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Long-Term Test: 2004 Nissan Titan

Road Test

Long-Term Test: 2004 Nissan Titan

Introduction

Published May 3, 2004

    0 Ratings
    When people think of big pickups, they invariably think American. And they probably think Ford F-Series at that. After all, it has been the top-selling vehicle, not just truck, for most of the past quarter century. Strong as the Japanese automakers are in the car market, they never had much of a presence in the good ol' full-size pickup truck game. Recently, Toyota took a stab with the refined Tundra (which replaced the company's previous half-hearted attempt, the smallish T100 that couldn't be had with a V8 engine). Good as it is, the Tundra doesn't cut it with those who need a muscular truck for hauling and towing. This is where cross-country rival Nissan comes in. When Nissan decided to enter this market, it adopted the American attitude it deemed necessary for success: make it big and make it powerful. The company even gave it a name that left no doubt as to this truck's personality: Titan.

    Of course, we had driven the Titan on a few occasions prior to adding this one to our long-term fleet and were impressed by the rich reserves of power that its mighty 5.6-liter V8 provided as well as the truck's spacious cabin. We decided to add the Titan to our fleet for two compelling reasons: 1) it was our "Most Significant Vehicle for 2004" and 2) it is the first serious threat to the Big Three's stranglehold on the full-size pickup market.

    When it came time to spec out our Titan, we decided on a midlevel SE 4x4 crew cab. We wanted to equip it as closely to our long-term F-150 (an XLT 4x4 crew cab) as possible but also wanted to get the side airbags, which are not available on the Ford. Unfortunately, getting an SE with the side airbags proved virtually impossible, as we wanted the truck ASAP and couldn't find any so equipped. We also got the Off-Road Package, which we weren't looking for. But given the fact that we were seeking a high demand/short supply vehicle, we had to make some concessions.

    Phil Reed, our consumer advice editor, elaborated on the buying experience: "When we decided to add the new 2004 Nissan Titan to our fleet, we noticed that the pickup would be offered with side airbags — a feature that was conspicuously missing from the competing Ford F-150. We began searching for a four-wheel-drive Titan SE crew cab with side airbags, the Popular, Utility and Tow Packages. However, as we soon learned, the side airbags wouldn't be offered in the SE trim level until later in the year. Ultimately, we changed our desired configuration and went with an easier-to-find setup."

    We decided to give our business to Power Nissan in Irvine, Calif., where we bought our long-term Altima two years ago. Internet/Fleet Manager Marj Aldoph had made it easy to get the Altima we wanted at a reasonable price, so we looked forward to working with her again. We gave Marj the specs we wanted (naming Deep Water Blue as our preferred color) and she found the truck for us within 15 minutes. The truck carried a sticker price of $34,260, but we settled on a price of $500 over invoice which was well below TMV. (We're sure this price was that low because the dealership's awareness of the Edmunds.com name got us a deep discount.) The truck was delivered to our offices the following day. We inspected the truck, signed the paperwork, and the truck was ours. It was a good demonstration of how easy car buying can be when the Internet and phone are properly used.

    Once we had the Titan in our fleet, most of our team's initial thoughts were quite favorable. Scoring big were the Titan's powerhouse 5.6-liter V8, easy handling that makes the Titan feel smaller than it is and a huge cabin with plenty of room for passengers and their gear. Editors were split on a few things; some enjoyed the husky exhaust note while a few tired of its drone while cruising on the freeway. The same went for the Rockford Fosgate audio system. Most of us thought it was loud and clear, but one dissenter questioned the effectiveness of the subwoofer, feeling that it added more vibration than bass.

    Road Test Editor Brian Moody was most enthusiastic and couldn't wait to put the Titan to work: "The spray-on bedliner is a great idea and I look forward to testing its resolve when I remove a cinder block fence from my yard in the coming months. The lights at the edge of the bed are also helpful, as most cab-mounted lights are useless if you have a big load."

    Everyone agreed that the Titan's ride quality struck a nice balance between being absorbent enough to soak up the bumps yet firm enough to inspire confidence when jetting up to speed on a curvy on-ramp.

    A few final comments came from Editor in Chief Karl Brauer: "The Titan offers several innovations over its competition and that's what really impresses me. First year out and they have a spray-in bedliner (as Brian noted), rear doors that open 180 degrees on extended cabs, optional side airbags, exterior storage compartments and a standard engine that is better than anything else in the segment (except maybe the Hemi, which is an optional engine). I can't believe Nissan hit the ground running so well in the full-size truck category, though considering its execution on other products over the last five years, it should've come as no surprise. The Titan is an impressive debut in this highly competitive segment."

    We plan to put the Titan to work over the next few months, so check back for our next installment, in which we'll regale you with stories of hauling cinder blocks and furniture. That's what pickup ownership is all about, right?

