Overview & Reviews

The Nissan Titan, introduced for 2004, was the first Japanese pickup to truly possess the attributes that buyers typically expect from a full-size truck. Manufactured at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant, it boasts dimensions and capabilities that are very similar to those of domestic full-size pickups. Though it hasn't sold as well as its rivals and is now growing quite long in the tooth, a new or used Nissan Titan can still meet the basic needs of many truck shoppers.

Current Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan is a full-size pickup truck. In terms of size, it's very similar to the trucks offered by domestic automakers, which means it provides competitive amounts of cargo and interior room. There's a fully boxed frame underneath for maximum rigidity and strength, as well as a traditional solid rear axle with leaf-spring support.

Nissan currently offers the Titan in extended-cab (King Cab) and crew-cab styles, with two bed lengths each. Buyers may also choose between standard- and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter adding 20 inches in length. The King Cab is offered with either a 6.5- or 8-foot bed, while those on the crew cab are each 1 foot shorter. The King Cab's rear-hinged doors open extra wide to aid cargo loading or a passenger's entry to the rear seats. The crew cab has four traditional doors and a larger rear seating area with more available rear legroom than the extended cab.

Each Nissan Titan body style is available in four trim levels. Similar to other Nissan products, there's the entry-level S, the midgrade SV, off-road-focused PRO-4X and the luxury-oriented SL. The S has a front bench seat, while captain's chairs with a flow-through console are standard on the other trims. Standard safety features now include stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Notable options, depending on trim, include upgraded audio systems, a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and utility-enhancing cargo bed features. For those who anticipate pulling trailers, the SV Value Truck or SL Max Utility tow packages are also available.

The PRO-4X trim level adds equipment for serious off-roaders that include Rancho shocks, a lower final-drive ratio, skid plates, an electronic locking differential and 18-inch off-road wheels with aggressive off-road tires. Unique exterior and interior styling cues to differentiate the PRO-4X from the other Titan models are also included.

For power, Nissan offers only one combination: a 5.6-liter V8 connected to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V8 is rated at 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. The transmission features a tow/haul mode for when the truck is used for pulling or carrying heavy loads. For every body style and trim combination, two- or four-wheel drive is available.

In Nissan Titan reviews, our editors have found it to be powerful and capable both on- and off-road. Downsides include a lack of additional powertrain choices and the absence of a heavy-duty model. The Titan has also been outclassed by newer competitors in terms of comfort and overall design. Still, we think Nissan's Titan is worth a look.

Used Nissan Titan Models
The current, first-generation Titan debuted for 2004, and these earlier trucks could be a good choice for a shopper searching for a used late-model pickup. The first couple of production years, in particular, outclassed domestic pickups in many ways. The most notable changes for the Nissan Titan came for the 2008 model year and included the addition of a long-wheelbase model, exterior and interior styling refreshes and new features. Models built for 2007 and earlier were available in one wheelbase length only, lacked the two different bed lengths for each body style and also had a reduced maximum payload.

It should be noted that stability control, side airbags and side curtain airbags were not standard on all Titans until 2010. Used shoppers should investigate whether the truck in question is equipped with them. Also, the current trim levels were introduced for the 2011 model year; previously, the Titan's three main trims were XE, SE and LE, though feature content was broadly comparable.

User Reviews:

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  Lemon - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Oktex - May 2 - 7:13 pm

  Bought Truck New in 2004. Have had water leaking in problems for over 2 years and run around from Nissan. Engine Power is Great. Build Quality is bad. Water leaks in. Rear Diff clunks. Plastic interior coming apart. Radio/Cruse steering wheel controls crooked.

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  "Dont Believe The Hype" - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By will - March 26 - 3:00 am

  Just wanted anyone that wants to know that this is by far the worst vehicle that you could buy. This truck has been one problem after another. The first major problem (the shifter locking up so that it wont shift past neutral and or out of park into drive) showed up 16 hours after I picked it up from the dealership; and by the way 7 months later it is still not fixed. Their has been a problem at least once a month. And dont even think of Nissan being any help either to you or the dealership. Half the time I called them and left messages about my file with customer service, they would even call me back. Two days ago I contacted the Better Business Bureau. PLEASE SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE!

