The Lemon Index
200820101st generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 19,042 in the U.S. in 2009 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 11 complaints in its first 3 years.
11 owner complaints, first 3 years 14–15 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2009 Ford F-150 472009 Chevrolet Silverado 242009 Ram 1500 93
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 9 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 23V067000 (airbags), 10E019000 (suspension) and 10V074000 (fuel system, other) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Nissan sent dealers 106 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Nissan's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 11 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 40K miles (1K to 66K km) on the car (9 of all 11 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
2009 Nissan Titan. In park on hill, turned off engine and trucked rolled backward. Nearly hit my 2 year old and myself. The hill was not steep.
2009 Nissan Titan owner · NHTSA complaint 10303130
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 11.8M views · 2004–2015 Nissan Titan
Most-watched topics
- Infotainment, battery & electrical831K views
Nissan Titan Starter Replacement: 2003-2015How to Automotive · 283K views · 8 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door551K views
Oct 2, 2015 2010 Nissan titan heater problemchris · 167K views · 9 videos - Steering & suspension343K views
How to Replace Front Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly 2004-2015 Nissan TitanTRQ · 101K views · 7 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors338K views
How to Replace Crankshaft Position Sensor 2004-2015 Nissan TitanTRQ · 167K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Driveshaft, axles & 4x4231K views
Nissan Titan Rear Differential Fluild Service 2004+ (Tips and Tricks)Aaron Hines · 112K views · 4 videos - Spark plugs & ignition coils197K views
How to Replace Spark Plugs on a 2004/2005 Nissan TitanHow to Automotive · 119K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank194K views
How to Replace Fuel Pump 2004-2015 Nissan TitanTRQ · 99K views · 3 videos - Cooling system181K views
How to Replace Radiator 2004-2015 Nissan TitanTRQ · 97K views · 3 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Nissan Titan Truck 1st Generation 2004-20151A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 579K views
2004-2015 Nissan Titan Buyer's Guide (A60 Common Problems, Specs and Info)Useful Vids · 201K views
👉 BE CAREFUL BEFORE BUYING a Nissan TITAN 2004 to 2015 (COMMON PROBLEMS)Fer Garage · 192K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2009 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 106 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies
- Srs precautions during service;improper maintenance, including incorrect removal and installation
- Tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) warning light on/flashing
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Airbags · recall issued 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- Suspension · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 A…
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES.
Show all 4 recalls
- Brakes · recall issued 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,000–$4,300 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 5.6L 8-cyl.
Every Nissan Titan year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (2004–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 14 Nissan Titan years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/nissan-titan/?y=2009" title="Nissan Titan reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="491" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/nissan-titan/2009/">Lemon Index</a> (2009 Nissan Titan reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2009 Nissan Titan reliable?
We can't score it: only 19,042 were sold in the U.S. in 2009 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 11 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Nissan Titan problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (36%), brakes (36%) and airbags (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Titan have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Nissan Titan get?
14 to 15 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2009 Nissan Titan have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 36% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Nissan Titan cost in fuel a year?
About $4,000 to $4,300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Nissan Titan have?
5.6L 8-cyl.
What Nissan Titan year is better than the 2009?
Nearby, the 2011 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a third as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works