The Absolute Best Year Of The Nissan Titan

Writing about the Nissan Titan is almost a weekly ritual on this blog. We’ve written extensively about the features and capabilities of this car. However, we have yet to answer what model year you can best buy on the second-hand market. Let’s start with a quick answer and then dive into more detail:

The 2011 and 2015 model years of the Nissan Titan are the best second-hand models you can buy. Both models have no transmission or engine problems. Also, they’ve been recalled fewer times than other model years, and their recalls weren’t as severe. Finally, they’re cheap in maintenance, with the 2011 model year costing $618 per year and the 2015 model costing $441.

However, that certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. Below we’ll dive into extensive detail about the Titan and the different model years. We’ll look at what model year has the most and most minor problems, and we’ll do the same for the recalls it has had. Furthermore, we’ll discuss the maintenance cost for each generation so you can get a feeling of how much each model year costs. Read on!

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What Year Has The Least Problems?

First, we always think it’s a good idea to give an overview of the number of problems that each model year has. The reason for doing so is that this is generally a good initial indication of what model years cause the most problems. However, we must keep in mind that this research is less relevant for model years 2-3 years old since they haven’t been on the road for that long.

Having said that, we must say that the Nissan Titan seems to be a very reliable vehicle overall. Especially since none of the models produced after 2014 have any reported occurring problems. At first, we wondered if this information was correct, but we could not find any reports of the Titan being a truck with many issues. This is, of course, a good sign overall.

However, we must say that the models manufactured before 2014 generally do have some problems. Even though there may not be many, some of them have issues that you should look out for. We’ll discuss these in more detail below the table.

Leaking Rear Axle Seals

Leaking rear axle seals are a common occurrence with models that have been manufactured in or before 2013—this problem I caused by overheating or a lack of ventilation. The result is that excessive fluid loss will result in significant damage to the rear differential assembly or axle bearings. This problem typically occurs around the 100,000 miles mark and costs $250 to fix by replacing the seals.

Failing Fuel Pump

Titans manufactured in 2010 or before can have a failing or weak fuel pump, which will create a low fuel pressure and a lean fuel mix, resulting in a loss of power. If not fixed on time, the problem can damage the catalytic converter.

Problems with the fuel pump commonly occur around 100,000 miles. The problem is that replacing the fuel pump will cost about $1,500. If the catalytic converter is also damaged, that will cost another $1,700.

Also read: The Exact Bolt Pattern Of A Nissan Titan

Water Leaks Which Cause Corrosion

Pre-2011 TItans have a small water leak which can cause water to build up between the engine and the wiring harness of the transmission, which affects the connector. This will cause problems with starting the engine, such as cranking but not starting or stalling. Also, the transmission may not shift correctly. This problem typically occurs around the 115,000 miles mark. Expect to pay around $200 to replace the connector and seal the leak.

Also read: Nissan Titan Transmissions: Overview, Problems, Fluids

Which Year Has The Least Recalls?

2008 – 2010 models were recalled for some manufacturing flaws worth noticing. One was partially disengaging from the brake pedal bracket for the brake pedal because the pivot pin tended to slide out (10V072000).

Another one was for the fuel gauge, indicating there was still a quarter tank of fuel left even though the tank was running on empty (10V074000). The final one was for the lower control arm of the front suspension, which has welding problems that could cause it to break in the event of a crash (10V0740000).

As discussed earlier, the 2011 models were free of recalls and didn’t have any noticeable significant problems (except for the leaking rear axle seals). This indicates that this model seems to be a strong contender up until now if you’re looking for an older model.

The recalls continued for the 2012 – 2015 models, after which the Nissan Titan was redesigned (that’s why there’s no 2016 model anywhere in this article). The recalls for the 2012 model year were minor. This is because they were for incorrect labeling of the car’s rim size and seating capacity.

