The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 26 of 58 complaints (45%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 23 in 2020 to 58 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 58
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $4,300–$4,550
- Combined MPG
- 17–18
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,450–3,650 | 4,300–4,550 | 4,300–4,550 | 4,300–4,550 | 4,300–4,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–18 | 17–18 | 17–18 | 17–18 | 17–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15 / 20–21 | 15–16 / 21–22 | 15–16 / 20–21 | 15–16 / 20–21 | 15–16 / 20–21 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 505–529 | 490–524 | 503–518 | 503–517 | 503–517 | |
| Complaints filed | 49 | 23 | 58 | 14 | 19 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Titan have?
5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Nissan Titan?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 26 of 58 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Nissan Titan get?
EPA rates it 17–18 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Nissan Titan?
EPA estimates $4,300–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S9) | 8 | 5.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD | 16 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 503 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S9) | 8 | 5.6L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 515 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S9) | 8 | 5.6L | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $4,550 (high) | 518 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (5)
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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: Model Year 2020-2022 Frontier vehicles: reprogram Transmission Control Module (TCM) Model Year 2020-2022 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM and Engine Control Module (ECM) Model Year 2023 Titan vehicles: reprogram TCM 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:BULBS
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
- Consequence
- Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and PC811.
TIRES; TIRES:SIDEWALL
- Defect
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
- Consequence
- Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC798.