Know Your Truck

2004–2015 Nissan Titan common problems and fixes

Rear axle seals that leak gear oil onto the rear brakes are the classic problem on 2004–2007 trucks, along with warped front rotors, cracked exhaust manifolds and a fuel gauge recall on 2005–2009 trucks.

What owners should know

Covers 2004–2015 · 5.6L V8 · Updated 2026-10-06

The first Nissan Titan had one engine, a 5.6L V8, with a 5-speed automatic. It ran with few changes from 2004 to 2015.

We counted 2,797 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for 2004–2015 Titans (retrieved October 5, 2026; each complaint counted once): 2,205 identified by VIN as 5.6L trucks; the rest (592) couldn't be matched to an engine. We left out 11 whose VIN belongs to another vehicle (e.g. a Nissan Versa). 2004 and 2005 trucks have most of them; after 2008, there are very few. Complaint counts show what owners report most often, not how many trucks have a problem.

At a glance

  • Rear axle seals leak gear oil onto the rear brakes, mostly 2004–2006.
  • Front brake vibration and warped rotors, mostly 2004.
  • Exhaust manifolds crack, causing a tick on cold starts.
  • Fuel gauges can show fuel when the tank is empty; certain 2005–2009 trucks were recalled.

Rear axle seals

About 590 complaints mention axle seals or gear oil leaking onto the rear brakes, 539 of them from 2004–2006 trucks. Leaking rear axle seals can soak the pads and shoes and weaken braking. On TitanTalk, owners blame a breather on the axle housing that can clog and build pressure; many reroute the breather hose higher. Replacements under warranty often leaked again.

Brakes

About 800 complaints mention brakes, about half (399) from 2004 trucks: vibration, warped front rotors and oil-soaked rear brakes from the axle seal leaks. About 160 describe brake vibration, pulsation or warped rotors, 105 of them from 2004 trucks.

Exhaust manifolds

About 230 complaints mention the exhaust manifold or a cracked or leaking manifold. Owners describe the factory manifolds cracking in the same spot, causing a tick that fades as the engine warms.

Fuel gauge

140 complaints mention the fuel gauge or fuel level sender, 77 of them from 2005 trucks. Owners describe running out of fuel with the gauge still showing about a quarter tank. Nissan recalled certain 2005–2009 Titans to replace the fuel sender card (10V074000).

Recalls to check

  • Fuel gauge on certain 2005–2009 trucks (10V074000)
  • Engine control relay in the power distribution module on certain 2004–2006 trucks, which can fail and stall the engine (10V517000)
  • A/C condenser fan motor on certain 2005–2006 trucks (08V284000)
  • Brake pedal pivot pin on certain 2008–2010 trucks (10V072000)
  • Brake master cylinder on certain 2013 trucks (13V451000)
  • Driver air bag cover emblem on certain 2008–2011 trucks (23V067000) and inflator on certain 2013–2015 trucks (20V188000)

Before you buy

Researched from owner forums and NHTSA complaints and written by Know Your Truck. These are patterns in what owners report, not a guarantee about any particular truck.

Sources (12)

Common failures & how to fix them

Parts and video buttons search for your 2004-2015 Nissan Titan. Always confirm a part fits using your VIN. Brakes, steering, fuel and airbag work affects your safety, so if you're not sure, have a qualified mechanic do it.

  • Rear axle seals leak onto the brakes

    Moderate DIY

    Signs: Gear oil on the inside of a rear wheel, weak or grabby rear brakes, and a low differential.

    Fix: Confirm it's gear oil from the axle seal, not brake fluid from a leaking rear wheel cylinder or caliper. Replace the leaking axle seals (and the bearings if worn), and the rear brake pads and shoes soaked in oil. Many owners also extend the differential breather hose higher, believing it lets pressure escape so the seals last longer; that's an owner fix, not a Nissan one.

    Shop: Nissan Titan rear axle sealShop: Nissan Titan differential breather▶ How-to videos

  • Front brake vibration and warped rotors

    Easy DIY

    Signs: A pulsing brake pedal and shaking steering wheel when braking.

    Fix: Check rotor runout and the front suspension first. Replace the front rotors and pads with quality parts, and torque the wheels evenly to spec.

    Shop: Nissan Titan front brake rotorsShop: Nissan Titan brake pads▶ How-to videos

  • Cracked exhaust manifold

    Hard DIY

    Signs: A tick for the first few minutes after a cold start that fades as the engine warms.

    Fix: Confirm the tick is an exhaust leak (look for soot at the manifold and a crack or broken stud) and not a valvetrain noise. Owners on forums report the factory manifolds crack in the same spot. Replace the manifold (and gaskets) or fit aftermarket headers; broken studs are common.

    Shop: Nissan Titan exhaust manifold▶ How-to videos

  • Fuel gauge reads wrong

    Dealer job

    Signs: The fuel gauge jumps around or reads empty with fuel in the tank.

    Fix: Check the VIN for recall 10V074000: on certain 2005–2009 Titans the gauge can show about a quarter tank when the tank is empty, and the dealer replaces the fuel sender card for free. On other trucks, have the sender, wiring and gauge tested before replacing the sender. Until it's fixed, refuel by the trip odometer rather than the gauge. Recalls cover only specific trucks, so check this VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if it's included and whether the repair was done.

    May be covered free by recall 10V074000. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

    Shop: Nissan Titan fuel level sending unit▶ How-to videos

Each year in this generation

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared with the typical truck of the same kind and model year. Open a year for its recalls and complaints.

Going to look at one?Bring our free inspection checklist, with these known problems added →