    Current Odometer: 2,869
    Best Fuel Economy: 14.8 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 10.7 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 13.3 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: None
    Problems: None

    Road Test

    July 2004

    We've been impressed with the Titan from the very beginning. We, like many other industry watchers, were blown away by its explosive intro at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show courtesy of a pyrotechnics display followed by Nissan's CEO Carlos Gohn waving from the Titan's bed as it rolled out on stage. It has definitely ridden the wave it splashed since, garnering several prestigious awards including our own Edmunds.com Most Significant Vehicle of the Year for 2004 and winning our recent full-size truck comparison test.

    At the heart of this success is the Titan's engine. Nissan originally wanted to use the engine found in the Infiniti Q45 to power its new full-size truck, but voices of reason convinced the engineers to develop a new power plant specifically for the Titan. We're thankful that those voices were heard. The meaty 5.6-liter known as the "Endurance" V8 sports an aluminum block with a dual-overhead cam design that produces a whopping 305 horsepower and 379 pound-feet of torque. Knowing that this engine is second best to Dodge's Hemi in terms of output makes us editors giddy. Not only does the Endurance V8 produce a hefty amount of power, but Senior Content Editor Erin Riches noted that in addition the Titan produces an "authoritative exhaust note that caps off the experience." Though the engine noise is louder than most full-size trucks at highway cruising speeds, we feel that will hardly be a trade-off to serious truck enthusiasts.

    An electronically controlled ("drive-by-wire") throttle allows the driver to tap into the large amount of power quickly. So much so that Photo Editor Scott Jacobs was surprised on his maiden drive by the massive surge of power he got with a tap on the accelerator. "I found myself reversing out of the parking spot in great haste," he commented. "My rapidly beating heart begged me not to repeat my mistake." Helping the effectiveness of the throttle response is a five-speed automatic transmission that makes sure the engine stays in the fat part of the power band at all times, a serious advantage over its four-speed automatic-equipped F-150 and Silverado/Sierra competition. Scott found that while traveling up Interstate 5's famous Grapevine grade, the transmission didn't hesitate to downshift at the best opportunities, giving him plenty of power to pass slow-moving semi trucks and trailers.

    Our long-termer's crew cab capacities were called into duty while Scott was in San Francisco for the Fourth of July holiday. Five adults from the Jacobs clan fit comfortably into the truck's spacious appointments with all of their gear for the 45-minute drive to the ballpark for an afternoon game. Family members over six feet in height especially enjoyed the class-leading 40.4 inches of rear legroom offered by the Titan. Both Scott and his brother found the front seats to be quite supportive and comfortable for the short journey. The simple and intuitive layout of HVAC and stereo controls allowed for Scott's brother to utilize them quickly and easily without an explanation.

    Once in the city and driving toward the stadium, the sheer size of the Titan became a detriment as it navigated the congested streets and tried to squeeze into a parking spot. Full-size trucks aren't meant for the city life and its tight quarters. Nissan does, however, help out us city dwellers with its innovative trailering mirrors that come with the optional Big Tow package. Not only do they fold flat when needed, but their bottom third is convex, allowing the driver to easily check the large blind spots created by the Titan's large dimensions. This feature came into great use, as Scott was able to spot a previously unseen bike messenger creeping up along the passenger side before he was about to make a right-hand turn. Fortunately for Scott — and more importantly, the messenger — tragedy was averted.

    While we have no collisions or mechanical problems to report at this point, our ownership of the Titan hasn't been without a few wrinkles. The selling dealership, Power Nissan in Irvine, Calif., did not bother to install the front license plate bracket. On vehicles with skid plates, holes must be drilled directly into the front skid plate. This was quickly taken care of by the staff of Santa Monica Nissan but only for a $20 labor fee. Had we taken it back to our original dealer it would have been covered under warranty. While this was disappointing, the staff was otherwise friendly and eager to help. At one point, the service manager, a service advisor and the parts department salesman were all squatted in front of the truck discussing how to proceed with installation. Apparently, none of the Titans on their lot had the off-road package.

    After they figured out what to do, the Titan was driven back into the shop. It returned 10 minutes later with the bracket installed, the license plate installed and a "SantaMonicaNissan.com" license plate frame on top of that. Needless to say, we got out our tool set and removed the frame as soon as it returned to the office.

    A full-size truck is as American as apple pie, and the domestic manufacturers have enjoyed slice after slice for years on end. The Titan not only beats the old boys by surpassing them in their traditional competitive areas (power, towing capacity, off-road ability, passenger space) but by also changing the rules of the game with innovative features. The Titan reinvents the definition of what it means to be a full-size truck.

    Current Odometer: 9,973
    Best Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.4 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 13.7 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: $20 to drill holes into the skid plate to mount the license plate.Problems: Rattle in instrument cluster; fixed at dealer free of charge.

    Road Test

    October 2004

    Turns out that having a couple of big pickup trucks in our long-term fleet comes in handy every now and then. One of our newest staffers, Consumer Advice Editor Mike Hudson, recruited the Titan for a weekend tour of duty, which included a trip to the recycling center.

