Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Nissan Titan problems

Owners filed 1,046 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Titan with NHTSA between Feb 2004 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is power train (464).

Complaints
1,046
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
28
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
6
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train464
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic194
  3. Engine and engine cooling87
  4. Service brakes72
  5. Suspension56
  6. Electrical system51
  7. Engine48
  8. Air bags38
  9. Structure23
  10. Seat belts21
  11. Fuel system, gasoline21
  12. Equipment19
  13. Parking brake17
  14. Latches/locks/linkages16

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200466
2005127
200684
200783
200891
200997
2010122
2011100
201259
201341
201445
201532
201625
201723
201812
201912
20208
20218
20223
20232
20242
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

464 reports5 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2022Power trainODI 11498556

Service brakes, hydraulic

194 reports11 crashes
“The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and pulsated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2025Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11638361

Engine and engine cooling

87 reports3 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN TITAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY AND BURNED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FUEL. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROYAL NISSAN (9325 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70815, (225) 924-0400), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2019Engine and engine coolingODI 11209187

Service brakes

72 reports3 crashes1 fire
“Brakes - sitting at the used car dealership since 8.8.2025. The truck will not stop when the brakes are applied. If the vehicle does not stop when brakes are applied. Lives are at risk if they are hit or ran over. Inspected by a Nissan dealership, invoices are available. The Brake Booster is no longer manufactured by Nissan. No repair is available. Unknown. No accidents have occurred due to this, we are in fear of our safety to drive it. The Sales manager at the dealership disconnected the ABS. We purchased this vehicle on 6.23.2025. The Brakes were not working within driving this vehicle for less than 3 weeks. We have made a formal complaint to the dealership. Taken it to a certified Nissan Dealer. The dealership we purchased this truck from has ignored every request we have made. We hired an attorney here in St. George, UT. The dealership has not replied to our Attorney. This Vehicle is NOT SAFE to be driven on the roads. We would like to know what the safety measures are in place for a USED vehicle dealership to sell an AS-IS-VEHICLE. Please see that I have attached all of our documentation we have provided to the State of Utah, our Attorney and to the Motor…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2026Service brakesODI 11711566

Suspension

56 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN TITAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CV AXLE LOCATED ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2020SuspensionODI 11352824

Electrical system

51 reports3 crashes6 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Titan. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and descending a hill, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floor. The contact stated that she pumped the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond immediately. The contact then used the gear lever to shift to neutral(N) and then to park(P) and the vehicle stopped. The contact then turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that prior to the brake failure the instrument panel lights had started to flash on and off. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the brake functionality returned. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had gradually become more frequent. The contact stated that the brake failure and instrument panel lights malfunction occurred three times in one day. The contact had been unable to schedule an appointment with a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,290.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2023Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11513096
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.