2011 Nissan Titan

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Titan, and it carries 1 recall. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	3	12%
Unknown or other	3	12%
Engine	3	12%
Structure	2	8%
Fuel/propulsion system	2	8%
Suspension	2	8%
Power train	2	8%
Steering	1	4%
Electrical system	1	4%
Electrical system	1	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Titan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle when the vehicle drove over into an object on the roadwa
NHTSA complaint: Structure

My steering column broke while driving down the road. Almost caused me to wreck
NHTSA complaint: Steering

IN 2017 AT 60,062 MILES THE TAIL PIPE CORRODED FELL OFF. A REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE EAU CLAIRE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WERE THE CUT AND CLAMPED IT BACK TOGETHER. AGAIN AS I WRITE THIS THE TAIL PIPE HAS CORRODED AND FELL OFF. I H
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

EVERY TIME I PUT GAS ON THE VEHICLE IN OVERFLOWS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME AS SOON AS I BEGIN TO PUMP GAS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS EMPTY.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system

THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE A/C SYSTEM. WHEN THE SYSTEM IS BEING RUN ON THE MAXIMUM SETTING THERE IS A AUDIBLE TICKING SOUND. THIS SOUND HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO A PART INSIDE THE AC UNIT THAT'S MADE OF PLASTIC THAT GOES BAD RE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE TRUCK WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK. YOU HAVE TO STICK SOMETHING DOWN INTO THE COLUMN TO UNLOCK IT. BREAKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORK FINE IT'S SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS FAULTY AND WILL COST CLOSE TO 1000 TO
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN TITAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS LEANING LOW, AND THE ST
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

WINDOWS WON'T STAY UP WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT ALL THE WINDOWS GO DOWN VERY HARD TO KEEP THEM UP WHEN THE CAR IS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE THE WINDOWS GO DOWN HARD TO KEEP THE CAR LOCKED UP WHEN THE WINDOWS WON'T STAY UP.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 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.

Air bags:frontal 23V067000

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Fix: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944

The seven scores

Reliability raw	75	good
Longevity est.	74	good
Maintenance	76	good
Depreciation	73	good
Performance	73	good
Efficiency	29	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of pickup trucks
Longevity: better than 35% of pickup trucks
Running costs: better than 69% of pickup trucks
Value retention: better than 15% of pickup trucks

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 75: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 74: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2011 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 76: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2011 Nissan Titan?

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 3 of them (12%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2011 Nissan Titan reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) 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.

How long will a 2011 Nissan Titan last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2011 Nissan Titan?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.