014 Titan, is another safe bet when shopping for a first gen model. Available as either a King Cab or Crew Cab, it is a highly capable full size truck.
It possesses easy-to-use controls, comfortable seating, a great suspension system, and a relatively powerful engine.
New to this particular model year is an upgraded microphone for all Titan versions with built-in Bluetooth capability.
According to owners, these are the noteworthy aspects of this truck: value, handling, steering, ride quality, and fuel efficiency.
EPA claims that owners can get up to 15 MPG for combined driving, 13 MPG for city driving, and around 18 MPG for highway driving, which are good enough figures for the segment and the engine size of this model.
- Edmunds: 4.4 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5.0
- JD Power: 78 / 100
2014 Titan, Edmunds review:
“Very reliable truck, power and handling is superb. Ride like a luxurious sedan. Towed my 27 foot travel trailer with ease.”
2013 Nissan Titan
The 2013 Titan is a rugged, powerful, and practical full size pickup truck.
It has a spacious and functional cabin, responsive handling dynamics, and user-friendly cabin controls.
New to this specific model are minor updates that include a standard rear view camera (for certain variants) and standard step rails for the SV and SL models.
In addition, most versions get a 120-volt household-style power outlet located in the front console.
The SL and PRO-4X models are also available with a sunroof, navigation system, and a rear seat video display system.
- Edmunds: 4.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5.0
- JD Power: 80 / 100
2013 Titan, Edmunds review:
“I have owned my 2013 Titan for almost 2 years now and have not had an issue. I have owned several full size trucks and to date this is my favorite. I put magna flow exhaust on it and it is by far the best sounding note out of all the V8’s I have owned. When we get snowstorms of 12 plus inches and the roads are not cleared the ol girl plows through it with ease. I plan on driving her until she just can’t get down the road safely anymore which I hope is another 15 + years. I know of a few things that tend to fail such as exhaust manifolds and wheel seals but from all the research I have done and continue to monitor the engine and transmission are solid, which is the main reason for purchase.”
2012 and 2011 Nissan Titan
Aside from their brawny looks and pleasing interior, the 2011 and 2012 Titans are a reliable choices.
New to these model years are minor option changes and renamed trim levels.
The new naming convention is expressed through both models’ 4 trims: S, SV, PRO-4X, and SL.
Owners love these models for their comfort, appearance, interior, reliability, and manufacturing quality.
2012 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.3 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5.0
- JD Power: 80 / 100
2011 Titan:
- Edmunds: 4.7 / 5.0
- Kelley Blue Book: 4.4 / 5.0
- JD Power: 77 / 100
2012 Titan, Edmunds review:
“I just love my Titan, 2012 PRO-4X Galaxy Black CC with all the bells and whistles. This is my second Titan. The truck is dependable, reliable, and to mention a good-looking truck. There is no vehicle that is perfect! But my belief is that Nissan knows a few things about vehicles and knows what they are doing. If you are reading this please believe me you will be very pleased once you test drive one, because after you test drive it you will take it home.”
Consumer Scores For Best Nissan Titan Years
| Model Year | Edmunds Consumer Rating | Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating | JD Power Consumer Rating |
| 2023 Nissan Titan | 4.3 / 5.0 | 3.5 / 5.0 | NA |
| 2022 Nissan Titan | 4.4 / 5.0 | 3.5 / 5.0 | 83 / 100 |
| 2021 Nissan Titan | 4.4 / 5.0 | 3.5 / 5.0 | 84 / 100 |
| 2020 Nissan Titan | 4.7 / 5.0 | 3.5 / 5.0 | NA |
| 2019 Nissan Titan | 4.2 / 5.0 | 4.5 / 5.0 | 83 / 100 |
| 2015 Nissan Titan | 4.4 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | NA |
| 2014 Nissan Titan | 4.4 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 78 / 100 |
| 2013 Nissan Titan | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | NA |
| 2012 Nissan Titan | 4.3 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 80 / 100 |
| 2011 Nissan Titan | 4.7 / 5.0 | 4.4 / 5.0 | 77 / 100 |
Related: Nissan Titan Maintenance & Repair Costs (Complete Guide)
What Are The Worst Years For The Nissan Titan?
2004 & 2005
The 2004 and 2005 Titan model years should be avoided. They have received more complaints than all the other model years combined. They were also the first Titan models ever produced – debut models are often the most problematic.
