Most common 2021 Nissan Titan problems
Share of the 58 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Titan complaints by model year
Best Titan years: 2014, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2017, 2018, 2021, 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2021 Nissan Titan recalls (5)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ACU, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PD120.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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 Control…
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Bulbs
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Tires › Sidewall
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.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021.
What 2021 Nissan Titan owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 26 →
I have been dealing with a transmission issue with a 2021 New Nissan Titan since Jul 26 with no resolution. I brought my Nissan Titan HD in for service at Bayou Nissan on July 26 for a Transmission Issue. The truck jerks when downshifting, the jerk can throw you forward with a hard downshift when coming to a stop. This has at times locked my seatbelt and thrown passengers forward. This is clearly and regularly documented online, the links provided are the exact description of what is happening in my vehicle. https://www.titanxdforum.com/threads/9-speed-transmission-shifting.44760/ https://thedriveradviser.com/nissan-titan-transmissions-overview-problems-fluids/ https://www.mylemon.com/lemon-law-blog/common-nissan-titan-transmission-problems/ My truck has been in service on and off for 20 days since July 26, I have lost 20 days of having my vehicle. …
Transmission issue. The transmission is sluggish when trying to accelerate when at a complete stop. It's almost like it doesn't downshift properly after coming to a complete stop. I have had several instances when I am trying to clear an intersection and have to apply more acceleration than normal to prevent getting hit from oncoming traffic. The transmission also kicks when coming to a complete stop. It almost seems like it has a hard time downshifting to first gear. I have come close to hitting someone in front of me because it lurches forward after coming to a complete stop. I noticed the problem a few months after purchasing the vehicle brand new. I made an appointment with the Nissan dealership and they could not replicate the issue. I again a few months later in 2021 mentioned the issue while getting an oil change, and they finally were able to replicate the issue. …
Electrical system
2021 Nissan Titan XD was being driven. I was listening to an audio book through android auto. I began to hear a noice I can best describe as a beep or squeal like you might hear from an electronic toy with a battery about to die. I thought the sound was coming from the center console and was trying to identify the source when I observed flames erupt behind the passenger door speaker grill. I exited the vehicle and opened the passenger side door where I patted the speaker grill and was able to extinguish the flame. I called 911. The call connected via bluetooth and I was able to hear the call through the other speakers. I pulled the door panel cover open and was able to observe the speaker was damaged. I reached in and pulled the connector out of the top of the speaker to hopefully ensure it would not reignite. The connector was not hot, melted or damaged.
Vehicle stalled earlier in the day and displayed Service AT. Symptoms included loss of power, fluctuating service lights, but no DTC codes. Shortly after powering off and starting vehicle functioned as intended with slight smoke when activating ac. Vehicle stalled again later within the day, experiencing immediate loss of power with smoke emitting from the engine bay sides. Electrical system began to flash indicating malfunctioning with darker smoke indicating flame intensity. Vehicle was coasted to a safe location away from personal property and other vehicles to ensure safety of surrounding area. Fire Department was contacted as soon as possible after exiting the vehicle and removing as many personal belongings as possible. Truck was engulfed in flames and was unable to be salvaged. Total loss.
Driver assistance
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Automatic Emergency Braking system inadvertently activated, causing the vehicle to suddenly decelerate. The contact stated that on one occasion, the vehicle abruptly stopped. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that the vehicle operated as designed. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle independently stopped underneath a bridge. The contact stated that the shadow from the bridge had caused the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking to inadvertently activate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,900.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-up camera display screen appeared distorted, with lines inside the image. The contact stated that the failure created a visibility hazard. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the camera infotainment display needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder and not currently available. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and confirmed that the part was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
2021 Nissan Titan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 9-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 9-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Nissan Titan a good car?
Based on 58 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Titan rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Titan at the same age. It is one of the Titan years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Nissan Titan?
The transmission & drivetrain — 26 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (11) and driver assistance (7).
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Titan have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2021 Nissan Titan, the most recent from August 5, 2024 (air bag/restraint control module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Titan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2018, 2021, 2004 and 2005. See the full Nissan Titan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Titan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 15,000 miles; 90% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.