    Filling the bed with large cardboard boxes full of plastics, cans, bottles and paper, Mike was able to ease his environmental conscience, somewhat alleviating the guilt of driving the sub-14-mpg truck. He also appreciated our truck's crew cab body style, as his notes indicate: "I originally thought the crew cab would hinder hauling (due to the shorter bed), but it actually helped. We put some boxes with foam peanuts on the seats in the cab and didn't have to worry about them blowing around. Plus, when we parked the truck for dinner, we were able to store some of the valuable cargo inside."

    Mr. H also appreciated the Titan's polished demeanor, "The Titan doesn't feel like a truck. It's very refined inside, and you almost don't want to mess it up by dumping huge loads of bricks in the back. Or by letting a wet dog jump in with the boys from the worksite after the quittin' whistle blows, like you see on those Ford commercials."

    Another weekend saw Photography Editor Scott Jacobs take the Titan on a long trip north to a family cabin. Once again, the burly truck was put to work, this time carting away a refrigerator. Scott recounted his time with the Titan: "Before I headed out on the road for my near-600-mile journey, I had to stop by my apartment and pick up a few more items. Well, using the Titan for this quick errand became far more of a problem than I had anticipated. I felt like Goldilocks trying to find the right-sized street parking space — the immense size of the Titan doesn't make it conducive to urban living. Out of frustration, I double-parked it, hit the hazards, ran into my apartment, hastily grabbed my stuff and ran back to the truck with my arms full."

    Once on the open road, Scott found the Titan to be an amicable companion. "When you're sitting in a vehicle for eight hours, you'd normally get a little stiff and sore. I found the Titan to be pretty comfy throughout the whole trip. Granted, its fuel consumption required that I stop the vehicle three times to fill 'er up, so that allowed me time to get out and stretch. The trip was quiet and uneventful for the most part, but I found when climbing the steeper hills or passing on the freeway, a rattle came out of the lower right side of the dash. On some occasions, it almost sounded like knock and ping coming from the engine, but I have a hard time believing that's the case. Either way, the rattle gets louder and more annoying the harder the engine is working, especially when downshifting and accelerating."

    Scott continued, "The end of my eight-hour drive left me deep in the Sierras northwest of Lake Tahoe. My family's cabin is seasonal, so we were closing it for winter that weekend. The truck came in handy as it was immediately needed to haul away a fridge that had died after 30 years of service. It was big, bulky and built out of pure steel, not as much plastic as today's varieties so it was a bit of a task to manhandle it to the front porch. The Titan's high ride height and clearance meant that I was able to back it up with the tailgate down and clear the top of the front porch by a few inches. Once the truck was in position, it was just a matter of gently tipping the fridge over into the bed. Though the Titan is big, the crew cab variation means the bed isn't that long. Yet, when we got the fridge snug against the back of the cab, there was an inch of space to spare in the 67-inch-long bed. I know I've said it before, but the spray-in bed liner rocks because not only did we have the fridge for the dump run, but we had a bunch of old lumber to get rid of, too. With the spray-in liner, I didn't have to worry about scratching up the bed. Having no worries is a good thing."

    After the family obligations were seen to, Scott took some time to head out for a hike. "After a few runs to the hardware store 30 miles away to get our cabin all situated for the winter, there was plenty of quiet downtime. I took the Titan up a narrow mountain road to the nearest hiking trail. The silt-covered roads were slippery and caused the ABS to kick in more than a few times. Although it helped to keep the truck under control, I was very surprised by how noisy it was and the vibration I felt through the wheel was awful. I checked my speed so I wouldn't have to endure it again."

    As Scott headed back to L.A., he reflected on the Titan's place in the vehicular universe: "Overall, I feel that the Titan is meant for places that have more dirt roads than highways. It certainly felt at home in the northern Sierras with dirty tires and George Strait twanging through the speakers. I honestly felt sorry for the Titan as it crossed south of the Grapevine stretch of Interstate 5 into the L.A. Basin."

    After the Titan returned, it had an appointment to keep at Santa Monica Nissan. As the truck's odometer rolled toward 15,000 miles, a number of annoyances had cropped up that needed attention, namely an occasional clunk when the tranny was shifted from reverse to drive, sometimes noisy brakes and a trio of dash lights that blazed "ABS, VDC and Brake." We figured we'd also take care of the 15K service (essentially an oil/filter change and tire rotation) at the same time.

    After spending a couple of days at the dealer, our Titan returned to the fleet with the brakes fixed; the rotors were slightly warped so they were turned and new pads were installed. This repair also took care of the warning lights — the warped rotors may have tripped up the wheel speed sensors that allow the ABS and stability control systems to perform their magic. The tab was just $41.03 and there was no charge for the brake work (which is only right, considering our Titan had less than 15,000 miles on it at the time). As far as the sometimes clunky tranny, we were told that the problem was a faulty universal joint, which had to be ordered. The dealership has called to tell us that the part is in, so the truck will be going in shortly for that. We haven't been able to duplicate the rattling/pinging noise Scott experienced during his trip, so we'll keep tabs on that. For now, our Titan will just keep on trucking.

