Nissan Titan vs "The Big 3"

[teamfyss]

Wondering if anyone here owns a Titan, and how they feel about it. I've been on the hunt for a decent truck recently and for some reason I keep looking at them instead of "the big 3" brands. I live in the salt belt and rust is bad here, most guys don't take care of their trucks. But I haven't seen many rotted out nissans ? What's also appealing to me about the Nissan is the 5.6 v8 and its towing capacity. Anyone have any thoughts on them? I've heard mostly good things about them so far. 

[BoatSquirrel]

Transmissions have been a problem with Nissan vehicles in recent years.  Last I saw Consumer Reports had them rated #18.  I owned several of Nissan's smaller trucks and they were not of the same quality as my Toyotas. Good luck man.

[teamfyss]

6 minutes ago, BoatSquirrel said:

Transmissions have been a problem with Nissan vehicles in recent years.  Last I saw Consumer Reports had them rated #18.  I owned several of Nissan's smaller trucks and they were not of the same quality as my Toyotas. Good luck man.

Toyota is a breed of their own, my last two vehicles have been Toyotas. (SUVs not pickups) And I would already own a Tacoma if they weren't so overpriced. They hold their value a little TOO well haha!

[Boomstick]

10 hours ago, BoatSquirrel said:

Transmissions have been a problem with Nissan vehicles in recent years.  Last I saw Consumer Reports had them rated #18.  I owned several of Nissan's smaller trucks and they were not of the same quality as my Toyotas. Good luck man.

After the entire transmission line leakage problem from Nissan, I do not think I would buy a Nissan. Literally every single person I know with a Nissan truck or SUV from 2003 to 2011 had a transmission failure within the first 50k but usually 30k. To make things worse, they failed to issue a recall to fix the issue which shows how much they care about customer satisfaction. If there was ever a non-safety related recall worthy issue, this was it.

 

Here's some more information, but the problem is certainly affecting more vehicles than just 2005 to 2010 models unfortunately, although I don't know if or when it was fixed as I don't know anyone who has owned anything newer than a 2011.

 

http://www.nissanproblems.com/coolant-leaks-destroy-transmission/

 

So I bought a GMC Sierra, the only other truck I do not hit my head and/or knees in.

 

That said, I would probably trust Nissan ahead of Ford or RAM. I owned a Dodge Charger for a year and the only thing that did not go on that was the engine and transmission. The transfer case, cruise control, power windows, fan (for AC/heat), thermostat, backup camera, backup sensors, CD/DVD player and many other things did and the car only had 40k on it.

 

9 hours ago, teamfyss said:

Toyota is a breed of their own, my last two vehicles have been Toyotas. (SUVs not pickups) And I would already own a Tacoma if they weren't so overpriced. They hold their value a little TOO well haha!

I can find Toyotas for less than a comparable Chevy or Ford quite easily. I have a friend who was able to purchase a brand new Toyota Tundra back in 2014 or 2015, fully loaded ($47k MSRP) for only $34k by purchasing at the right time of year with the maximum incentives. At the time, a Tundra that was extremely slightly used would sell for $38-40k, so if you buy at the right time you might be able to get a pretty sweet deal.

[teamfyss]

51 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

After the entire transmission line leakage problem from Nissan, I do not think I would buy a Nissan. Literally every single person I know with a Nissan truck or SUV from 2003 to 2011 had a transmission failure within the first 50k but usually 30k. To make things worse, they failed to issue a recall to fix the issue which shows how much they care about customer satisfaction. If there was ever a non-safety related recall worthy issue, this was it.

 

Here's some more information, but the problem is certainly affecting more vehicles than just 2005 to 2010 models unfortunately, although I don't know if or when it was fixed as I don't know anyone who has owned anything newer than a 2011.

 

http://www.nissanproblems.com/coolant-leaks-destroy-transmission/

 

So I bought a GMC Sierra, the only other truck I do not hit my head and/or knees in.

 

That said, I would probably trust Nissan ahead of Ford or RAM. I owned a Dodge Charger for a year and the only thing that did not go on that was the engine and transmission. The transfer case, cruise control, power windows, fan (for AC/heat), thermostat, backup camera, backup sensors, CD/DVD player and many other things did and the car only had 40k on it.

 

I can find Toyotas for less than a comparable Chevy or Ford quite easily. I have a friend who was able to purchase a brand new Toyota Tundra back in 2014 or 2015, fully loaded ($47k MSRP) for only $34k by purchasing at the right time of year with the maximum incentives. At the time, a Tundra that was extremely slightly used would sell for $38-40k, so if you buy at the right time you might be able to get a pretty sweet deal.

Well with winter right around the corner "the right time" to buy a truck isn't anywhere near haha. And I'm not sure where you're from but in South Dakota Toyotas are NOT readily available, especially used. I'm not the kind of guy to buy a truck with 200k (most tacomas) otherwise I'd already have one. Not what I wanted to hear about the titan though.

[slonezp]

Fords have been made from aluminum for a few years now. My Tundra bed rusted from the bottom up.

