YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Armada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Armada years

The 2021 Nissan Armada has a Complaint Index of 40 with 13 complaints and 2 recalls, ranking 10th of 16 model years and earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Armada years.

Complaints
13
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy

Top 2021 Nissan Armada problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System4 (31%)
  2. Electrical System3 (23%)
  3. Engine3 (23%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (23%)
  5. Other2 (15%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
  7. Airbags1 (8%)
  8. Brakes1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden, unintended emergency braking activation while driving with no obstacle nearby.
  • Fuel system complaints describe sputtering, misfire codes, and stalling, with some owners linking it to the fuel pump recall.
  • Electrical system complaints describe repeated battery drain and failure, sometimes with battery acid leaking after replacement.
  • Engine complaints describe loud noise and RPM surging between 1000 and 3000, plus bucking, skipping, and stalling during highway driving.
  • Transmission complaints include jerking motion with slow acceleration and, in one case, complete transmission failure requiring replacement.
2021 Nissan Armada complaints: complaints filed per month3Jan 2022Dec 2022Mar 2025Jun 2025Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2022 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2022 (3).

2021 Nissan Armada recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid8773115.5
2020Caution7327215.5
2021Good4013215
2022Caution539115
2023Best205115

All Nissan Armada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Armada reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Armada has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict relative to other Armada years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Armada?
NHTSA complaints point to the Fuel System as the top problem area at 31% of complaints, followed by Electrical System, Engine, and Collision Avoidance & Cameras each at 23%.
Does the 2021 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Armada: one for a fuel pump impeller that can swell and cause fuel system failure, and one involving GAWR labeling on vehicles with 22-inch wheels.
Which Nissan Armada model years should I avoid?
According to NHTSA complaint data, the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2025 Armada years carry an "Avoid" verdict, with Complaint Index values of 93, 80, 87, and 100 respectively, all higher than the 2021's 40.
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.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.