These models were plagued with various problems.
The most common of which was differential failure – a piece of the truck that allows the powered wheels to turn at different speeds.
Repairs often cost in excess of $2000, here’s what owners had to say:
“I was driving up an icy incline on a side road with the 4 wheel drive engaged and the front differential failed. The vehicle lost traction and almost hit other cars and pedestrians. This is the second failure to occur on the front differential on this vehicle.”
“Driving the truck on snow covered road, four wheel drive system failed to work. Only rear tires were driving, causing unsafe condition on a road that required four wheel drive. Investigation found the front differential failed, which is a common problem.”
Issues with the brakes were also widespread with numerous owners reporting that the brakes juddered, were warped, did not operate properly and the rotors needed to be continually replaced.
Here’s what owners had to say:
“Having front rotors replaced for the second time due to warping. First failure occoured around 3000 miles with lots of brake shudder. Rotors and associated hardware were replaced and problem resolved. Second failure occouring at 7500 miles with brake shudder. Rotors replaced again by dealer.”
“The front brake rotors began warping at around 10,000 miles on my 2004 Nissan Titan.”
Exhaust manifold failure and cracking was another serious, widespread problem.
Some of the reported symptoms of this included exhaust fumes entering the cabin, the check engine light coming on, sluggish acceleration and poor fuel economy.
- The 2004 Titan had a total of 1,269 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 72 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2005 Titan had a total of 1,083 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 55 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
Common problems:
- Rear differential failed
- Front differential failed
- Cracked exhaust manifold
- Warped brake rotors
2006, 2007 & 2008 Nissan Titan
The 2006, 2007 and 2008 Titans were problematic, although not on the same scale as their predecessors.
The 2006 model is the most problematic of the three, although they all shared similar problems.
The most common of which was axle seal failure, this meant oil would leak onto the brakes making driving very dangerous.
Here is what owners had to say:
“Driver side rear axle seal leaking oil and faulty axle bearing at 50k miles. Very common failure in early life of vehicle, many complaints.”
“Rear axle is leakin oil from it. Its getting the rear brakes wet, with the oil is making it harder to stop. I first noticed this the other day when I went through a red light because I could not stop.”
“This is now my 5th replacement axle seal and or bearing, I cant believe Nissan hasn’t been made to correct this ongoing issue, yes they replaced the first one but it has been mine to replace ever since.”
Cracking of the exhaust manifold was another common issue which led to exhaust fumes filling the cabin.
Some owners reported having to replace the exhaust manifold several times, with no explanation from the dealer as to why the failure kept recurring.
- The 2006 Titan had a total of 536 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 29 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2007 Titan had a total of 185 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 10 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2008 Titan had a total of 165 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 32 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
Common problems:
- Rear axle seal leaks
- Cracked exhaust manifold
- Differential failure
2016, 2017, and 2018 Nissan Titan
The 2016, 2017, and 2018 Titans suffered from a faulty engine crankshaft.
This defect led to various issues on the road, including loss of engine power, vehicle stalling, excessive vibration and shaking, and loud sounds coming from the engine bay area.
Here is what owners had to say:
“Crankshaft broke while on the interstate. Lost all power from the engine and exited the side of the road immediately. Truck is at a dealership and was giving news of needing engine replacement at 84k miles. Service light on for boost control system but was told that vehicle was drivable.”
“Engine crankshaft broke in half at 100,123 miles. Engine almost locked up, the truck died in the middle of me crossing 4 lanes of traffic.”
Owners also widely reported issues with the turbo actuator – symptoms included stalling, loss of power whilst driving and the check engine light coming on.
Another issue which is referred to as “dead pedal” meant that owners were unable to accelerate.
Here’s how one owner describes it:
“This is the second Titan xd with the same issue “dead pedal” or no acceleration when pedal is pressed this is when the truck is being driven at various speeds. Nissan has attempted to fix with no know repairs at this time.”
- The 2016 Titan had a total of 155 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 17 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2017 Titan had a total of 137 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 23 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2018 Titan had a total of 53 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 25 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
Common problems:
- Faulty engine crankshaft
- Turbo actuator failure
- Battery drain issues
- Dead pedal – accelerator problems
2009 and 2010 Nissan Titan
Owners of the 2011 and 2012 Titan models suffered from the infamous Takata airbag scandal.
