YearToAvoid

2005 Nissan Titan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 19 Titan years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Nissan Titan has 891 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 19 Titan model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (469 complaints, 53% of the total). Complaints report 11 crashes, 7 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
891
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
11 / 7
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
12.5 city / 17 hwy

Top 2005 Nissan Titan problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain469 (53%)
  2. Engine124 (14%)
  3. Fuel System104 (12%)
  4. Brakes88 (10%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires80 (9%)
  6. Electrical System59 (7%)
  7. Structure & Body38 (4%)
  8. Other32 (4%)
  9. Airbags18 (2%)
  10. Steering14 (2%)
2005 Nissan Titan complaints: complaints filed per quarter522005 Q12007 Q32010 Q12012 Q32015 Q12017 Q32020 Q12022 Q4
1043 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2010 Q4 (52).

2005 Nissan Titan recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V517000Oct 28, 2010Engine747,480 vehicles

    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. The ECM relay may allow silicon vapor to form and, over time, the silicon evaporates from the diode molding which causes silicon oxide to develop on the ECM relay contact due to arcing.

    Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 10V074000Mar 3, 2010Fuel System340,000 vehicles

    Fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56 vehicles. The instrument panel fuel gauge may inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel, typically about one quarter tank, when the fuel tank is empty.

    Risk: This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall on the highway, which could cause a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel sender unit inside the fuel tank with a new improved sender card. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 08V284000Jun 27, 2008Other180,664 vehicles

    Equipment:appliance:air conditioner

    Nissan is recalling 180,664 my 2005-2006 titan, armada and infinity qx56 vehicles manufactured after march 17, 2005, that are equipped with a visteon air conditioning condenser fan motor. The fan motor may not be properly sealed allowing excessive water intrusion and inadequate drainage of moisture.

    Risk: This could cause corrosion in the motor leading possibly to overheating and a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a 'thermal protector kit' and test the air conditioning condenser fan motor and replace it if necessary. The recall began on august 2, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 4 recalls for the 2005 Nissan Titan →

2005 Nissan Titan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12.5 MPG
Highway
17 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2005 compared with other Titan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid100891414
2006Avoid94430514
2007Caution72139114

All Nissan Titan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Titan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Nissan Titan ranks worst among Titan model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 891 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Titan?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (469 complaints), engine (124 complaints), and fuel system (104 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 66,254 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Titan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Titan, most recently reported 2010, covering engine, fuel system, other, and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Nissan Titan?
EPA rates the 2005 Nissan Titan at 14 MPG combined (12.5 city / 17 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.