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 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 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 | 22 | 17% |
| Air bags | 10 | 8% |
| Engine | 9 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 5% |
| Suspension | 6 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 4% |
| Structure | 5 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Similar to Campaign ID: 10V074000, the fuel gauge will reach a quarter tank and then drop to empty without warning.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
While driving down the road a pot hole was hit and the center cap of steering wheel split as if airbag should have deployed.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The exhaust manifolds on the driver and passenger side are cracked. Ticking sounds are made while car is cold and goes away after they have heated up enough, typically after 5 minutes. This results in letting in exhaust
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Passenger side window has came off track and fell into door panel. There is no way to open door to get to window to put back on track to raise window
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
There is an issue with the fuel gauge. Not reading correctly and running out of gas. Needle is at half tank and it has run out of fuel. I’ve had this happen to me multiple times. Gage reads more than I physically have. I
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I am writing in regards to a recall that has previously been serviced on my vehicle. I bought my 2008 Nissan Titan through a private party on 4/16/23. The truck had no issues until 4/20/23. The fuel gauge read that I had
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Titan. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle emitted abnormal ticking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
The exaust manifolds cracked and is letting fumes into the cabin. I bought the truck about 2 weeks ago from a private dealer. The cracked manifolds began to leak a few days ago and I truthfully believe it should be cover
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 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 2008-2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES. THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT PIN END WAS NOT SPIN-FORMED TO SPECIFICATION DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE PIVOT PIN COULD SLIDE AND CAUSE TH
Risk: THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE UNUSUAL AND NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS IN THE PEDAL AND A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE PIVOT PIN HAD BEEN FORMED PROPERLY AND WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CON
NISSAN IS RECALLING 5,523 MY 2008 TITAN, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, 'TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.' THE TIRE PLACARD LISTS AN INCORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
Risk: THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR TIRE SELECTION TO PREVENT OVERLOADING.
Fix: NISSAN WILL MAIL A CORRECT TIRE PLACARD AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 1,126 MY 2008 QUEST, TITAN AND ARMADA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FRONT SEATS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFI
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE MANUAL SEAT PAWL NOT FULLY ENGAGING INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISS
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | 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 133 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 22 of them (17%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (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 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 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 67/100. 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.