Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 33% | — |
| 2021 | 3 | 23% | — |
| 2020 | 4 | 15% | 74,000 miles |
| 2019 | 11 | 14% | 25,000 miles |
| 2018 | 14 | 19% | 70,000 miles |
| 2017 | 16 | 20% | 48,000 miles |
| 2011 | 10 | 25% | 78,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 13% | 127,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 17% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% | 83,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 9% | 111,000 miles |
| 2006 | 18 | 7% | 88,000 miles |
| 2005 | 40 | 11% | 90,000 miles |
| 2004 | 34 | 7% | 80,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Battery drain happens and vehicle Will be hard to start or not start at all. New battery was installed and 4 months later, same issue. It has been taken into dealership multiple times and they can never recreate the issue and have found nothing wrong with the vehicle to repair. This has caused wife and kids to be stranded because vehicle won't start. No warning lights, nothing that the dealership found to cause issue.
Check engine light and collision lights come on at start of vehicle due to the wiring harness issue. The throttle body and EMC have been replaced. This is a huge safety concern as it effects the engine and the operation of the vehicle. The problem continues even after the dealer has confirmed and reproduced the issue.
My family and I traveled to Ohio to visit family. After stopping for fuel, 6hrs into our drive, our 2021 nissan Armada started bucking, skipping, and eventually stalled 50 yards from the fuel station. Several attempts at restarting the vehicle resulted in a sputtering idle and stall. This put my family is grave danger as we were beginning our acceleration onto the interstate at 11pm eastern standard time. After some research, our vehicle doesnt fall under the recall for faulty pump. The pump assembly is $900 as well as a $700 tow bill. This is very dangerous and its evident their's more Armadas with the faulty pump than nissan originally recalled. My wife and I are extremely disappointed and frightened to drive this suv 10 hours back home once its fixed. Please review and consider our vehicle for reimbursement for the near miss situation. Best regards
Vehicle battery is being drained. The vehicle won't start. Purchase a new battery on March 2025. Vehicle Car fax states a new battery was installed in vehicle in May 2024. I purchased the vehicle on September 4, 2024.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the charcoal canister purge valve. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump and O-ring. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who determined that the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The failure reoccurred, with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was a failure with the battery. The contact was informed that a larger battery was required. The vehicle was not repaired. …
My car had the recall work completed about a month ago, just for your information. Yesterday, while out with a friend ,I noticed, and made comments aloud about " is my car in drive?"..."my car feels like it's 'pulling' or something, almost like the emergency brake engaged ...(but it was NOT) periodically I continued to mutter these same types of statements intermittently. I had decided, if the vehicle continued, I would call dealership for appt. It is still under complete warranty and just turned 16,000 miles. Later that afternoon, at about 5:30 pm My friend and I were driving out of a restaurant parking lot, preparing to pull onto a (somewhat) main rd, when suddenly, and without any warning the car UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, totally,lunging us forward up a curb, up onto a berm/median, that divides north and southbound traffic, and OVER a Boulder/huge decorative rock, app. …
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and running, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The failure was a persistent failure. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 24,783.
This vehicle has less than 24k miles, and just surpassed the warranty period and suddenly with no explanation, it won't start due to a faulty start switch in the brake pedal which must be depressed to start the vehicle or shift into drive. 90% of the time the vehicle will not start. Only after spending 10-20 fidgeting with the break pedal while simultaneously pushing the start button and moving the gear knob will the vehicle start if you are lucky. Then you can spend another 20 minutes trying to get the vehicle to go into gear. The dealer and Nissan refuse to recall this item despite over one million complaints on the issue, and a history or recalls on other models with the same switch. But the dealer is happy to charge over $1500 to replace it. After spending nearly 70,000 on these cars new, few people are willing to throw $1500 at it with so few miles. …
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, Infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ECM) relay that has a diode for electrical current noise reduction.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ECM relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on December 6, 2010. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Armada years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (40), 2004 (34), 2006 (18), 2017 (16) and 2018 (14) model years. Engine complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Nissan Armada engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 10V-517 (engine and engine cooling, Oct 28, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Armada engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (11 mentions), followed by the exhaust system (9).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.