    Current Odometer: 16,054
    Best Fuel Economy: 15.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 10.8 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 13.8 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: None
    Maintenance Costs: $41.03 (15,000-mile service).
    Problems: Warped brake rotors, faulty universal joint, isolated rattling/pinging noise.

    Road Test

    January 2005

    When Senior Content Editor Erin Riches lived way out in the suburbs, she adored our long-term Titan. Out in the wide open spaces, the truck's size was a point of pride and its torque-rich V8 a valuable weapon. But now Erin lives in Los Angeles, where she feels the Titan is out of its element.

    "Driving the Titan in the tight confines of the city is like owning a large dog," she explained. "It always seemed to be squirming to get off its leash. But there's just no place to let it run free. City life also brought out a huge appetite for gasoline, and my neighbors lived in both awe and fear of the truck."

    The fear came courtesy of the multi-point backing maneuver Erin had to do whenever she parked the Titan in her carport. By folding in the large trailering mirrors, she could fit the truck into the space with just three inches to spare overhead. "Problem was, after a few weeks of corralling the beast, I got overconfident," she confessed.

    "One morning, I was in a hurry and rubbed the Titan's back end up against a pole, denting the rear quarter panel and breaking the taillight on the passenger side," recalled Erin now a bit less cocky. The total repair bill was $750, not too bad considering the damage. This figure also included smaller repairs for older injuries, including scratches on the roof from a trip through a low garage.

    After the pole incident, you'd think Erin would have sworn off the big Titan. But a five-hour drive across the desert to Kingman, Arizona, reminded her why the Nissan is so likeable in wide open spaces. Erin found the truck unwaveringly powerful and comfortable. And parking is never a concern when you can make your own space in the gravel lot at the steakhouse.

    "It really does have a smooth ride on the highway," she wrote in the logbook. "In fact, the whole truck seemed to relax once I hit 65 mph. Handling is also agile at these speeds with a nice heft through the steering and minimal body roll in sweeping turns."

    "Not only is the V8 ridiculously powerful," agreed senior road test editor Ed Hellwig, "it's smooth. You can run it right up to the redline and it doesn't flinch. Plus, the transmission shifts flawlessly at full throttle."

    Aside from the truck's big thirst, the brakes are the only part of this package that could stand improvement. They're effective, but a long pedal travel makes it tough to apply them with precision. "The long travel produces an instant flash of anxiety as you wonder if the truck really will stop," Phil Reed, our senior consumer advice editor, noted. "This triggers an overreaction where you really jam it down."

    While in Arizona, the Titan hauled three of Erin's extra-tall relatives to dinner. There was plenty of room, but both rear occupants complained that the seatbelts were cutting them across their necks. Nissan should offer height-adjustable belts in the backseat, as Toyota does in the Tundra.

    On the drive back to LA, Erin found delight with the truck's excellent Rockford-Fosgate audio system. "The bass is the most powerful I've ever experienced in a factory system," she wrote. "The woofers are mounted under the front seats, so you hear and feel deep tones." She also drew pleasure from the Titan's six front seat cupholders. "I had three drinks going at once," she bragged.

    In our last update we mentioned that a new universal joint had been ordered to fix a transmission clunk. It turns out the entire driveshaft had to be replaced. We ordered one through Santa Monica Nissan, but the dealership never called to tell us the part was in. After a few weeks, one of our road test editors, John DiPietro, called to check. He was told a 2WD, instead of a 4WD, driveshaft had been mistakenly ordered. "It must have been our Titan's tall stance, big tires and '4 x 4' stickers that confused them," John quipped.

    Finally, the correct driveshaft was installed, and the clunk was excised from the truck. Around that time we also had the Titan's front suspension realigned.

    The end of our Titan ownership trial is fast approaching. We'll be back in April to give you our final thoughts on Nissan's first full-size truck. Until then, we'll take it easy in parking lots.

    Current Odometer: 20,875
    Best Fuel Economy: 15.6 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 11.5 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 13.8 mpg
    Body Repair Costs: $750
    Maintenance Costs: $50 (alignment)
    Problems: Driveshaft replaced under warranty to correct transmission clunk.

    Road Test

    Wrap-Up

    Why We Bought It
    How It Drove
    Inside the Cabin
    Summing Up
    Changes to the Titan Since 2004
    Ups and Downs
    Recalls and Problem History
    Dealer Service Reviews
    What Consumers Say

    Why We Bought It
    Full-size trucks like the Nissan Titan are a uniquely American obsession. We like our pickups powerful enough to tackle any task on the job site, but comfy enough on the inside to serve daily-driver duty. As the competition heats up for dominance in the full-size segment, Japanese manufacturers are stepping into the ring, wagering that a pickup doesn't need a bowtie or blue oval on the grille to be successful.