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  KEEP TRYING NISSAN - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By ROBINIJ - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Power is good but if the engine is built with the same quality as the rest of the vehicle I worry about the reliabilty. Driving the Titan is good but certainly not exceptional. I was fortunate that my truck came complete with scuffed/damaged tires and a door ding, thus saving me the worry of my first parking lot injuries. At least the paint didnt have the big clearcoat sags I noticed in another Titan. The passenger door lock and the low pressure warning light are items to be fixed, but with the confidence I have in the dealership I think Ill suffer these problems until Nissan send the recall notice! Ill listen to the ratings next time.

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  BEWARE OF THE TITAN - 2007 Nissan Titan
  By hhrn - March 1 - 11:40 pm

  Bought brand new from dealer in 07. Loyal Nissan owner (have owned no other vehicle). First thing to go bad was rear end (20K mi.), replaced. Then began running rough, stalled and would not run, brought in to Nissan, bad cat. converters, ruined my engine, had brand new engine put in, new cat. converters, and new fuel pump. Now tranny is slipping, and it has brake judder when applying brakes (out of warranty) DO NOT BUY. I have NEVER towed anything with my truck, never put more than 3 sheets of plywood in the back, and NEVER EVER abused my truck. All recommended maintenance performed, oil changed ever 3k miles, etc. I am now looking at a Toyota. WARNING DO NOT BUY!!!!

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  repeating brake problems - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By dbrockner - January 19 - 8:10 pm

  AFTER 5000 MILES FRONT BRAKES STARTED PULSATING AND SQUEALING. HAD TRUCK IN FOR FRONT BRAKES 3 TIMES. TOTAL OF 15 DAYS DOWN TIME. NISSAN COULD NOT SUPPLY THE PARTS. OCT 04 MORE BRAKE PROBLEMS. 19000 MILES. REARS WERE SHOT. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME TO REPAIR THEM. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING THEY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REARS WERE DOING ALL THE WORK WHEN THE FRONTS WERENT WORKING. ALSO POWER WINDOWS IN FRONT MALFUNCTION ALL THE TIME. 4 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE.

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  Nissan Front Brake Issue - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By mike - November 15 - 12:16 pm

  Nissan needs to fix this front brake problem that they say is only in So. Ca. and NY. This will be the second time for shutter in steering due to warped rotors from brakes overheating. I guess if it isnt fixed a third time I will review the lemon law in Ca. I know others who have been there 3 times for brakes.Front window problems.

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  Unreliable - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By chuckles65 - October 30 - 7:25 pm

  I bought my 2006 used in 2011 with 75K miles. Since then it needed new e-brake lines, front coils (broken), front disks, new exhaust (not surprising), hesitated when cold, and repairs for rear hub gaskets, ball joints, etc. to the tune of 7K in repairs. Rarely got better than 10 MPG around town. I put less that 20K on this in 3 years. Good looking, well laid-out truck, but not reliable.

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  Could be a great truck - 2005 Nissan Titan
  By Joe Herzig - February 22 - 9:23 pm

  I had high expectations when I purchased this truck two years ago. I have had two Nissans previously and had good luck with them. The Titan has been nothing but a headache since I have owned it. The brakes, water leaks, severe rust, engine ping, blue smoke, steering column replacement, rear end, squeaks and rattles, missing parts and pieces, and poor Nissan customer support. Nissan fails to recognize that they released a truck before all the kinks were worked out. The build quality was substandard. They forgot to install a important bolt in the frame which created problems and the only fix was to drill a two inch hole in my floorboard. That is an example of poor QA in Canton, MS.

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  Not reliable - 2006 Nissan Titan
  By john_jt - November 15 - 1:39 am

  Owned this truck for 7 years and had many problems with it. There were also many recalls. Looks nice but not very tough. Nissan also did not help me out when needed. I was a Nissan owner for 20 years (Pathfinder & Exterra before the Titan) but because of Nissan not caring about my problems I have now switched to Toyota.

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  Why so much double sided tape? - 2004 Nissan Titan
  By Miguel Fabre - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I like the truck I Just think they should have used more screws than tape and snap together parts. My dash makes noises like it is about to fall out of the truck, and the mud flaps are held on with doudle sided tape. I mean come on $30,000 for a truck that after 1000 miles parts started falling off. Whats next? I wonder what holds the engine in chewing gum? I have a date with the service department monday hope they can fix it, or i will have to go ford.