For those out of the loop, the Takata airbag scandal refers to severely defective and dangerous airbag systems installed in millions of vehicles across various car manufacturers throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.
Another prominent issue was faulty brakes. Owners experienced non-responsive brake pedals, metal dragging noise underneath the vehicle, and a completely disintegrated emergency brake drum, among other nasty occurrences.
Owners had also experienced the brakes not activating when parking on a slope. This has led to a handful of accidents and collisions that could have otherwise been avoided if the brakes worked as intended.
Below is one of the many reports that have identified a problematic brake system:
“When driving and pressing on the brake pedal the brake does not engage. If you let go of the pedal and reapply it will start braking but it does not work frequently.”
- The 2009 Titan had a total of 53 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 4 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
- The 2010 Titan had a total of 57 problems according to CarProblemZoo.com and 11 complaints at CarComplaints.com.
Common problems:
- Will not shut off
- Oxygen canister clogs
- Entertainment system failing
- Water noise at the top of the windshield
- Brake control circuit failure
- Fan speed fluctuates
What Years Have The Most Complaints?
| Model Year | Complaints (CarComplaints.com) | Problems (CarProblemZoo.com) | Recalls (NHTSA.gov) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Nissan Titan | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 Nissan Titan | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 2021 Nissan Titan | 1 | 47 | 4 |
| 2020 Nissan Titan | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| 2019 Nissan Titan | 8 | 36 | 4 |
| 2018 Nissan Titan | 25 | 53 | 4 |
| 2017 Nissan Titan | 23 | 137 | 3 |
| 2016 Nissan Titan | 17 | 155 | 3 |
| 2015 Nissan Titan | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| 2014 Nissan Titan | 4 | 11 | 2 |
| 2013 Nissan Titan | 4 | 18 | 3 |
| 2012 Nissan Titan | 4 | 23 | 2 |
| 2011 Nissan Titan | 20 | 26 | 1 |
| 2010 Nissan Titan | 11 | 57 | 4 |
| 2009 Nissan Titan | 4 | 53 | 4 |
| 2008 Nissan Titan | 32 | 165 | 6 |
| 2007 Nissan Titan | 10 | 185 | 2 |
| 2006 Nissan Titan | 29 | 536 | 7 |
| 2005 Nissan Titan | 55 | 1,083 | 6 |
| 2004 Nissan Titan | 72 | 1,269 | 7 |
What Problems Do Nissan Titans Have?
- Severe vibration at highway speeds
- Rear axle failure
- Transmission Hesitates and Jerks
- Vehicle shakes and wobbles
- Degraded engine power
- Brake failure
- Unintended gear shifting
- Exhaust fumes in the cabin
- Shifts hard and lurches
- Pulls to one side
- Premature shock failure
- Steering not working properly
- Water noise at the top of the windshield
- Brake control circuit failure
- Fan speed fluctuates
- Radiator is leaking coolant
- Reverse failure
- Radiator crack
- Suspension shackle broke
- Antifreeze and transmission fluid mixed together
- Shudders when applying brakes
- Front and rear differential failure
- Exhaust manifolds cracked
Related: 11 Common Nissan Titan Problems (Explained)
What Are The Best Alternatives To The Nissan Titan?
| Make & Model | Score | MSRP | Fuel Economy (MPG) |
| Ram 1500 | 9.0 | $30,695 – $84,355 | City: 10 – 21 /Highway: 14 – 29 |
| Ford F-150 | 8.9 | $34,585 – $84,910 | City: 16 – 20 /Highway: 20 – 26 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 8.5 | $44,695 – $83,995 | City: 14 – 24 /Highway: 17 – 29 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 8.3 | $43,895 – $73,395 | City: 14 – 24 /Highway: 17 – 29 |
| Toyota Tundra | 8.1 | $37,865 – $76,145 | City: 17 – 20 /Highway: 20 – 24 |
| Nissan titan | 7.2 | $39,700 – $61,980 | City: 15 – 16 /Highway: 20 – 21 |
Source: cars.usnews.com, edmunds.com
Related:
References
https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/titan
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/nissan/titan
https://www.edmunds.com/nissan/titan/
https://www.kbb.com/nissan/titan/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2023/nissan/titan
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Titan/
https://www.carproblemzoo.com/nissan/titan/
https://www.cars.com/research/nissan-titan/recalls/
