2021 Nissan Titan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
92/100
#2 most-complained of 14 Titan years
The 2021 Nissan Titan ranks 2nd worst of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 92, 55 complaints, and 5 recalls. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 45% of complaints, making this year a relative Avoid within the Titan lineup.
- Complaints
- 55
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 15 city / 21 hwy
Top 2021 Nissan Titan problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (45%)
- Electrical System10 (18%)
- Other8 (15%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (13%)
- Brakes4 (7%)
- Engine4 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (7%)
- Fuel System2 (4%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Airbags1 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the 9-speed transmission hard-shifting and searching for gears, with lurching at stops.
- Some describe the transmission being sluggish or failing to downshift when accelerating from a stop, risking not clearing intersections in time.
- Owners describe hard downshifts that jerk the vehicle forward, in one case locking a seatbelt.
- Several owners report electrical smoke or fire near the engine bay or center console, sometimes with no trouble codes displayed.
- One owner reports front crash avoidance sensors malfunctioning under a bridge, causing the brakes to lock and the truck to be rear-ended.
- One owner reports a power steering failure with fluid loss, followed later by a transmission failure shifting abruptly into first gear.
2021 Nissan Titan recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V580000Aug 5, 2024Airbags7 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 and 2024 Titan vehicles. The Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) may be missing a spacer, which can allow the fastener to loosen and result in an unsecured ACU.
Risk: An unsecured ACU can prevent or delay air bags from deploying as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ACU, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PD120.
- NHTSA 22V671000Sep 7, 2022Transmission & Powertrain197,230 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Titan, 2020-2022 Frontier, and 2023 Z vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will perform the applicable repairs below, free of charge: Â Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission Control Module (TCM) Â Model Year 2020-2022 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM and Engine Control Module (ECM) Â Model Year 2023 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM Â Model Year 2023 Z vehicles: reprogram TCM. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
- NHTSA 22V457000Jun 24, 2022Transmission & Powertrain180,176 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Frontier and Titan vehicles. The transmission parking pawl may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to apply the parking brake every time they park their vehicle. Dealers will replace the transmission parking pawl pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A2 R22A3.
2021 Nissan Titan fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,450
- 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 Titan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Nissan Titan reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Titan ranks 2nd worst of 14 model years with a complaint index of 92, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Titan years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2021 Nissan Titan?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category, accounting for 45% of the 55 total complaints filed with NHTSA.
- Does the 2021 Nissan Titan have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 Titan, covering airbags, transmission parking pawl engagement, turn signal bulbs, and tire curing issues, none marked do-not-drive.
- At what mileage do 2021 Titan problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 14,900 across reported problems for the 2021 Titan, though this varies by component.
- How does the 2021 Titan compare to other years?
- The 2021 Titan's complaint index of 92 is close to the worst year, 2017, which has an index of 100, while years like 2022 and 2014 rank much better with indexes of 8 and 0.