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2021 Nissan Titan problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Nissan Titan are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2021 Nissan Titan have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 28 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Titan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under power train (25). On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other Nissan Titan years
Of the 7 Nissan Titan years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (51%). The worst is the 2016 (87%), the best the 2010 (34%). By volume, the 2021 drew 56 complaints (28 drivetrain), against 22 for the 2020 and 13 for the 2022.
Nissan Titan years to avoid and best years →
2010 Titan problems · 2011 Titan problems · 2016 Titan problems · 2017 Titan problems · 2018 Titan problems · 2019 Titan problems · 2021
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Nissan Titan
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 28 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Nissan Titan transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Titan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
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.
Risk: A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 Nissan Titan? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 Nissan Titan
Does the 2021 Nissan Titan have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 28 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Titan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Nissan Titan?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Nissan Titan is power train: 25 of 56 complaints (45%) name it, followed by electrical system (10) and forward collision avoidance (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 Nissan Titan reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 51% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Nissan Titan years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Titan?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Titan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 22V671000 (power train: automatic transmission), 22V457000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Titan years are better?
Among the Nissan Titan years we track, the 2010 (34%) and the 2011 (38%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (51%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-titan
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.