Nissan Titan: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Titan problems by model year, from 741 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (87%, 167 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (75%, 120 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (73%, 63 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 7 Nissan Titan years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Nissan Titan year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2010 (34%).
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (167 of 424 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Titan year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Titan | elevated | 34% | 13 | 46 | 7/7 | 4 |
| 2011 Titan | elevated | 38% | 8 | 26 | 6/7 | 1 |
| 2012 Titan | too few to score | – | 8 | 22 | – | 2 |
| 2013 Titan | too few to score | – | 4 | 11 | – | 3 |
| 2014 Titan | too few to score | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 |
| 2015 Titan | too few to score | – | 4 | 10 | – | 1 |
| 2016 Titan | very high | 87% | 167 | 198 | 1/7 | 3 |
| 2017 Titan | very high | 75% | 120 | 172 | 2/7 | 3 |
| 2018 Titan | very high | 73% | 63 | 90 | 3/7 | 4 |
| 2019 Titan | high | 54% | 25 | 47 | 4/7 | 4 |
| 2020 Titan | too few to score | – | 11 | 22 | – | 5 |
| 2021 Titan | high | 51% | 28 | 56 | 5/7 | 5 |
| 2022 Titan | too few to score | – | 7 | 13 | – | 4 |
| 2023 Titan | too few to score | – | 13 | 18 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Titan years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Titan transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Nissan Titan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2016 | 16V847000 | fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly | 2016 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V457000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2021 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V671000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2021 |
12 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2010 | 10V072000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V208000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10E019000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V268000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2016–2017 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V240000 | equipment: other: labels | 2016–2018 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V495000 | electrical system: wiring | 2017–2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V556000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2019 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V169000 | tires | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V471000 | exterior lighting: turn signal: bulbs | 2021 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V067000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2011 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V580000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Titan
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Titan
What are the worst years for the Nissan Titan?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Titan years are the 2016 (87% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (75% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2018 (73% of relevant complaints, very high). 7 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Titan?
No Nissan Titan year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2010 (34%).
Does the Nissan Titan have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 424 of 599 relevant NHTSA complaints (71%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Is the Nissan Titan reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 7 Nissan Titan years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 71% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Titan?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Titan years we track, out of 15 in total: 16V847000 (Nov 2016, 2016), 22V457000 (Jun 2022, 2021), 22V671000 (Sep 2022, 2021). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.