The demise of the single cab type is not entirely unexpected given that the majority of pickup truck buyers appear to perceive their vehicles as crossovers with beds in the back. An oil-burner from a company like Cummins was expected to be a coup for Nissan, giving it a chance to gain traction in a market that overwhelmingly favors vehicles made by American manufacturers. However, the decision to scrap the diesel powertrain is telling.
Nevertheless, the pickup market is so large that, provided the product in question satisfies some unmet demand, even little niches have the potential to be lucrative. As we’ve discussed in prior truck evaluations, the problem with the Titan XD diesel is that it didn’t really succeed at achieving that.
As we noted earlier this year, the XD diesel trades off much of the refined ride and opulent accoutrements we’ve grown accustomed to on modern trucks in exchange for “nearly, but not quite, the capability of an HD truck in a somewhat, but not too much, smaller compact.”
The Titan XD basically falls between full-size and heavy-duty vehicles. While the diesel V8 gives the truck a lot of power, it also adds significantly to the price and the curb weight of 7,323 pounds. With the exception of the Cummins name, the Titan XD diesel didn’t have much to offer the typical buyer given the tremendous capability of today’s full-size gasoline-powered trucks. Evidently, that wasn’t enough.
However, it is a measure to how competitive the pickup industry is that Nissan is reevaluating its Titan lineup in the face of a market that still, at least for the time being, can’t get enough trucks.
Gordon Kozak
For as long as he can remember, Graham Kozak has been enamored with automobiles (probably before that, too).
In This Article...
Why is the Titan diesel engine the subject of a class action lawsuit?
However, a class-action lawsuit regarding the placement of the exhaust fluid filler tubes has now been filed. It claims that doing so may result in the unintentional spilling of exhaust fluid into diesel fuel tanks. Diesel fuel and exhaust fluid cannot be combined. By doing so, the fuel may get contaminated, causing harm throughout the fuel system. This has nothing to do with engine flaws.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that exhaust gases enter Titan cabins in a different matter, according to Carcomplaints. All Cummins 5.0-liter model years from 2016 to 2019 are covered by the complaint. Owners have taken their pickups to dealers, but they were informed the trucks were in good condition.
A number of technical service bulletins are cited in the case. This, according to the article, shows that Nissan was aware of these problems yet unable to fix them. Nissan learned that some owners unintentionally filled the gasoline tanks’ filler necks with exhaust fluid. In 2018, a TSB was released.
Nissan will discontinue the Cummins diesel engine in the Titan XD in 2020.
- The Drive claims that Nissan will reduce the lineup of Titan pickup trucks for 2020.
- The Titan XD with the Cummins diesel’s final production run will take place in December 2019, a Nissan representative has confirmed to C/D.
- Both the Titan and Titan XD regular-cab variants will also be discontinued.
In December 2019, Nissan will stop producing the Titan XD with the 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V-8. According to Nissan spokesperson Wendy Orthman, the Titan and Titan XD regular-cab models will also be discontinued as part of the 2020 update, which will be unveiled later this year. This is allegedly an effort by Nissan to “concentrate on the heart of the truck market.”
In an apparent attempt to close the gap between half-ton and three-quarter-ton pickup trucks, the XD diesel model was created. However, the diesel XD became an answer to a question that we assume few pickup-truck customers were asking due to its poor performance figures, tow ratings comparable to half-ton trucks, and significant price premium over the gas engine (the XD with its 5.6-liter V-8 will continue for 2020). Nissan does not release sales data for the diesel motor explicitly, but the company sold 52,924 Titans in 2017, 50,459 in 2018, and 20,268 until July 2019.
During our lengthy evaluation, we had a bad encounter with a Titan XD powered by a Cummins engine. Within 40,000 miles, our long-term 2016 Titan XD left us stranded twice. We did not enjoy the diesel clatter, hunger for diesel exhaust fluid, or the powertrain’s general lack of smoothness while it was running. However, Nissan claims that the decision to discontinue the diesel was not influenced by reliability difficulties.
To maintain the Titan’s competitiveness in the truck battles, Nissan still has its work cut out for it. The Silverado and Sierra from GM are new for this year, the F-150 from Ford is still going strong, and our favorite, the Ram 1500, is the sweetie to beat. Even Toyota is releasing a new Tundra soon. Later this year, we will learn more about what the Titan’s 2020 update will entail.
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In memoriam a Cummins
After four years of manufacture, the Nissan Titan XD Cummins is no longer available. Beginning in 2020, Nissan’s full-size truck won’t be able to be powered by the Cummins turbodiesel 5.0-liter V-8. It’s an attempt to stop the brand from bleeding. Nissan recorded a 44.6 percent decline in operating profit from 2017 to 2018, while sales of the Titan were down over 25 percent for the first six months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. These sales totaled just over 18,000 vehicles. Ford sold approximately 450,000 F-Series vehicles during the same time period.
From the sincere, no-frills D21 Hardbody of the 1980s and 1990s to the current Frontier, a truck that found 39,322 homes in the first half of 2019 while being mostly unchanged since its 2005 debut, Nissan’s trucks have always leaned in the opposite direction. However, the pickup market has shifted in favor of expensive, high-margin trims. The decision has left purchasers without anywhere to invest their money if they want a straightforward, affordable work vehicle. The XD Cummins made an effort to close the distance. Its failure to capitalize more on what made Nissan trucks popular in the past may have been its biggest error.
We are used to seeing models and trims come and go, but the loss of the XD Cummins feels different since it was a terrific truck that was plagued by a market that was developing quickly. It appears to be another development in the pickup’s transformation from a reliable workhorse to a typical commuter. What a shame.
