2004 Nissan Titan Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING @ 30,000 MILES. THE DIFFERENTIAL APPEARS TO HAVE PRODUCED SO MUCH HEAT THAT THE PAINT FELL OFF OF THE DIFF COVER AND THE SURFACE HAS RUSTED. *NM
NO SIGNS OF ANY KIND NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED TO LEAK FOR COVER REAR WAS DRAINED AND RESEALED. *JB
2ND DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. 1ST WAS AT 3,400 MILES. DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. THIS ONE HAPPENED TONIGHT AT 15,642 MILES. IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE? I MAKE HARD EARNED PAYMENTS ON THIS TRUCK. WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE? PROTECT THE CONSUMER? NISSAN HAS BEEN HUSH HUSH ON THIS BUT THE FAILURE RATE IS MORE THAN ONE IN 200 TRUCKS. I'M GETTING A LAWYER. DO SOMETHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (BESIDES PROTECT THE CORPORATION)*JB
1) LOUD "BANG" FROM REAR-END OF VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING AWAY FROM STOP. 2) LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE FROM REAR-END OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING AND WHEN SLOWING. DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND REAR DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENTS BROKEN. 3) DEALER ORDERED COMPLETE NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONTAINS ALL DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENTS. PARTS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER, NO PROMISE DATE AVAILABLE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND BEGAN ROLLING WHILE AT THE TOP OF A DRIVEWAY. A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DURING THE INCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE RUNNING OVER THE CHILD. THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V408000 REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
AT APPROXIMATELY 7000 MILES I NOTED THAT ALL OF THE PAINT HAD BURNED OFF THE REAR AXLE, TOOK TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR ADVISE, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO DEFECT. OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE REAR END BEGAN TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE AND I RETURNED TRUCK TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED ME I NEEDED A NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE NEW REAR AXLE THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION AT 25-30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 2 SEPARATE VISITS OVER 3 DAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND I AM TO LIVE WITH IT. SEVERAL OTHER TRUCKS HAD REAR AXLES REPLACED. *AK
1) NOTHING UNUSUAL THAT LED UP TO THIS FAILURE...NO ACCIDENTS, NORMAL DRIVING BEHAVIOR. 2) RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING FLUID ONTO BRAKE ROTOR AND WHEEL. 3) DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE - STARTED CLANGING LOUDER AND LOUDER THE PAST 2 MONTHS UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED. MADE A LOUD METAL CLASHING NOISE THEN BEGAN SLIPPING THEN JERKING INTO MOTION THEN SLIPPING AND JERKING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALER. 2005 NISSAN TITAN 4X4 WITH HEAVY TOW PACKAGE. 1 YEAR OLD 28,000 MI. ONLY TOWED WITH IT A 4500 POUND TRAVEL TRAILER ON TWO OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES TOTAL. *NM
WHILE TOWING A 6,500 LB BOAT WITH MY NISSAN TITAN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BLEW WITH ONLY 6,700 MILES ON THE TRUCK. IT LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF KNOW WHERE AND 3+ HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. NOW I HAVE 12,500 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND I HAVE A FEELING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS GOING TO BLOW AGAIN. I FEEL NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A ISSUE AND CAN REFER 45 OTHER NISSAN TITAN OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *JB
FROM A DEAD STOP I PRESSED THE THROTTLE ABOUT 3/4 THE WAY AND I HEAR A GRINDING NOISE AND I CANNOT MOVE, AS I PULL OVER I AM THINKING HOW AM I GOING TO GET BACK HOME. I THINK ITS A ONE TIME ERROR, I TRY TO MOVE AGAIN, THE GRINDING CONTINUES. I THINK SOME MORE AND PUT THE TRUCK INTO 4 X 4, I CAN MOVE BUT VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE OF THE GEARS MOVING AROUND IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THIS HAPPENED AT 15,000 MILES AT A STOP SIGN ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY OR ANYTHING LIKE A MAIN ROAD OR THEIR MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED DUE TO AN ETERNAL FAILURE AT 9,700 MILES. AT AROUND 12,000 MILES THE REAR END STARTED TO CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND IN AND OUT OF DRIVE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL AND WAS JUST GEAR LINKAGE BEING LOOSENED UP. NORMAL THOUGH THEY CONFIRMED. