2008 Nissan Titan Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Nissan Titan has a complaint index of 83, the 4th worst year out of 19, and carries an Avoid verdict. Owners most often reported Engine problems (30 complaints, 23% share), followed closely by Transmission & Powertrain (29 complaints) and Fuel System issues (20 complaints).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 83/100
- #4 of 19 Titan years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 133
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 14
- 12 city / 17 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2008 Nissan Titan problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine30 (23%)
- Transmission & Powertrain29 (22%)
- Fuel System20 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (14%)
- Airbags14 (11%)
- Brakes14 (11%)
- Electrical System14 (11%)
- Structure & Body11 (8%)
- Other7 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes at highway speeds, resulting in serious injuries.
- A wiring harness under the vehicle burned and melted while towing a trailer, cutting out the trailer's electric brake control.
- The tire pressure warning light triggered repeatedly with false alerts even after sensors and the control module were replaced.
- The fuel gauge misreported tank level, sometimes reading three-quarters full immediately after a fill-up.
- Erratic steering and handling from an off-center rear axle caused repeated alignment failures despite multiple shop visits.
- Uneven and premature tire wear appeared within the vehicle's first several thousand miles.
2008 Nissan Titan recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driverÂs airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
- 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.
- NHTSA 10V072000Mar 2, 2010Brakes179,383 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56, and model year 2008-2009 nissan quest vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin end was not spin-formed to specification during the manufacturing process of the brake pedal assembly. The pivot pin could slide and cause the brake pedal to partially disengage from the brake pedal bracket.
Risk: The driver will experience unusual and noticeable looseness in the pedal and a reduction in braking force increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see if the pivot pin had been formed properly and will replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
2008 Nissan Titan fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 12 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.
2008 compared with other Titan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Nissan Titan reliable?
- Compared to other Titan model years, the 2008 ranks poorly. It has a complaint index of 83, the 4th highest (worst) among 19 model years, earning an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Titan?
- NHTSA complaints show Engine issues as the top problem area (30 complaints, 23% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain (29 complaints, 22%) and Fuel System (20 complaints, 15%).
- Does the 2008 Nissan Titan have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2008 Titan, covering airbags, fuel system, brakes, structure/body (seat tracks), and tire placard labeling. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2008 Titan?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Engine complaints cluster around 91,000 miles, Transmission & Powertrain around 63,298 miles, and Fuel System around 45,000 miles.
- How does the 2008 Titan compare to other Titan years?
- The 2008 model's complaint index of 83 is worse than the 2007 (72), 2009 (67), and 2010 (44) but better than the 2005 (100) and 2006 (94), which rank as the worst years overall.