    When Nissan decided to enter the fray, engineers and designers from the U.S. were brought in to help with the company's first real full-size hauler. The Titan is appropriately named, as it boasts massive dimensions, best-in-class interior room, a long list of unique standard features and the most powerful standard V8 engine in its class.

    We decided to add the Nissan Titan to our fleet for two compelling reasons: 1) It was our "Most Significant Vehicle for 2004" and 2) It is the first serious threat to the Big Three's stranglehold on the full-size pickup market.

    "When we decided to add the new 2004 Nissan Titan to our fleet, we began searching for a four-wheel-drive Titan SE crew cab with side airbags, the Popular, Utility and Tow Packages," said Senior Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed. "However, as we soon learned, the side airbags wouldn't be offered in the SE trim level until later in the year. Ultimately, we changed our desired configuration and went with an easier-to-find setup."

    We decided to give our business to Power Nissan in Irvine, California. The truck we chose had a $34,260 window sticker, so we negotiated a price of $500 over invoice (the dealership's awareness of the Edmunds.com name definitely got us a deep discount). The truck was delivered to our offices the following day. We inspected it, signed the paperwork and the truck was ours. It was a good demonstration of how easy car buying can be when the Internet and phone are properly used.

    How It Drove
    Nissan originally wanted to use the engine found in the Infiniti Q45 to power its new full-size truck, but voices of reason convinced the engineers to develop a new power plant specifically for the Titan. We're thankful those voices were heard. The meaty 5.6-liter "Endurance" V8 sports an aluminum block with a dual-overhead cam design that produces a whopping 305 horsepower and 379 pound-feet of torque, backed up with a smooth-shifting five-speed trans. All that power is good for 0-60 runs in 7.4 seconds — not bad for a 6,000-pound four-wheel-drive behemoth.

    During his first road trip in the Titan, Photo Editor Scott Jacobs was surprised by the massive surge on tap. "I found myself pulling away from the stoplight at full throttle," he said. "I scared myself and swore not to repeat the incident."

    When Senior Content Editor Erin Riches lived way out in the suburbs, she adored our long-term Nissan Titan. Out in the wide-open spaces, the truck's size was a point of pride and its torque-rich V8 a valuable weapon. But now Erin lives in Los Angeles, where she feels the Titan is out of its element.

    "Driving the Titan in the tight confines of the city is like owning a large dog," she explained. "It always seemed to be squirming to get off its leash. But there's just no place to let it run free. City driving also highlighted the truck's huge appetite for gasoline, and my neighbors lived in both awe and fear of the truck.

    "It really does have a smooth ride on the highway," she wrote in the logbook. "In fact, the whole truck seemed to relax once I hit 65 mph. Handling is also agile at these speeds thanks to tight steering and minimal body roll in sweeping turns."

    Aside from the truck's thirsty V8, the brakes are the only part of this package that could stand improvement. They're effective, but a long pedal travel makes it tough to apply them with precision. "The long travel produces an instant flash of anxiety as you wonder if the truck really will stop," Phil Reed, our senior consumer advice editor, noted. "This triggers an overreaction where you really jam it down."

    Nissan is aware of the underpowered brakes and has issued a service bulletin addressing the problem. All 2006 Titans will receive bigger, more powerful binders; and 2004/2005 models will either be updated to newer equipment or may get an extended warranty that covers premature brake wear.

    Inside the Cabin
    Our Nissan Titan's crew cab was called into duty when Road Test Editor Dan Kahn hitched his boat to the back and headed to the lake with four friends. While he had a few complaints about awkward ergonomics, he was impressed with the truck's ability to transport five adults in comfort for nearly five hours without anyone complaining or squirming for more room.

    "Most of my buddies are big guys, and stuffing them in a truck cab for 250 miles is the ultimate pickup truck litmus test," Kahn said. "The Titan's comfortable seats, ample legroom, ridiculous number of cupholders and kickin' stereo made the trip a breeze, and everyone walked away impressed. The three-dial climate-control system is easy to adjust while driving, and it blasts arctic air like a refrigerator, even in the scorching desert heat. My only gripe centers on the window and door lock switches, which are mounted way up high at a weird angle and can be difficult to operate while driving. Otherwise the Titan is as comfortable as it is capable, a true cowboy Cadillac."

    Fit and finish was very high in the pickup, from the textured plastic dash to the thickly padded center console. The only complaint noted in the log focused on a mysterious rattling noise inside the cabin, but New Vehicle Reviews Editor Jeff Bryan figured out that the rattle was a loose plastic part on the Utilitrak tie-down system in the bed.

    Summing Up
    After spending a year and 24,000 miles in our long-term fleet, our Titan proved itself as a solid and fun-to-drive truck. Our road test team was not easy on the big brute, using it for everything from hard-core off-roading to construction projects and commuting duty on the world's most congested freeways. Apart from a few minor problems (warped brake rotors and an out-of-balance driveshaft) the truck never let us down.

