← New search

2004 Nissan Titan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Titan years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Titan are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

932 reports with mileage · 114 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 464 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 194 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports12 fire reports14 injury reports

Power Train complaints

464 reports
Clear category filter
180,000 miles · Dec 22, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled forward, causing the vehicle to roll into a rock, and damaging the transmission. Additionally, the air bag warning lights illuminated, and the seat beats locked. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was n…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled forward, causing the vehicle to roll into a rock, and damaging the transmission. Additionally, the air bag warning lights illuminated, and the seat beats locked. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11498556

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2022
Power TrainFire

Purchased a used 2004 Nissan titan truck with lower miles. Rear axel exploded and burst into flames when driving down the freeway. (Bowling Green, Kentucky) We managed to pull off to the side of the freeway without hitting anyone. Fire dept was able to put the flames out. Didn't find any recalls about the Truck when we bought it…

Read full complaint

Purchased a used 2004 Nissan titan truck with lower miles. Rear axel exploded and burst into flames when driving down the freeway. (Bowling Green, Kentucky) We managed to pull off to the side of the freeway without hitting anyone. Fire dept was able to put the flames out. Didn't find any recalls about the Truck when we bought it. Now I have seen reports on line that this has happened to other consumers. Something needs to be done to warn consumers. We could have died. We could of hit others and killed them as well. Dealership has completed repairs and seen the defect. We have the damaged part. There were no prior warnings. Vehicle was inspected before the road trip to insure it was safe.

NHTSA ODI #11480155

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2021
EnginePower TrainStructure

I purchased this truck on 04/05/18 from Harbor motors Lihue Kauai, and not even a week into having this truck it started acting up, overheating, the truck wouldn't turn over, suspensions, the four-wheel-drive wouldn't disengage, when you turn the key to start the vehicle it would make a clicking noise before starting, the AC wou…

Read full complaint

I purchased this truck on 04/05/18 from Harbor motors Lihue Kauai, and not even a week into having this truck it started acting up, overheating, the truck wouldn't turn over, suspensions, the four-wheel-drive wouldn't disengage, when you turn the key to start the vehicle it would make a clicking noise before starting, the AC would work when it wanted to, and the transmission and engine started knocking. The next week I went running errands and when I pulled out of my yard the truck started jerking then pressed the gas and it revved really high before slamming into drive. Since then I haven't driven the truck. And today it looks like someone just smashed into the front driver light to the side and smashed it while being parked at the place I purchased the truck from. I've continuously asked for help with little to no help at all. The truck is no longer drivable and I'm still making payments on it. The lights on the dashboard has the Check enigine light on, snd the ABS

NHTSA ODI #11421518

10 miles · Feb 29, 2020
Power Train

I WAS DIAGNOSING A METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE NISSAN TITAN AND FOUND THAT THE HALF SHAFT WAS COMING OUT OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. I CALLED A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN UTAH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH EARLY MODEL TITANS. THE TECH SAID HE HAD REPAIRED MANY TITANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE …

Read full complaint

I WAS DIAGNOSING A METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE NISSAN TITAN AND FOUND THAT THE HALF SHAFT WAS COMING OUT OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. I CALLED A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN UTAH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH EARLY MODEL TITANS. THE TECH SAID HE HAD REPAIRED MANY TITANS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO A C CLIP THAT FAILS AND ALLOWS THE GEARS TO GET CHEWED UP IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS AND FOUND THERE HAD NOT BEEN. I THEN CALLED NISSAN TITAN AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE SAME AND GUIDED ME TO THIS WEBSITE. THIS SEEM LIKE A HUGE ISSUE THAT EITHER NOT BEEN REPORTED. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD LEAVE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THIS FOR SNOWY AREAS OR OFFROADING IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN THEIR 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILS OR LOCKS UP. IN CERTAIN AREAS IN UTAH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CHAINS OR 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN CERTAIN AREAS. WITH THE FAILURE OF A C CLIP AND THE GEARS GETTING CHEWED TO PIECES THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD CAUSE HUGE SAFETY ISSUES, NOT TO MENTION COSTS TO CONSUMERS OVER A UNSOUND DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #11312263

184,000 miles · Sep 24, 2019
Power TrainService BrakesWheelsFire

LEAKING AXLES SEALS AFTER MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS AND INCIDENTS ON ROAD. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS FOR THIS ISSUE AND AXLE OVERHEATING. VEHICLE AXLE BROKE NEAR BEARING GOING 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING TWO WEEKS AGO 9/10/2019 THERE IS STILL NO SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11257843

