YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Titan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#7 most-complained of 19 Titan years

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

The 2009 Nissan Titan has 47 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 67 out of 100 — #7 highest of 19 Titan model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (10 complaints, 21% of the total). Complaints report 8 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries.

Complaints
47
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
8 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
13 city / 17.5 hwy

Top 2009 Nissan Titan problems

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

  1. Engine10 (21%)
  2. Fuel System10 (21%)
  3. Airbags9 (19%)
  4. Brakes9 (19%)
  5. Electrical System7 (15%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain7 (15%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (9%)
  8. Steering3 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body2 (4%)
  10. Other1 (2%)
2009 Nissan Titan complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2009Mar 2011Jan 2014Sep 2014Jan 2016Mar 2018Jul 2023Jul 2024
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2009 to Jan 2025; peak Mar 2010 (4).

2009 Nissan Titan recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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 driver’s 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.

  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 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.

2009 Nissan Titan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
17.5 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.

2009 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
2007Caution72139114
2008Avoid83133514
2009Caution6747314
2010Good4446314.5
2011Best1726114.5

All Nissan Titan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Titan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Nissan Titan ranks #7 of 19 among Titan model years (Complaint Index 67/100, verdict: Caution). It has 47 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Titan?
The most reported problem areas are engine (10 complaints), fuel system (10 complaints), and airbags (9 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 56,874 miles.
Does the 2009 Nissan Titan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Titan, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags, fuel system, and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Titan?
EPA rates the 2009 Nissan Titan at 14 MPG combined (13 city / 17.5 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.