2021 Nissan Armada Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2021 Nissan Armada has a complaint index of 30, ranking 15th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 13 complaints, 2 recalls, 1 crash, and 1 injury for this year.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Armada years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 13
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13 city / 18 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2021 Nissan Armada problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System4 (31%)
- Electrical System3 (23%)
- Engine3 (23%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (23%)
- Other2 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
- Airbags1 (8%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Fuel pump problems cause sputtering, misfires, and stalling, sometimes matching the fuel pump recall
- Owners report repeated battery drain issues requiring multiple battery replacements within months
- Some drivers describe transmission jerking, slow acceleration, or full transmission failure
- Emergency braking systems activate unexpectedly on open road with no obstacle nearby
- One driver described the engine making loud noise with RPMs swinging rapidly between 1,000 and 3,000
- A brake lockup during emergency braking was reported in a crash involving a rented Armada
2021 Nissan Armada recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V455000Jul 15, 2026Other168,149 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Nissan Armada, 2011-2013 Infiniti QX56, and 2014-2027 QX80 vehicles equipped with 22" wheels. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new labels, free of charge. Additionally, Nissan will mail replacement labels to owners. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated Fall 2026. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R26B1 and P6A13/4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
- NHTSA 21V373000May 20, 2021Fuel System24,140 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump:control/drive module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Armada and 2020-2021 INFINITI QX80 vehicles equipped with V8 engines. The impeller can swell and bind within the fuel pump module, causing it to fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A2. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R21A3.
2021 Nissan Armada fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13 MPG
- Highway
- 18 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $5,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2021 compared with other Armada years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Nissan Armada reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2021 Armada a complaint index of 30 and a Good verdict, ranking 15th worst out of 21 Armada model years, so it performs better than most other years of this model.
- What problems does the 2021 Nissan Armada have?
- NHTSA lists 13 complaints, with the top problem areas being fuel system, electrical system, engine, and collision avoidance/camera systems. The median mileage at failure across reported issues is 34,000 miles.
- Does the 2021 Nissan Armada have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Armada: one for a fuel pump module that can fail due to a swollen impeller, and one involving GAWR labeling on vehicles with 22-inch wheels. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Nissan Armada?
- EPA rates the 2021 Armada at 15 mpg combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,300.
- How does the 2021 Armada compare to other Armada years?
- The 2021 Armada's complaint index of 30 is much lower than the worst years, like 2005 (100) and 2006 (95), both rated Avoid, though it is not as low as top years like 2014 (5, Best).