152,071 miles · Mar 1, 2019
Power Train

WHILST DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER I HAD MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED. I WAS DRIVING 5 MILES AN HOUR ON A STRAIGHT GRAVEL ROAD, WHEN I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE. BEFORE I COULD GET STOPPED SAFELY TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS THERE WAS A LARGE THUD AND MY ENTIRE TRUCK SHOOK. IT WAS THEN POURING GEAR LUBRICANT OUT OF MY FRONT DIFFERENT…

Read full complaint

WHILST DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER I HAD MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED. I WAS DRIVING 5 MILES AN HOUR ON A STRAIGHT GRAVEL ROAD, WHEN I STARTED HEARING A GRINDING NOISE. BEFORE I COULD GET STOPPED SAFELY TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS THERE WAS A LARGE THUD AND MY ENTIRE TRUCK SHOOK. IT WAS THEN POURING GEAR LUBRICANT OUT OF MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. AFTER TAKING THE TRUCK APART TO FIND THE DAMAGE I DISCOVERED THE AXLE SHAFT (NISSAN PART NO.: 38220-8S11A) HAD BEEN STRIPPED OF ITS SPLINES ON THE END. THE PART LOOKS AS IF IT WAS MACHINES PERFECTLY CYLINDRICAL. THE METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE SHAFT SLIGHTLY MARRED UP THE SEALS SO I REPLACED THE SEALS AND SHAFT, SPIDER GEARS SEEMED OKAY TO REUSE.

NHTSA ODI #11183327

138,000 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Power Train

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH UP 75 IN KY WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE TRUCK ON THE WAY HOME FROM VACATION IT LOOKS LIKE THE AXLE SEALS STARTED LEAKING AND THEN IT LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND LOST ALL ABILITY TO PULL ITSELF ALL THE AXLES AND SEALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT'S A…

Read full complaint

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH UP 75 IN KY WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE TRUCK ON THE WAY HOME FROM VACATION IT LOOKS LIKE THE AXLE SEALS STARTED LEAKING AND THEN IT LOCKED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND LOST ALL ABILITY TO PULL ITSELF ALL THE AXLES AND SEALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR NISSAN TO START TAKING THE HIT INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE OWNERS

NHTSA ODI #11120916

137,000 miles · Apr 24, 2018
Power Train

FRONT RIGHT AXLE POPS OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL, BAD C-CLIP. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS NOTED HERE AND AT VARIOUS TITAN FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI #11089903

135,600 miles · Jan 13, 2018
Power TrainSuspension

WENT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED OF A REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THAT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN TITANS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE 2004 NISSAN TITANS. *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #11062582

165,000 miles · Nov 26, 2017
Power Train

FROM DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AND C CLIP FAILURE EJECTING FRONT DRIVE AXLE. LEAKING REAR AXLE SEALS AS WELL

NHTSA ODI #11048447

Official recalls

5

10V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 28, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

07V150000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 3, 2007

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB MODEL TRUCKS, THE SEAT BACK SHAPE MAY BE SUCH THAT THERE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT WEBBING ON THE RETRACTOR SPOOL FOR THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT TO RELEASE FROM THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE (ALR) AFTER IT IS ENGAGED AND THE SEAT BELT IS RETRACTED. IF THIS OCCURS, THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY IN PULLING THE SEAT BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR THUS PREVENTING ITS USAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

06V459000 · Electrical System

Nov 30, 2006

ON CERTAIN KING CAB TRUCKS, THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS WERE ROUTED THROUGH THE REAR DOORS AND INTO THE BODY. THESE WIRES MAY BREAK DUE TO OVER BENDING OF THE HARNESS AS THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE HARNESS CONTAINS WIRES FOR THE DRIVER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AND FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WHICH IS PART OF THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. WIRES FOR THE REAR AUDIO SPEAKERS ARE ALSO CONTAINED N THE HARNESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE WIRES FOR THE SEAT BELTS AND SPEAKER WIRES BREAK AND MAKE CONTACT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PRETENSIONER MAY DEPLOY. IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS RETRACTED, IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. IF ONE OF THE WIRES ON THE RIGHT SIDE HARNESS FOR THE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR BREAKS, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS COVER WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE THAT PREVENTS OVER BENDING OF THE HARNESS AND THE HARNESS WILL BE REROUTED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

04V408000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:column Shift Assembly

Aug 19, 2004

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A COLUMN SHIFTER, THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR THE COLUMN SHIFTER MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DURING ITS USE THIS COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE PORTION OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SHIFTER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

04V345000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Jul 19, 2004

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." AN AREA ON THE REAR PILLAR WHERE THE REAR SEAT BELT UPPER ANCHOR IS ATTACHED MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ENERGY ABSORBENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IF THE AREA IS STRUCK IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH NEW ONES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.