[teamfyss]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

Fords have been made from aluminum for a few years now. My Tundra bed rusted from the bottom up.

Toyotas are infamous for frame rust which leads to all sorts of bad stuff

[Bluebasser86]

I have 2 buddies that have Titans, both have had problems with them. 

[Fishing_FF]

I would NOT recommend Nissan. Had both Titan and Frontier engines that had problems. Nissan in a recent class action lawsuit stated any motor over 120,000 miles would not be included in the settlement as that is what they consider as the lifetime of their engines. My Toyota has almost 200,000 miles on it. My father-in-law is closing in on 275,000 with his Tacoma. 

[MN Fisher]

Given my last two trucks have been Chevy's I might be a little biased. I'm also in the salt-belt, so take this as it is.

 

The first one was a '98 WT-1500 that I bought new, had for 18 years before it was in an accident that totaled it (other driver took the blame at the scene). I had 197k on it and it still ran like a champ. Rocker panels were rusted out and some rust around the rear wheel-wells, but that was basically it

 

With that experience, I went with a used '01 Silverado LS with the insurance money. Had 197k when I bought it, has run like a champ since - over 200k now - and the only rust is the rocker panels and a bit of surface rust above the passenger-side rear wheel-well.

 

Regular washings, proper care, and it should last a long time. If in the future I have to get another truck, you can be sure it'll be a GM product.

[gim]

Sounds like more than enough information on a personal use level to not buy a Nissan to me.

[JLewis134]

Avoid Nissan IMO. Toyota pickups and RAM diesels is all I buy.

[fishwizzard]

On 8/18/2019 at 10:16 PM, teamfyss said:

 And I would already own a Tacoma if they weren't so overpriced. They hold their value a little TOO well haha!

This is the average ad for a used Tacoma around here:

 

”2001 Tacoma, 150k miles, no transmission, raccoon living in cab. Raccoon is friendly!  $13,000 OBO.”  

 

I gave up and bought a wagon.  

[Logan S]

I like mine...I've got a 2011 Titan Pro-4X.  I bought it new and it now has about 130k on it.  It's my daily driver and it does a great job at towing the boat.  The gas mileage is pretty bad, even for a truck.  

 

There's been a few minor issues, but nothing I couldn't fix myself for no or low cost.  It's been a good truck for me, money well spent as far as I'm concerned.

 

Looks good towing a bassboat

[FishTank]

I bought a new F-150 this year and love it so far.  When I was looking, I asked a group of mechanic friends (6 total) which truck I should buy and they all said the Tundra but if I was going to buy something else, they all said the V-8 F-150.  This was followed by the any of the Chevy's.   I then asked what not to buy and all said the Titan.  In their opinion, it is the worst truck made in a decade>  Impossible to work on and worst transmission ever.  They mentioned the turbos would be an area of concern with the Fords and Honda Ridgeline was not much of a truck compared to the cost. I asked at about the Dodge's and they said they are iffy.  You can get a good one if it doesn't rust or you can get one with loads of problems (electrical, engine, and transmission).

[DanielG]

Three observations:

I had a silverado z71. From 2003-2006 (mine was 2003) The frame rusted out to the point I couldn't get it inspected or repaired. It had 84,000 miles on it. I also had a tahoe, three years older, double the mileage, driven on the same roads and kept in the same garage. Nowhere near the same issues.

 

My brother in law has a 2007 tundra. Negligible rust and 275,000 miles on it. Not many repairs to date. I went to buy one in 2015.... kinda ugly inside and out. Bad reason not to get one... but it was important.

 

I bought a 2015 F-150 V8. Best vehicle I've ever owned. It's like driving my living room. No repairs, same brakes, same tires. 69,000 miles. Will have it inspected in Nov. and brakes and tires will go one more year. Maybe 80,000?

I've been having Krown undercoating. No rust on the frame. The body is aluminum. I live in snow country. Maine.

First non-GM vehicle I've had in 48 yrs. Maybe should have abandoned them earlier.

 

All in all.... it's sort of a crap shoot each time you get one. Good years, bad years.

[clark9312]

Always thought a Chevy couldn’t be beat...then I drove a tundra 

[redmexican5081]

I drive a 2004 Titan as my daily driver and for pulling the boat. I currently have ~200k on it. I had a timing belt/chain issue at 24k miles and almost grenaded the motor.  Nissan covered all repair costs and my rental.  Since then I have had the standard Titan issues, vent tube on the rear end leaked, transmission cooler let go and it's located in the radiator so it filled my transmission with antifreeze, the brake judder is awesome, the vent controllers for cabin air have all broken so airflow goes to everywhere at the same time, I replace the windshield every 2 years because my job takes me off the road frequently and the cab flex pops the glass from the drivers side at about eye level, the evap system vent solenoid only lasts about 15k miles because the tube is routed to a horrible location and it picks up road grime and seizes the slide.  Even with all those issues, I bought my Titan with the options I wanted in 2004 for $22,000, which was 7-8k less than I could even start to get one of the big 3 for, and I would do it over again.