    We made a bold statement in 2004 by crowning the Titan king of the full-size pickups and naming it Most Significant Vehicle of the Year. After 12 months of testing we stand by that decision. However, Ford's legendary F-150 is still the best-selling vehicle in the United States, and Toyota is launching a larger, more powerful Tundra in about a year. Big pickups are big business, and as the class continues to evolve, truck fans will reap the rewards.

    True Market Value at service end: $26,392
    What it sold for: N/A Yet
    Depreciation: $4,972 or 16% of original paid price
    Final Odometer Reading: 22,396
    Best Fuel Economy: 15.7 mpg
    Worst Fuel Economy: 10.7 mpg
    Average Fuel Economy: 13.4 mpg
    Total Body Repair Costs: $750
    Total Routine Maintenance Costs (over [12] months): $150.98
    Additional Maintenance Costs: $95
    Warranty Repairs: 3
    Non-Warranty Repairs: 2
    Scheduled Dealer Visits: 3
    Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 3
    Days Out of Service: 9 (four due to unscheduled maintenance, five due to body damage)
    Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None

    Changes to the Titan Since 2004
    2005 — Crew cab models receive a standard power up/down rear window with defroster, while all models get a tailgate with damped assist. Other changes include new active head restraints for the driver and front passenger, new badging on the front doors and a unique wheel finish for SE models. The LE receives brushed aluminum interior trim accents and a leather-appointed bench seat is available in place of the bucket seats. The popular spray-in bedliner is now available as a stand-alone option on the XE.

    Ups and Downs
    Ups: Powerful yet refined drivetrain, smooth-riding suspension, nimble handling, spacious and functional cabin, innovative design features, available stability control and side airbags.

    Downs: Undersized brakes warp easily, limited drivetrain and body style choices, no heavy-duty models, burly exhaust note can get annoying on long drives.

    The Bottom Line: With a stout V8, roomy interior and loads of useful features, the Titan is an impressive full-size that every truck buyer should consider.

    Recalls and Problem History
    Recalls: 2
    Seatbelt Anchors: Rear seatbelt assemblies on certain trucks may not be up to federal safety standards, which could increase risk of injury in certain types of crashes. The recall replaces rear seatbelt assemblies with a new updated version.

    Column Shift Assembly: Early Titans built in March and April 2004 equipped with a column shifter may have been damaged during assembly. This problem could result in failure of the assembly that holds the shifter in the park position. Dealers have been instructed to inspect and replace the entire shifter when necessary.

    Problem History:
    1. Missing front license plate bracket. Holes were drilled in the front skid plate to mount the bracket, at a charge of $20.
    2. Driveshaft "clunked" whenever the transmission was shifted into gear. It was replaced at no charge.
    3. Front brake rotors warped and triggered an ABS warning light. The problem was fixed at no charge.
    4. Front-end alignment seemed off (steering wheel had to be held slightly cocked to the left to drive straight). It was fixed at a local alignment shop for $50.

    Dealer Service Reviews
    Santa Monica Nissan in Santa Monica, Calif.
    July 2004
    While we had no collisions or mechanical problems to report at this point, our ownership of the Titan hadn't been without a few wrinkles. The selling dealership, Power Nissan in Irvine, California, did not bother to install the front license plate bracket. On vehicles with skid plates, holes must be drilled directly into the front skid plate. This was quickly taken care of by the staff of Santa Monica Nissan for a $20 labor fee. Had we taken it back to our original dealer it would have been covered under warranty.

    While this was disappointing, the staff at Santa Monica Nissan was otherwise friendly and eager to help. After they figured out what to do, the Titan was driven back into the shop. It was returned 10 minutes later with the bracket installed. We also elected to have the 7,500-mile service performed, which included an oil change, suspension lube, tire rotation and a new air cleaner. The grand total was $74.95, and the service department managed to knock it out in about two hours.

    October 2004
    As the truck's odometer rolled toward 15,000 miles, a number of annoyances had cropped up that needed attention, namely an occasional clunk when the transmission was shifted from reverse to drive, sporadically noisy brakes and a trio of dash lights that blazed "ABS, VDC and Brake." We figured we'd also take care of the 15K service (essentially an oil/filter change and tire rotation) at the same time.

    After spending a couple of days at the dealer, our Titan returned to the fleet with the brakes fixed. The rotors were slightly warped so they were turned and new pads were installed. This repair also took care of the warning lights — the warped rotors may have tripped up the wheel speed sensors that allow the ABS and stability control systems to perform their magic. The tab was just $41.03 and there was no charge for the brake work (which is only right, considering our Titan had less than 15,000 miles on it at the time). As far as the clunky trans, we were told that the problem was a faulty universal joint, which had to be ordered.

    January 2005
    While the dealership claimed the clunking problem was due to a faulty universal joint, its quick fix didn't solve the problem. It turned out the entire driveshaft had to be replaced. We ordered one through Santa Monica Nissan, but the dealership never called to tell us the part was in. After a few weeks, one of our road test editors, John DiPietro, called to check. He was told a 2WD, instead of a 4WD, driveshaft had been mistakenly ordered. "It must have been our Titan's tall stance, big tires and '4 x 4' stickers that confused them," John quipped.