All 2013 – 2015 models had problems with the airbag inflator module, which could not work correctly or ruptured during deployment (20V188000). Some 2013 models had a faulty brake master cylinder which caused inconsistent brake pressure (13V451000), and a malfunctioning brake shift interlock could cause the car to shift out of park randomly (13V094000). We’ll discuss the other model years under the table.

One of the good things about the redesign in 2017 is that the Titan has very few reported problems. This does seem to indicate the truck is still built to last. However, this newer generation did have quite some recalls (more than the previous generation). So, let’s see how major these recalls were.

2017 – 2020 models all had recalls for the car’s electrical system. For the 2017 – 2019 models, this recall had to do with the incorrect installation of the alternator harness (19V495000). This was typically fixed free of charge. For the 2020 model, the recall had to do with faulty wiring of the engine wire harness, which could cause short-circuiting (20V759000).

2017 models had an incorrect installation of the rear seat belts, increasing the risk of injury during a crash (17V268000), whereas 2018 – 2021 models had a recall for some Continental tires that could rupture without notice of a faulty manufacturing process (21V169000). Finally, 2018 and 2019 models had a recall for the backup camera, which, in some cases, would stop displaying an image (19V654000).

Knowing all of this information, our intermediary conclusion is that the 2011 model year seems to be the model year with the least problems and recalls. However, this model year may be a bit old for some people in the market for a Titan. Therefore, the second-best option seems to be the 2015 model year since this Titan has no major reported problems and only had one major recall for the airbag inflator module. Furthermore, this model year does not have any known electrical problems or engine/transmission problems, decreasing the risk of major repairs.

Which Year Costs The Least In Maintenance?

However, we must also admit that we’re not yet done with our research while having said that. We also think that knowing how much you can expect to pay on maintenance for a Nissan Titan is an essential factor in this equation. Therefore, we’ve created a table using data from repairpal.com. In the table below, you can see exactly how much you can expect to spend for each model year of the Titan.

It’s important to note that information for more recent model years is scarce. This is because newer models generally have fewer problems, and more are fixed under warranty. Reliable data is therefore only available after 3-4 years of the car being on the roads.

What becomes apparent in the table below is that the 2010 – 2014 model years are currently the most expensive to maintain. All costs are close to or more than $600 per year. However, the Nissan Titan is a full-size truck, and usually, a full-size truck costs $936 per year to maintain. Therefore, these generations are still a good deal in terms of costs.

As expected, the older and newer model years cost less to maintain. Newer models have fewer problems, and older models generally don’t have many significant repairs anymore because owners decide to spend their money on a new truck instead of major repairs for the old one.

Taking all of this information into account, we feel the 2011 and 2015 model years are still the best deal. The 2015 model year will most likely cost $600 per year in maintenance in 2-3 years. However, both these model years have minor problems and the least recalls, reducing the chances of future repairs.

What To Expect From A Used Nissan Titan In Terms Of Price?

Now that we know the best model years of the Nissan Titan, it’s essential to discuss what we can expect when buying a 2011 or 2015 Titan on the second-hand market. At the time of writing, a 2015 model year of the Titan would be 6-7 years old. Using data from Caredge.com, we can see that a 7-year-old Titan has depreciated around 50%.

Let’s assume that a 7-year-old Titan would have 85,000 miles. Since the Titan is a full-size truck, we expect to put 250,000 miles on the odometer before it gives out. This would mean you can buy a Titan for 50% off and still have 165,000 miles left. Furthermore, we know now that the 2015 models have very few problems that maximize the car’s chances of a long lifespan.

If 50% depreciation is not enough for you, then your best bet is a 2011 model year that would be 10 – 11 years old at the time of writing. This would mean a depreciation of 62% and a mileage of 120,000. For 38% of the price, you, therefore, have 130,000 miles left on the car. As we saw, the 2011 model year seems to be the most reliable, but you will have to be prepared to drive around with a car that will be considered quite old in the next ten years.

Sources

• https://repairpal.com/nissan/titan
• https://www.cars.com/research/nissan-titan/recalls/
• https://caredge.com/nissan/titan/depreciation

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!