NHTSA Probes Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins ISV V8 for Crankshaft Issues

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【Summary】The NHTSA is investigating the Nissan Titan XD with the 5.0L Cummins ISV V8 engine due to crankshaft failures. There have been 10 owner complaints filed, with reports of loss of motive power. Crankshaft failure leads to an inability to restart, requiring engine replacement. Cummins implemented process changes between 2016 and 2019, but the investigation is ongoing. If required, Nissan may recall around 38,763 pickup trucks. The failure mileage ranges from 52,000 to 100,000 miles.

FutureCar Staff Nov 20, 2023 10:15 PM PT

NHTSA Probes Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins ISV V8 for Crankshaft Issues

The Nissan Titan has been in production since 2003 for the 2004 model year. It initially came with the 5.6-liter Endurance V8 as the only engine option. In the second generation, Nissan introduced the short-lived Cummins ISV turbo diesel V8, which further enhanced the lineup.

Between 2016 and 2019, Nissan offered a 5.0-liter engine for the Titan. This engine produced 310 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque, providing impressive towing capacity for the heavier-duty version of the Titan, known as the Titan XD.

However, there have been some issues with the Cummins ISV engine. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating the engine due to 10 owner complaints filed through their website. These complaints allege loss of motive power, and the Office of Defects Investigation is aware of additional Early Warning Reporting field reports.

The cause of the reported issues is crankshaft failure. A failed crankshaft not only leads to a loss of power but also prevents the engine from restarting. The remedy for this problem is to replace the entire engine. Cummins made multiple process changes between the 2016 and 2019 model years to address this issue.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation conducts preliminary evaluations to assess the scope, frequency, and severity of a particular issue. In this case, stalling at high speeds poses a significant safety risk and increases the chance of a crash.

If the preliminary evaluation determines that Nissan is responsible for fixing the Titan XD with the Cummins ISV engine, the automaker may need to recall approximately 38,763 pickup trucks on behalf of the engine manufacturer. Some customer complaints mention failure mileage ranging from 52,000 to 100,000 miles.

As we await the NHTSA's decision, it's important to note that Nissan plans to discontinue the Titan after the 2024 model year due to poor sales. In 2022, only 15,063 units were delivered in the United States, and sales reports for the first three quarters of 2023 show a total of 15,407 units sold.

Currently, the 2024 Nissan Titan has a starting price of $45,770, while the Titan XD starts at $51,930 (excluding destination charges). These prices are significantly higher than the initial prices of the first generation models.