    Finally, the correct driveshaft was installed under warranty, and the clunk was excised from the truck. Around that time we also had the Titan's 21,000-mile service performed, which included an oil change and tire rotation for $34.95.

    What Consumers Say
    "Great looks, strong engine and top-notch comfort. I also like the 5-speed transmission. Gas mileage isn't great, about on par for a 4x4 truck. I'm impressed with the standard limited slip rear differential and super audio system. Get the XM radio and definitely order it from the factory so it is incorporated with the stereo. The Titan has a competitive price when compared to GMC or Chevy. Favorite features: Engine, transmission and overall build quality. Great tie-down system in the bed and I love the factory-installed bedliner. Suggested improvements: It could use better gas mileage."
    — George, January 1, 2005

    "I test-drove every full-size truck available and the Titan stood out from the rest. Great features, logically placed controls and comfortable seats made it the clear choice for me. After 6 months with zero problems I find myself liking it even more as time goes on. Favorite features: Engine/transmission the best I have ever had. Bed liner and tie-down options make hauling anything a snap. Storage compartment behind left rear wheel is extremely convenient. Suggested improvements: Better gas mileage, but not with a sacrifice in power. Eliminate the annoying stereo reflection in the rear glass at night. Add passenger grab handle for rear to make getting in and out easier."
    — Gbrown, December 19, 2004

    "This is a great 4x4 truck!! With 12,000 miles on the odometer, performance, reliability and quality have been excellent. The steering is tight and confident. Engine power is awesome, even to the point of barking the rear tires at red lights when forgetting to control my lead foot. The roominess of the cabin is perfect even for big and tall folks. Favorite features: Bed tie-down system and spray-in bed liner. Suggested improvements: Spending $35K on vehicle without auto climate control is disappointing in this otherwise super vehicle. It should be standard equipment on LE."
    — Charles Howell, December 11, 2004

    "I love this truck and am happy that I own it, but it would appear the build quality is poor. Mechanically everything is sound, but I have complaints regarding loud clicks and rattles, poorly placed trim and other fit and finish problems. It would be nice if the bed was a little longer, like 8 inches longer, but at 6'4" with the extra cab I can't really complain. The body panels also seem to dent very easily! In my opinion, there is nothing that sets this truck apart from the others in its class. Nonetheless, it is a good truck at a good price. Suggested improvements: Offer a 3/4-ton model, and the bed should be 7' instead of 6'4". Poorly produced interiors with rattles and clanks are upsetting in a brand-new $26K truck."
    — Mario, December 11, 2004

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    chryssyamanda says:

    10:20 AM, 01/25/2010

    A letter to Nissan Consumer Affairs regarding my 2004 Nissan Titan:  I thought it was interesting that I received this in the mail.  I'm excited to leave my opinion on my service with Nissan.  I have been a Nissan owner for 21 years.  Have had all major service done at Rothrock Dealership; even oil changes.  I purchased my 2004 Nissan Titan used from Williams Nissan in Gilbertsville PA.  We took months evaluating all the trucks on the market at the time since we would be pulling a 30' Coachman Camper with our new truck.  And we always returned to look at the Nissans.  I nicknamed her, "the Beast".  She pulled our camper like there was nothing behind her.  Received compliments, opened the hood, even took other people for test drives in her.  We were your biggest Titan sales people!  

