What are the most common Nissan Armada problems?
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2009 Nissan Armada has 9 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Timing Chain Guide and Tensioner Wear Causing Cold-Start Front-of-Engine Rattle, Catalytic Converter Substrate Disintegration Clogging the Downstream Converter, Radiator Internal Transmission Cooler Rupture Mixing Coolant Into ATF. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Nissan Armada reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Armada has 9 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Timing Chain Guide and Tensioner Wear Causing Cold-Start Front-of-Engine Rattle and Catalytic Converter Substrate Disintegration Clogging the Downstream Converter and Radiator Internal Transmission Cooler Rupture Mixing Coolant Into ATF. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Armada problems?
Repair costs for known Nissan Armada issues range from $50 to $5,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Timing Chain Guide and Tensioner Wear Causing Cold-Start Front-of-Engine Rattle, typically costs $1,800-$3,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Timing Chain Guide and Tensioner Wear Causing Cold-Start Front-of-Engine Rattle?
The VK56 timing chain system uses plastic-faced guides and an oil-pressure-fed hydraulic tensioner. The feed passage to the tensioner is very small and gets restricted by sludge or debris on trucks run on stretched oil-change intervals, so the tensioner loses pressure and the cha… Repairs typically run $1,800-$3,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Catalytic Converter Substrate Disintegration Clogging the Downstream Converter?
The TA60 runs close-coupled converters bolted to the manifolds plus secondary converters downstream. Owners repeatedly report the ceramic substrate in an upstream converter breaking apart, at which point the loose material blows downstream and packs the secondary converter, choki… Repairs typically run $900-$3,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Radiator Internal Transmission Cooler Rupture Mixing Coolant Into ATF?
The TA60 radiator has the automatic transmission cooler built into the bottom tank, with coolant and ATF separated only by a thin internal wall. That wall cracks with age and thermal cycling, letting coolant push into the transmission circuit. The resulting pink, milky ATF - owne… Repairs typically run $600-$5,500. Severity: high.
What is the 2005-2009 Nissan Armada Fuel Level Sender Card Failure Causing Gauge to Stick Above Empty?
The in-tank fuel level sending unit uses a resistive card that the float arm wipes across. On TA60 Armadas (shared with the Titan and QX56) the card wears/corrodes and the float can also hang up, so the gauge reads roughly 1/4 tank when the tank is actually empty, or sticks on Fu… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Transfer Case Shift Actuator Motor / ATP Sensor Failure Leaving 4WD Inoperative?
The TA60 all-mode transfer case is shifted by an electric actuator motor with an internal position (ATP) sensor. Grease hardening, water intrusion at the connector, and worn sensor contacts make the transfer case control module lose position feedback, so the truck refuses to leav… Repairs typically run $300-$1,400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Exhaust Manifold Cracking (Both Banks)?
The VK56DE V8 in the first-gen Armada is notorious for cracked exhaust manifolds. Both driver and passenger side manifolds develop cracks from thermal cycling, causing an exhaust leak that sounds like a ticking noise on cold start. The cracks worsen over time and can cause check… Repairs typically run $500-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Rear Air Suspension Compressor and Airbag Failure?
First-generation Armadas equipped with the rear auto-leveling air suspension suffer from compressor burnout and air spring bag leaks. The compressor runs excessively to compensate for leaking airbags, eventually overheating and failing. Once the system fails, the rear sags signif… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada HVAC Air-Mix (Blend) Door Actuator Gear Stripping?
The dash-mounted air-mix and mode door actuators use small plastic gear trains driven by a motor with a position feedback potentiometer. The gear teeth strip or the actuator jams against a binding door, and the motor then hunts back and forth - owners describe a rapid clicking or… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2004-2015 Nissan Armada Overhead Console and Sunglass Holder Mounting Bosses Cracking and Dropping?
The full-length overhead console on the TA60 is bonded and screwed to thin plastic mounting bosses. Sustained cabin heat softens the adhesive and embrittles the plastic, and the two small screws under the sunglass holder tear out of their bosses. The console then sags in the midd… Repairs typically run $50-$1,300. Severity: low.