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS IN 5 O'CLOCK HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS TURNING INTO A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND HAD TO APPLY HEAVY ACCELERATION. I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THEN MY TRUCK SAT THERE AND REVVED UP WITH NO MOVEMENT. I HAD CARS APPROACHING FAST WHICH HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME SINCE I WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. A PASSERBY STOPPED AND PULLED OVER TO HELP ME PUSH MY TRUCK OUT OF THE BUSY ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY PAID FOR THE TRUCK TO ME TOWED BACK. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE SO THEY AGREED TO BUY THE TRUCK BACK. THE FIRST FIX TOOK OVER 1 MONTH TO COMPLETE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THERE IS A TREND WITH THESE TRUCKS AND INTERNAL FAILURE WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *JB
FIRST TIME PULLED A TRAILER AND REAREND BURNT THE GEARS UP 12-13-04. SECOND TIME 12/12/05 PULLED AWAY FROM STOP SIGN AND REREND JUST BROKE IF I HAD BEN IN TRAFFIC I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEN HIT BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUST STOPED THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE REAREND BUT DONT SEEM WILLING TO SHOW THE OLD PARTS OR THE OIL OUT OF THE THING. *NM
REAR END FAILURE. *JB
I AM IN THE MILITARY STATIONED IN VIRGINIA... I HAD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK PRIOR TO THANKSGIVING. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID THE U JOINTS ARE GOING BAD. DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A U JOINT, SO I ASKED NISSAN WOULD IT BE OK FOR ME TO DRIVE THE TRUCK 440 MILES EACH WAY TO GO HOME TO WV TO SEE MY FAMILY FOR THANKSGIVING AND THEY SAID YES, IT WILL BE FINE. SO I GO HOME AND SAW MY FAMILY, AND THEN THE SATURDAY MORNING AFTER THANKSGIVING I GOT UP EARLY AND WENT AND STOPPED AND GOT GAS. GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK AND STARTED IT UP AND WHEN TO PUT IT IN GEAR, AND THE WHOLE REAR END JUST GRINDED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE JUST TO DRIVE TO MY SISTER HOUSE AND CALLED NISSAN. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK FOR 14 DAYS, AND ORDERING A NEW REAR END FOR A 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY COULD NOT GET A NEW REAR END DUE TO NATION BACKORDER, SO THEY PULL ONE OFF OF A 06 NISSAN TITAN 4X4 AND THEN I GOT TO RETURN BACK TO VA TO ASSUME MY MILITARY DUTIES, AFTER BEING STUCK IN WV FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY DID GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR, BUT PUT A RESTRICTION ON THE CAR WHEN I COULD ONLY DRIVE 150 MILES A DAY. SO I COULDN'T GO BACK TO WORK IN VA. I DID MISS OUT ON WORK, AND TIME, AND HAD TO USE 2 WEEKS OF MY VACATION DAYS, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, THIS COULD HAVE HAPPEN DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, OR IN BUSY TRAFFIC AND COULD HAVE PUT MY LIFE & OTHERS AROUND ME AT DANGER! NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM, OR FIX IT RIGHT. BEFORE PEOPLE DIE! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JB
2004 NISSAN TITAN - REAR END AXLE SEALS FAILED AND THE REAR END IS ABOUT TO FAIL. *NM
I OWN A 2004 NISSAN TITAN. THE REAR END HAS COME APART TWICE. THE FIRST REAR END WAS REPLACED BEFORE IT STRANDED ME. THE SECOND WAS REPLACED AFTER IT CAME APART AND THE REAR END LOST ALL MOTION. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY CAUSED A WRECK. *NM
RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AND WAS MADE AWARE OF A POSSIBLE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE , DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES' WARRANTY. AFTER WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS I PROCEEDED TO SEARCH INTERNET SITES FOR OTHER FAILURES AND FOUND NUMEROUS FAILURES REPORTED ON SEPARATE SITES. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO VEHICLE MANUFACTURE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE OR REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PARTS. *NM
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 25 OTHER OWNERS THAT I KNOW OF. NISSAN HAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THE FACTORY HAS INCREASED THE FLUID CAPACITY AND NOW USES SYNTHETIC FLUID. ALSO AN ALUMINUM FINNED COVER FOR BETTER HEAT TRANSFER. THIS IS A 'BAND AID' FOR A DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHTS THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO TOW. FAILURES CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE BAND AID HAS BEEN PERFORMED. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD 4 FAILURES ON THE SAME TRUCK!!!! *JB
REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS GROANING, TOOK TO DEALER HAD IT REPLACED. 2ND DIFFERENTIAL BLEW TOOK IT TO DEALER HAD REPLACED. 3RD DIFFERENTIAL BLEW TOOK IT TO DEALER HAD IT REPLACED. 4TH DIFFERENTIAL BLEW TOOK IT TO DEALER HAD IT REPLACED 5TH DIFFERENTIAL BLEW TOOK IT TO DEALER HAD IT REPLACED. DONE RIGHT ? SOMETHING IS HORRIBLY WRONG WITH MY TRUCK TO HAVE BROKEN 5 DIFFERENTIAL IN 41000 MILES. *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATES THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASING ON HIS 2004 NISSAN TITAN PICKUP TRUCK ARE BAD. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT WHEN HAULING OVER 100LB. THIS CAUSES THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO OVERHEAT LEADING TO LUBRICANT LEAKAGE AND OUTER CORROSION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONSUMERS TO COMPLAIN THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEIZES AND CATCHES ON FIRE. HE SAYS THIS WAS DOCUMENTED IN A MAGAZINE NOT LONG AFTER THE TRUCK WAS TESTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DIFFERENTIAL IS ACTUALLY STARTING TO RUST AND THE LUBRICANT IS STARTING TO LEAK OUT. THE DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH HIM. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THEY WILL NOT DEAL WITH HIM UNTIL THE DEALER DOES. *JB
THE TRUCK FIRST BEGAN SHIFTING FUNNY, WHICH LED UP TO SHIFTING WITH A NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. SEARCHED FOR HANGING BRANCHES OR ANYTHING THAT COULD BE MAKING THE NOISE OTHER THEN THE TRUCK. NOTHING. DROVE THE TRUCK ABOUT 500 MILES AFTER FIRST NOTICING THE FUNNY SHIFTING. ONE DAY I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY PUT IT IN DRIVE, IT HAD SNOWED LIGHTLY, SLIP LIGHT POPPED UP AND HEARD A BANG FOLLOWED BY WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A ZIPPER. TRUCK WOULDN'T MOVE. SOLD TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER. *JB
WHILE BACKING MY BOAT INTO ITS PARKING SPOT I PUT MY VEHICLE IN "PARK", LEFT THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN, LEFT ENGINE RUNNING AND EXITED VEHICLE TO UNHITCH MY BOAT TRAILER FROM MY TRUCK TRAILER HITCH. I WAS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TURNING THE TRAILER JACK. I WAS BEHIND THE TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 SECONDS WHEN I HEARD A CLICK, AND MY VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING--THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE,AND OPENED DOOR TO HIT THE BRAKE. WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVER'S SIDE I WAS HOLDING ONTO THE DOOR AS LEVERAGE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY MY RIGHT FOOT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE REVERSE MOVEMENT CAUSED THE DOOR TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE. THE TREE PULLED THE DOOR FORWARD AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING BACKWARDS. THE DOOR'S CONTACT WITH THE TREE CAUSED THE DOOR TO PULL ME OUT AND THREW ME TO THE GROUND, CAUSING INJURY TO MY LEFT ARM AND LEG. I GOT UP AND RAN AND JUMPED INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SUPPOSEDLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NISSAN TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE.*AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ROLL FORWARD. ALTHOUGH THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER STATED, THIS CONDITIONS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OTHER TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK....CONSUMER CLAIMED AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, DEALER AVOIDED TO FIND THE CAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS THE WORST VEHICLE HE EVER OPERATED. *AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE IN MY NISSAN TITAN PICKUP. STARTED AS A CLUNK WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE AROUND 9,700 MILES ON THE TRUCK. EVENTUALLY LED UP TO A FEELING OF SLACK IN THE DRIVLINE, A FEELING AS IF THE U-JOINTS WERE GOING OUT. BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONE DAY AND A LOUND POP FOLLOWED BY GRINDING OCCURED. HAD IT TOWED DOWN TO JOHANSON NISSAN AND THEY REPLACED IT, BUT TOOK OVER 30 DAYS SINCE THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR THE REAR DIFF. THIS HAPPENDED IN FEBURARY OF 05, AND I WAS #12 ON THE PARTS LIST. REPLACEMENT DIFF ONLY LASTED AROUND 7,000 MILES AND WENT OUT AS WELL. BOTH REAR DIFF FAILURES WERE CAUSED BE BROKEN SPIDER GEARS. DEALERSHIP AGREED TO BUY BACK TRUCK. *NM
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Nissan Titan has 404 Power Train complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.