Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 891 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Titan, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 409 | 46% |
| Service brakes | 43 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 42 | 5% |
| Suspension | 42 | 5% |
| Engine | 40 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 37 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 26 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 15 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 14 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 12 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that after unbuckling her front driver side seat belt and standing outside of the vehicle, she reached over to grab her purse. The contact seatbelt had not fully r
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Truck shuts off randomly. I think it related to ECU relay that was a recall. Campaign number. Pc068
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the rear doors and the air bags warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a right turn, there was a pop in the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was
NHTSA complaint: Steering
Hello my truck exhaust manifold had a crack and was leaking exhaust fumes, the good thing there was a recall and Nissan dealership replaced it but now the other manifold is leaking carbon monoxide into my cabin making i
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Clock spring in steering column is faulty. Air bags do not work. This is very common among Nissan titan owners.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer h
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that the instrument panel fuel gauge indicated that there was fuel in the vehicle but there was no fuel detected in the tank. There were no warning lights illumina
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Titan. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARM
Risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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 REDU
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 180,664 MY 2005-2006 TITAN, ARMADA AND INFINITY QX56 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER MARCH 17, 2005, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A VISTEON AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER FAN MOTOR. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED ALLOWING EXCESSIVE WATER INTRUSION AND INADEQUATE DRAINAGE OF MOISTURE.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE CORROSION IN THE MOTOR LEADING POSSIBLY TO OVERHEATING AND A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A 'THERMAL PROTECTOR KIT' AND TEST THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER FAN MOTOR AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-6
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE MAY INACCURATELY DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL SENDER UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW IMPROVED SENDER CARD. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY
| Reliability raw | 59 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 66 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 73 | good |
| Performance | 79 | good |
| Efficiency | 27 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 891 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 409 of them (46%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 59/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 66/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.