Nissan Titan 2004-2015 Common issues, Reliability and Review

If you are looking for a dive into the common issues, reliability breakdown and a light review of the Nissan Titan from 2004-2015 to prepare you for your purchase or help you diagnose different issues, you came to the right place.

Named for the Titans of Greek mythology, the Nissan Titan began development in 1999 and finally was safe for production in 2003. Nissan threw in a beefy 5.6L v8 that had pretty great power and towing capabilities. If taken care for you should see at least 250k miles and I have seen some with upwards to 400k miles.

But, with that said, the Nissan Titan still has issues and here are some of the most common ones.

Cracked Exhaust Manifold:

First issue that every Titan owner will have is a cracked exhaust manifold. If you are looking at a titan and it has the stock exhaust manifold, expect to replace it at some point. Owners have had their cracked manifolds welded, however, they do end up cracking again due to the thin metal. I’ll have a solid aftermarket replacement down below for your convenience.

If you suspect a cracked manifold, replace it as soon as possible because this can ultimately crumble up your catalytic converters and with the weird back pressure suck up material from the cats into the engine and cause engine failure.

So, yeah! Don’t diddly daddly on replacing that exhaust manifold.

New Manifold that won’t crack:

Lacking Power:

Low fuel pressure causing damage to the catalytic converters. If you are having a lack of power or below 55 psi, then you are starving your engine. so , replace that fuel pump so you don’t have to replace the very expensive catalytic converters.

Delphi FG1277 Fuel Pump:

Rear diff issues:

The first gen Titan has a vent nipple, however, it easily clogs.. As the diff speeds up and the heat starts to increase, pressure builds up into the diff. The pressure, over time, starts to squeeze out of the easiest spot and that’s the axle seals. The best solution is to extend the vent with tubing and attach it to the gas filler neck. There are kits for sale for about $20. Then it will be highly unlikely to clog again and you won’t have to replace those rear axle seals again, which is a little tedious to replace.

Diff Vent Relocation: https://www.offroadgorilla.com/shop/rear-differential-breather-vent-kit

Most common in the 2004 model and went away in 2008, and can happen without warning, the rear axle can totally fail which could lock both wheels and cause a crash. Which is mainly due to what I just mentioned. Some owners complain about rear end whining, and that’s definitely a sign that it’s on its way out.

Rust:

Like most pickup trucks and cars in general, they are prone to rusting and more so in the salt belt north. Be sure to check for any noteworthy rust. Be sure to check the rear leaf spring shackles, as well. Because they can rust, break, and penetrate the bed of the truck.

Other mentionable issues:

Clunking in the rear end when you shift from reverse, which seems to be a normal thing.

Most of the issues got better in 2008 and the truck also received a facelift and an updated interior which basically elevated the look of the Nissan titan a bit.

Pre facelift cars have a lot of cheap plastics in the interior that can chip and paint can also wear off.

Seats can tear over time, so be sure to take care of them if they are in good condition.

Final thoughts:

Overall, these trucks are pretty awesome. With little preventative maintenance you’ll have a very reliable and long lasting truck that can haul nearly 10,000 lbs.

I would definitely opt in for the 08 model and up because some of the issues became less prevalent. The Vk 5.6L v8 and the 5 speed transmission is known to last a long time. Just have to take care of it.

Are you interested in the 11th gen Ford F150? well, I would definitely read this to dodge some headaches.

Dont want to read? Well, watch this instead!