    We put a new Banks exhaust on her when the clips failed and the exhaust fell off while driving down the road, we over looked all the shakes and shimmies from the faulty brakes, we overlooked how badly the doors hung when opened, how badly the bad window leaked when it rained and that the little door in the bed was starting to rust because it wasn't sealed correctly.  We loved our girl and overlooked quite bit now that I think about it.  But the last straw was when Nissan wouldn't stand behind their truck.  Nissan knew the back end of the first year models were insufficient to pull the amount of weight they said she could pull.  The design flaw was supposedly fixed in the later year models but Nissan neglected to go back and fix the ones that failed.  Or, for that matter, helping their loyal owners to fix them.  NISSAN NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.  The ring in the pumpkin was failing and we were told it would cost $3,000 to fix it.  Not just fix it, the entire rear would need to be replaced.  And the truck only had 86,000 miles on it!  Ridiculous.  Our Coachman has a GVWR of only 7,600 pounds which is well below the load rating that Nissan put on this truck and still the rear failed in under 100,000 miles.  We were told by service at Rothrock that if we continued to drive the truck unfixed, the ring could seize, causing the axel to lock up and completely rip off the truck causing a major accident. WOW, how does that happen?  After I just spent $900 to have the rear axel seals completely replaced at Rothrock?  Steve at Rothrock advised us to call Nissan Consumer Affairs.  My husband did so that same day and was advised we were hear back in 2 days which we did.  Owen called us and said he would be investigating.  After two weeks we were called by the service manager at Rothrock who said that it was determined that no help would be given to us by Nissan since the truck was out of warranty.  WE KNOW THAT!  But a rear should not fail that quickly when weight limits are kept well within range.  She has never been overloaded.  The very next day, we get a phone call from Owen who explains to us that he hasn't yet spoken to anyone at Rothrock and he hasn't been able to reach a determination yet.  What?  Can someone get their story straight?  We told him about the call from Rothrock and he was stunned.  But the worse is yet to come.  The next day, we receive a call back from Owen, who states that the ring and pinion on our truck's steering wheel is out of warranty and Nissan Consumer Affairs can't offer any help fixing the steering wheel.  Steering wheel?  STEERING WHEEL?  I was so stunned by this that I couldn't even respond that he doesn't even know what part of the truck needed to be fixed.  He based his determination on the steering wheel when the rear failed!  Are you kidding me?  What kind of morons do you have working there they don't even know which end of the truck we're talking about!  I'm a woman and even know that.  This is my truck and I loved it.  I informed Owen, the moron who can't figure out what ring we were talking about, that it really didn't matter because this loyal Nissan owner of over 21 years, just bought a brand new Toyota Tundra the night before.  Beautiful salsa red truck that pulls 1,000 more than the Nissan, has the biggest brakes in its class, nicely grooved ring in the pumpkin so the rear won't fail like it did on the Nissan.  It's a shame for Nissan, because now I've become the biggest big mouth bashing Nissan trucks and have become Toyota's biggest sales woman.  My husband and I still get upset that the best move for us was to sell our baby.  Investing $3,000 in a truck that the manufacturer knew had a problem was very disheartening to us.  My 21 years of loyalty to Nissan didn't mean anything in helping with this truck.  I would have jumped at fixing her if Nissan would have offered to pay for the parts, I would have paid for the labor or vice versa.  But the steering wheel?  Your card that was mailed states, "Our goal is to improve future experiences for valued customers like you".  Valued?  When did that happen?  Because at no time during this fiasco did I feel I was a valued Nissan owner.  Not by Rothrock, not by Nissan Consumer Affairs and certainly not by Owen.  He didn't even take the time to learn the facts.  That much is obvious.  So why should I give Nissan another $46,000 of my money when they won't take the time to learn the facts of their faulty vehicles?  I was happy to give $46,000 to Toyota.  That might not seem like a lot of money to you or to Nissan.  But my big mouth knows a lot of people...and the internet reaches a lot of people.  I have voiced this on the internet in several places.  Hopefully, I have persuaded quite a few people to NOT buy Nissan and make the same mistake we did.  It's funny, when my 10 year old son sees a Titan, he says, "I hope they don't pull anything with that".  Future generations have also been informed.  Keep in mind that not only have you lost me as a "valued" customer, word of mouth is much more dangerous sometimes.  Value is not only the price you sell your vehicles for, it's also the way the dealership treats customers as well as obtaining all the information needed to make an educated decision.  

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    davegvg says:

    08:52 AM, 11/28/2009

    If you needed a new "1/2 ton" truck in 04 nothing touched the Titans overall capability in its class.
    5 speed, all aluminum 4 valve engine, gps map, dvd entertainment with wireless headsets- Titan had all this years before anyone else.

    It was expensive like 40K. I bought the 4x4 offroad with "Big Tow" in Feb of 04- I have 45K miles on it now.  Full deal everything you could get dvd entertainment gps map, fosgate sound, bed liner, rancho shocks........Its been working hard since the day I got it towing 2 different boats and a toyhauler that weighs 9000 pounds loaded up almost every mile.

    Its been a fantastic truck the equivilant or better than any Ive owned from any major manufacturer. Ive had all the big threes 3/4 tons.

    Ive had 2 problems

    1. I did spend some money to replace the rotors pads and lines with aftermarket units and its been rock solid since. The original equipment experience pad imprinting (erroneously often referred to as warping) and wobbled repeatedly and I had prior experience with my mod so I just spent a little money and dealt with it forever.

    2. I took it in for an errant flashing 4x4 light on the dash.

    The dash light was fixed in 1 day under warranty

    I average 16-17mpg on the freeway unloaded
    I get about 15 in town
    I averaged 12.7 mpg towing a 4-5K load (21ft boat with coolers and camping gear)  from LA to chicago and back @ 65 MPH nearly the whole way.
    I get bewteen 9.5 and 10.5 towing 9K - but I live in so Cal and town through mountains.

    Im on my second set of tires and battery.

    I change my own oil and fluids Ive done a drain and fill twice to keep the trans oil fresh.
    Chaged differentials oils once.

    The build quality is above par compared to offerings available in 04, but the Toyota stands out as better built if buying new today. Still compared to the big threes trucks - its pretty good.  

    Im very happy and would consider a Nissan 3/4 ton diesel if they made one.

    This is just a really great truck.

    Dave

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