2021 Nissan Titan Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2021 Nissan Titan most often report harsh or jerky transmission shifting, with downshifts that lurch the truck forward when slowing to a stop, and lag at low speed. Other themes include stalls or loss of throttle response, automatic emergency braking that activates without a real hazard, and recall repairs that were delayed or did not stop the problem. A few reports also describe the truck rolling in Park, backup camera or screen problems, and airbags that did not deploy in crashes.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh downshifts, lurching and lag at low speed

   • 23 complaints (40%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the transmission downshifting harshly or unexpectedly when slowing, with the truck jerking or lurching forward as it comes to a stop or brakes. Others describe lag or sluggish takeoff from a stop, and some say the truck would not shift out of first gear at low speed. Some report a clunk during shifts. According to complaints, the dealer sometimes could not find a fault or called the behavior normal, and a few say it returned after repairs. Where owners state mileage, these reports range from about 800 miles to about 12,000 miles, and several describe the problem from the start of ownership.

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission software has been updated and whether any shift-quality repairs are on record, and ask for the repair orders. On a test drive, check for a jolt when the truck slows to a stop and for hesitation when pulling away at a light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2021 Pro4x Titan with 6,400 miles has on numerous occasions not shifted up and out of 1st gear despite being in typical Drive, automatic transmission. I have owned the truck for just over 1 year and I have noticed this 10+ times when moving at slower speeds. I generally shift into Neutral and enter Drive again, which fixes the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11447847, filed 2022-01

   “2021 Nissan Titan is having major transmission problems jerking when down shifting. This has become a serous issue when try to maintain speed. I have taking the vehicle to the dealership to which I am told, Nissan is fully aware of the issue and is working on a fix . This has been on going for close to a year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11438639, filed 2021-10
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalls, loss of throttle response or revving surges

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 1.6 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the engine stalling or having little throttle response when pulling away, sometimes with the engine still running. Some report revving to high RPM for several seconds, followed by a clunk and a forward lurch. Separate reports describe smoke from the engine bay with a loss of power, and a truck that would not change gears while accelerating through an intersection. According to complaints, in some visits the dealer said the behavior was normal for this type of truck. The sample gives no mileage for these reports, and the events mostly happened at low speed, such as at a traffic light, in stop-and-go traffic or when pulling away.

   What to check: Ask whether the engine and throttle software have been updated and whether any stall or throttle complaints are on record. During a test drive, check that the throttle responds smoothly and the engine idles steadily when pulling away from a stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle has on a handful of occasions stalled or has no throttle response, when taking off from a stop light. The last 2 times this happened the truck engine was till running, but had no throttle response. I had to shift to neutral and pump gas with no input to throttle. Vehicle is very dangerous to drive. Dealership has had numerous repair attempts while vehicle was still under WT. I still don't trust vehicle as it still has very little throttle input idle is terrible and truck lurches on take off's. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11768277, filed 2026-10

   “The vehicle will not move between lower level gears and will not accelerate when it is stuck. The vehicle will rev up very high but not switch gears even if you dig all the way in on the gas pedal. In fact, if you do that the engine makes a chirping noise. This defect prevented me from accelerating through an intersection and I nearly got hit by oncoming traffic. We have taken it to the Nissan dealership 3 times and they have said this is normal for this type of truck. We are taking this to an independent service center for a second opinion.”

   NHTSA complaint #11472262, filed 2022-07
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Automatic emergency braking applies without a real hazard

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 14,900 mi at 2.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2023

   Owners describe automatic emergency braking activating when no real hazard was present, such as over railroad tracks, under bridges, or while driving at various speeds. Some say the truck slowed abruptly or braked hard at low speed with no cars around. In another report, the system stopped the truck under a bridge and a vehicle behind struck it from the rear. According to complaints, the manufacturer indicated the vehicle operated as designed, and the dealer could not duplicate the problem. Where mileage is recorded, it is about 14,900 miles, and the false braking was described from very low speed over railroad tracks to highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the service bulletin for false activation of the automatic braking system has been applied to this vehicle. On a test drive, watch the dashboard for automatic braking or forward collision warnings and ask the dealer to explain the system's settings.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling on the Interstate at about 50 miles an hour. I went under a bridge and my front crash avoidance sensors malfunctioned and the breaks were applied. My truck completely locked down to a stop and I could not get the truck to move. I in turn was hit in the rear end by a semi truck. The local Nissan dealership started that it was a known.”

   NHTSA complaint #11529728, filed 2023-06

   “The vehicles automatic emergency braking system falsely triggers under certain conditions. It most commonly occurs when the the vehicle travels under bridges in sunny, clear conditions. Presumably, the vehicle believes that the shadow cast by the bridge is an object when it is in fact just a shadow. After this happened three times in a 20 mile stretch, the vehicle displayed a warning light saying that the system had malfunctioned and automatically turned the forward collision system off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11502402, filed 2023-01
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Recall repairs delayed or the problem continues

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 2.3 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe recall work on the transmission or related parts that could not be finished because parts or software were not yet available. Others say the recall repair was completed, but harsh shifting or transmission fault codes continued. A separate report describes a dealer signing off a recall as not needing reprogramming, with a diagnostic fee requested for the follow-up. According to complaints, no solution was available for some open recalls at the time of the visit. Mileage is rarely recorded for these reports; where stated in the text, it is about 8,156 miles.

   Recall 22V671000Recall 22V457000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the VIN for open transmission and parking pawl recalls, and whether any parts or software are still on order. Ask for written confirmation of any recall work performed, including the software version installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my vehicle in due to the open recall their are two and they informed me that the recall on both can not be fixed until they get the software need to make the repair. Both recalls are related and need to be fixed together. I have contacted the dealer and no solution is available at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11493109, filed 2022-11

   “My vehicle when slowing to a stop down shifts a bit harshly then upshifts suddenly making a loud click and lurches forward abruptly. This has gotten worse with time. I have 8,156 miles as I write this. The 2 recalls were complied with Friday 12/02/2022 at Orr Nissan Bossier City, La. I initially called and took it in for the problem described and even though the technician said the problem no longer exits, it does. I called them back after I left but they were closing up when I left and no one answered the phone, except the receptionist. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11496130, filed 2022-12
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery replacements, no-start and key-system messages

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 5,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the truck failing to start, sometimes after the battery was replaced several times, with the battery gauge reading erratically. Other reports describe the engine not shutting off after the ignition button was pressed, or a key-system error that appears at startup and while driving. A separate report says the owner was advised that short trips may not fully recharge the battery. Where mileage is recorded, these reports range from about 5,000 to about 40,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask how many batteries have been replaced and whether the charging system and battery monitor were checked. During a test drive, check that no key-system or ignition messages appear and that the engine shuts off normally when the ignition button is pressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After about a year and a half, my truck either won’t want to start or won’t start. I purchased my truck new in early 2022 and I am on my 3rd new battery. Now in late 2026, they are telling me that I shouldn’t take short trips because the “smart charger” won’t have enough time to fully charge the battery. I have read that people are disconnecting something on the truck and it fixes the problem. I am not a mechanic and I don’t feel like I have to regulate what trips I take in my fairly new vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11760534, filed 2026-08

   “Truck shows a message when started and while driving/running. (Key System Error) Also the warning light icon stays lite but sometimes it does go off, other times not”

   NHTSA complaint #11418974, filed 2021-05

Buying note. For a 2021 Titan, ask for the transmission software and recall records, including whether the parking pawl recalls were completed, and drive it at low speed to check shifting and downshifts before buying. Owners describe shifting problems that continued after dealer visits, so a documented repair history is worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.