Nissan retires the Titan XD diesel pickup.
According to a letter delivered last week to U.S. dealers, Nissan will stop producing the Titan XD truck with a diesel engine after the 2019 model year and replace it with a gasoline-powered version. The 5.0L, V-8 XD was released in late 2015 for the 2016-MY, and the change was first reported by The Drive.
Nissan has announced the change, stating that work is being done in anticipation of the debut of the new, updated Titan and Titan XD Gas models later this year.
Nissan North America’s Billy Hayes, division vice president of sales, claimed in a letter to dealers that the elimination would enable the manufacturer to concentrate its efforts on a “stronger, more focused” Titan portfolio.
In order to concentrate our efforts on models that have the best chance of luring retail customers looking for a full-size truck, Hayes stated, “We are streamlining the Titan lineup.”
The 310-horsepower Cummins V-8 XD engine offers 310 hp, 555 lb.-ft. of torque, and a maximum towing capacity of 12,830 pounds. It is covered by a five-year, 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
The truck was unable to convince enough people to switch from segment leaders Ford, Chevrolet/GMC, and Ram to Nissan. According to Automotive News, Ford sold 448,398 full-size trucks during the same time period while Nissan sold 18,026 units, or 1.5% of the market.
A “dramatically renovated” Titan will premiere at the Texas State Fair in September, according to Hayes’ letter to dealers.
Due to poor sales, Nissan will no longer produce the Titan XD pickup with a diesel engine.
The Five Most Regular 5.0 Cummins Engine Issues
The Nissan Titan XD diesel truck introduced the 5.0 Cummins engine in 2015. The Titan XD, with 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque, was created to bridge the gap between heavy-duty quarter- and full-ton diesel pickups and half-ton gas trucks. The towing capability of the Titan XD with the 5.0 is 12,830 pounds.
The 5.0 Cummins was discontinued after the 2019 model year due to high installation costs, numerous engine problems, and a limited advantage over gas trucks for towing. In addition to the engine’s depressing mechanical issues, Titan sales in general were extremely poor, especially when compared to its Ford, GM, and Dodge rivals. Sales of XD were extremely low, providing insufficient advantages over gasser vehicles, which led to its termination.
The 5.0 Cummins is a 90-degree V8, in contrast to the 5.9L and 6.7L traditional inline-6 Cummins. The 5.0 ISV has certain features in common with the Dodge truck engines, such as aluminum alloy cylinder heads and a compacted graphite iron block, despite having a separate design.
Does the Nissan Titan diesel have a future?
Pickup Truck News reports that the 2023 Nissan Titan will receive a midcycle update. A brand-new diesel engine and other improvements could be added to the Titan XD. From 2016 until 2019, a Cummins diesel engine was employed.
However, a critical fault in the engine led to its discontinuation. It could be simple to mix up where the DEF filler neck and the diesel exhaust filler tubes are located. Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) contamination affects the entire diesel system.
This error was proven to be the fault of multiple owners. The gasoline systems consequently suffered long-lasting damage that was not covered by the guarantee. Additionally, it was established that the diesel engine was to blame for cabin exhaust leaks.
Titan dropped the diesel; why?
Diesel IQ reports that the 5.0 Cummins was “retired after the 2019 model year due to the high expense of retrofitting the 5.0 Cummins to the Titan, paired with various engine difficulties and the low hauling gain over gas trucks.”
Nissan is there a Titan for 2023?
- King Cab, Crew Cab, and heavy-duty TITAN XD 4×4 variants are available for 2023 Titan.
- For Crew Cab SV, a new Midnight Edition package is available.
- PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve now come standard with wireless Apple CarPlay(r)
Tennessee’s NASHVILLE – The 2023 Nissan Titan is available now, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)5 starting at $39,700, and offers excellent capability and class-leading amenities.
The 2023 Nissan Titan maintains its power, technological advancements, safety features, and dependability while also showcasing bold Nissan design and innovation. The base 5.6-liter Endurance(r) V8 gasoline engine produces 413 lb-ft of torque and 400 horsepower, which is greatest in class (again, barring EVs)6. A standard 9-speed automatic transmission is used with the engine.
The new Midnight Edition package for the TITAN Crew Cab SV for 2023 gives the truck an even more aggressive appearance by including black exterior and interior trim, black 20-inch wheels, and other features. Furthermore, PRO-4X and Platinum Reserve grades offer wireless Apple CarPlay for further convenience (r).
Nissan Safety Shield(r) 360 technology, a collection of six cutting-edge driver assistance technologies, is a standard feature on every 2023 TITAN. Nissan Concierge, which offers customers push-button access to a live assistant around-the-clock and requires a subscription (sold separately), is one of the other cutting-edge technology features that are readily available. Additionally available are a class-exclusive Intelligent Around View (r) Monitor4 and a Fender(r) Premium Audio System with 12 speakers (Crew Cab).
The structure and chassis of the Titan XD are distinctive. It is exclusively offered with four-wheel drive and has an extended 151.6-inch wheelbase, which is nearly 12 inches longer other TITAN versions. It also has a 6.5-foot bed. It has a $47,340 beginning price.
America’s Best Truck Warranty2, which offers bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, is a standard feature on every 2023 TITAN (includes basic and powertrain coverage).
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices5 for the Nissan TITAN King Cab for 2023 are as follows:
Engines for all TITAN vehicles are provided from Nissan’s Powertrain Assembly Plant in Decherd, Tennessee, and built at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi.
The complete press kit for the 2023 Nissan TITAN includes all of the vehicle’s characteristics, as well as details on fuel efficiency, images, and videos.