Titan (A61)
Verdict Shop on condition rather than model year, since 2016-2024 trucks share one complaint profile and a diesel Titan XD means a pre-2020 truck. Center the inspection on the transmission and engine, and confirm the transmission and wiring recalls are closed.
Data covers 5 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
Nissan Titan Unidentified Engine
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Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The Nissan Titan spent its second generation as the perennial outsider in the full-size truck class, and its reliability record helps explain why the segment's domestic trio never lost sleep over it. Across the A61 generation, which ran from 2016 until Nissan retired the Titan after 2024, owners filed 635 complaints, and they concentrate hard in the powertrain. Engine issues lead at 301, nearly half the total, with transmission trouble close behind at 151. For a truck built to chase the F-150 and Silverado on durability, that is the wrong place to carry the weight of the complaints.
The powertrain is the headline and the caution. The pairing of heavy engine and transmission complaints points to a driveline that did not match the segment benchmarks for toughness. Nissan simplified the lineup to a single 5.6-liter V8 for the 2020 refresh, dropping the Cummins diesel that had anchored the heavier-duty Titan XD, but the complaint pattern held. Electrical faults at 101 and fuel-system problems at 81 fill out a top five where every category carries a critical flag.
Seventeen fire reports across the generation stand out on a truck with this complaint volume, and they align with the engine, electrical, and fuel-system concerns that dominate the record. The 16 recalls reinforce those themes. Multiple campaigns address transmission software and hardware, engine wiring, and exterior lighting, several of them shared with the related Frontier. The transmission recalls in particular line up with the 151 owner complaints in that category.
The Titan makes sense for a used-truck buyer drawn to its lower entry price and its simplicity next to a heavily-optioned domestic rival, but only with clear eyes about the powertrain record. This is a truck to buy on condition and service history, not on the badge's reputation, because the reliability data asks for more scrutiny than the class leaders do.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Titan, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
Shop the Titan on condition, not on model year, since the A61 generation held a consistent complaint profile from 2016 through its 2024 finale. The one meaningful lineup change came in 2020, when Nissan dropped the Cummins diesel and standardized on the 5.6-liter V8, so a diesel Titan XD is an early-generation-only proposition with its own parts and service considerations.
Put the powertrain at the center of any inspection. Drive the truck through a full range of gear changes and watch for hard shifts, slipping, or hesitation, because transmission complaints are heavy and back up two separate recalls. Check the engine for leaks, listen for unusual noise under load, and confirm it runs to temperature cleanly. Given seventeen fire reports across the generation, inspect the engine bay and wiring for signs of heat damage or amateur repairs, and confirm the electrical recalls have been completed.
Run the VIN through Nissan's recall lookup and verify the transmission, engine-wiring, and lighting campaigns are closed. A pre-sale inspection by a truck-savvy independent shop is worth the cost here, and a documented maintenance history carries more weight on this truck than on its better-regarded rivals.
What to check on a used 2016-2025 Nissan Titan
On a used 2016-2025 Nissan Titan, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (301), the transmission and drivetrain (151) and the electrical system (101). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 301 owner complaints on the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan about the engine.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 151 owner complaints on the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan about the transmission and drivetrain.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints on the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan about the electrical system.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 81 owner complaints on the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan about the fuel system.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 46 owner complaints on the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Recalls (16)
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 unsecured ACU.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 Titan and Frontier vehicles. The tires may have a tear in the inner bead which can cause a rapid loss of tire pressure.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Titan, Titan XD, Frontier, and 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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.
Show 11 older recalls
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue, 2022 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Titan rental vehicles. When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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.
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.
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 tires were cured for too long during tire production.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Titan and Titan XD pickup trucks. The engine wiring harness could contain an exposed wire that can cause an electrical short or arcing if it contacts another wire.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019 Titan vehicles equipped with LED headlights. The headlights may have incorrect aiming marks. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017-2019 gasoline, light duty, Titan vehicles. The alternator harness may have been damaged during the engine installation process, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Nissan Titan, 2016 and 2018 Nissan Titan XD vehicles. Accessories installed on these vehicles reduced the load carrying capacity, however, a Load Carrying Capacity modification label was not installed, possibly allowing the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab and Titan XD Crew Cab vehicles. In the event of a crash, the rear seatbelt assembly may not adequately protect the occupant's head, allowing it to contact the D-ring bolt trim cap. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 Titan Diesel XD vehicles manufactured August 7, 2015, to September 1, 2016. The affected vehicles may not have had the temporary fuel tank breather tube cap removed during the vehicle's assembly and the fuel tank breather tube may not have been connected to the bed rail. As a result, the fuel tank may not have the proper ventilation, possibly causing the fuel gauge and the distance to empty meter to both display inaccurately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2016-2025 Nissan Titan complaints?
Owners have filed 635 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan. The systems they name most often are the engine, the transmission and the electrical system.
Is the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 635 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan have?
NHTSA has 635 owner complaints on file for the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2016-2025 Nissan Titan?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls covering some 2016-2025 Nissan Titan vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Nissan Titan?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the transmission and the electrical system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Titan?
The 2024 Nissan Titan received an overall 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 3 stars (22.8% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 635 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.