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2021 Nissan Titan problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
51%
28 of 56 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Nissan Titan are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2021 Nissan Titan have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 28 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Titan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under power train (25). On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
28
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
56
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
3 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN25 · 45%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 14%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5 · 9%
ENGINE4 · 7%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 7%

The years either side

2010
34%
13 of 46
2011
38%
8 of 26
2012
too few complaints
2013
too few complaints
2014
too few complaints
2015
too few complaints
2016
87%
167 of 198
2017
75%
120 of 172
2018
73%
63 of 90
2019
54%
25 of 47
2020
too few complaints
2021
51%
28 of 56
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2021 Nissan Titan

What one owner reported

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYS10/01/2026
Vehicle has on a handful of occasions stalled or has no throttle response, when taking off from a stop light. The last 2 times this happened the truck engine was till running, but had no throttle response. I had to shift to neutral and pump gas with no input to throttle. Vehicle is very dangerous to drive. Dealership h…

One of 28 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Titan?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Titan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission22V671000 · Sep 2022

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.

Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: • Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission…

power train: automatic transmission22V457000 · Jun 2022

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.

Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2022. Owners…

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: air bag/restraint control module24V580000 · Aug 2024
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 and 2024 Titan vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) may be missing a spacer, which can allow the fastener to loosen and result in an…
exterior lighting: turn signal: bulbs21V471000 · Jun 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
tires21V169000 · Mar 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2021 Nissan Titan? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2021 Nissan Titan

Does the 2021 Nissan Titan have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 28 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Titan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Titan?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Titan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 22V671000 (power train: automatic transmission), 22V457000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Nissan Titan years are better?

Among the Nissan Titan years we track, the 2010 (34%) and the 2011 (38%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (51%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Titan?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Nissan Titan has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.