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KLUNK
KLUNK

2018 Nissan Armada

The Verdict

81 Smooth Ride

The 2018 Nissan Armada has 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (31 complaints) and engine (16 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 81/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Armada, consider the 2024 model year which has 94% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 94% fewer complaints

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81

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200449304296613
2005162053011011
20062118625268
200713468171
2008556619200
2009122261
201019411113
20111478110
201253441
201338312
201460402
20151001100
2017119311614
201891131166
20192192994
202012510
202121342
202220330
202330011
202410300
202572802

By Category

Electrical
31
Engine
16
Brakes
11
Body
9
Transmission
6

By Severity

1
35
2
36
3
1
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

My 2018 Nissan Armada has had SO MANY issues (probably 15-20) with not starting when cranked. Something is draining its battery. We have had to change the battery so many times (usually 2-3 times every year or two.) This happens without any notice! We have been stranded in other cities, stores, &/or at work. We have tried having it checked out by different repair shops, replacing batteries in key fob, replacing battery MANY TIMES, and checking the brake pedal switch. We are at our Witt’s end with Nissans!

2mo ago
Engine 2

UNKNOWN - engine developed knock that could potentially lead to catastrophic engine failure during normal driving conditions, causing loss of control or inability to stop. NTB19-057a is a technical service bulletin issued by manufacturer - cylinder 7 scuffing with a short block or complete engine replacement as the fix. Manufacturer will not replace engine outside of vehicle warranty period, even with documented maintenance proving engine failure is not due to lack of being maintained.

2mo ago
Body 2

My battery kept dying every 6-12 months for the past 8 years! Every time I took it to the dealer or to other mechanics, they ran diagnostics tests and told me nothing was wrong, even though I knew something was definitely wrong. We found out that MANY other Nissan Armada owners AND Infiniti QX80 owners have been dealing with the exact same thing. They showed us how to cut a wire, that would bypass the IPDM smart charging system. Ever since cutting that wire, my car has been working perfectly, and no more battery dying! Please look into this so others don't deal with what I did. Here's the video that we received that explains everything: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

3mo ago
Electrical 2

See attached document for complaint.

5mo ago
Transmission 1

TCC slips, RPMs are all over the place at light throttle between 15-40mph. Believed to be an issue with the torque converter, known to Nissan.

7mo ago
Engine 2

Well wife was driving car on her way to work and it shut off in the middle of traffic. Was no sure what was wrong until I brought it home and started reading the codes. It gave me P0087 P0090 low fuel pressure regulater circuit open and P119C. So I changed out the sensor the in tank fuel pump, high pressure fuel pump and sensor on the evap can. Car still will not start. So I bought a wiring diagram to see were everything was routed and found out the have a built in fuel relay so I bought a new PCM that didn't work so then I found out it there was a fuel pump controller module so change that and still not cranking. Fuel pump flows fuel for a second then shuts off. Now I am not sure what to do now. Truck has been down for 3 weeks now. And been have to renting a car since then.

9mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled several times after refueling. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the year, make, and model were not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V676000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 157,000.

9mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse, the vehicle failed to respond; however, the vehicle was able to drive forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic, who was a former mechanic with Nissan, informed the contact that it was known failure with the Nissan transmission, and that the shifter was unable to shift into reverse. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the transmission replacement was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

10mo ago
Brakes 2

There is a common known issue with the Armadas that Nissan has not addressed, where you will randomly get a "BCI Malfunction" warning, sometimes corresponding to a warning about the ABS System. The car will not shift out of the current gear when this happens, until you turn it off and back on again. If you are really unlucky, like I am, this will progress to the car randomly applying the brakes and initiating hard stops, in traffic. This happened to me two days ago in traffic and I narrowly escaped an accident. I had to get the car towed home and it still intermittently does this. The brakes locked up so badly that the car was covered in smoke and appeared to be on fire. This is terribly unsafe, and Nissan needs to fix it, because it is more likely that an Armada owner WILL encounter this, than that they won't, and people are going to be injured and/or killed, if they have not already. This is very serious. Please help.

10mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle and there was fuel on the ground. The contact stated that prior to the failure, there was no warning light illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact discovered a crack in the fuel pump near the fuel hose connection. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

11mo ago
Electrical 1

My 2018 Nissan Armada (VIN: [XXX] ) has been experiencing no-start issues consistently for the past three years. Two years ago, I purchased a new battery from a Nissan dealership after being told the existing one had failed. Despite that replacement, the problem persisted and continues to this day. The vehicle intermittently fails to start, often producing only a click sound even though the battery, alternator, and starter test as functional. I now have to jump my car at least five times a week just to drive it. Through research and online forums, I’ve found that many other owners of this model report identical issues, which appear linked to the brake lamp switch or Body Control Module (BCM). While Nissan has issued Technical Service Bulletins for these concerns, no formal recall has been offered. This ongoing electrical malfunction is a serious reliability and safety issue—especially if the vehicle fails to start during a critical situation—and I urge NHTSA to investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

12mo ago
Engine 1

No start, no codes. Have replaced brake switch several times and it fixes it for a bit and then happens again. I have read several forums and it seems to be a commen issue but no recalls for fault. 2018 nissan armada platinum. Shouldn't have to keep replacing switch.

13mo ago
Electrical 1

The display is not working properly, the low window washer fluid comes on and then goes off. The light in the back of the display wants to come on but doesn't. The sensors are lighting up when there is a vehicle next to you but no warning signal. also there is no radio and the buttons on top do not work. I researched this and there was a recall for a DCU in 2018-2019 and that seems like the problem again. I have had nothing but issues with this car since i bought it. Nissan says its the battery which is highly doubtful because they just changed that and the brake switches a million times. BCM came up a bunch of times also in the past but Nissan cant recreate the problem which I am starting be frustrated with and dont even want this car anymore although it was my dream car

13mo ago
Electrical 1

The Display Control Unit (DCU) has failed in my 18 Armada. My VIN is not part of the recall with the other 18 Armada models. The safety features of the collision warning system does not work because the DCU has failed. This is a pedestrian safety issue. The Navigation system does not work because the DCU has failed. None of the control panel buttons on dash or the steering wheels work because the DCU has failed including the cruise control. The Nissan dealership has confirmed it is the DCU but it is not under the recall with my VIN, however it appears all 18 Armada's have been recalled due to the same issue. No warning lights appears, the display screen stopped working only displaying the Nissan symbol. I would like my VIN added to the recall list for the DCU so the vehicle can become safe to myself and others. replacement is nearly $%,000.00 dollars 1 Affected Product Vehicle MAKE NissanMODEL amarda

14mo ago
Electrical 2

The start hesitation started about 2 years ago, but my Armada never did not start. Then about a year so ago the Armada would not start, and it would not start in Dover, DE, and I had to call Geico to get a jump. I had a brand-new battery installed thinking that was the issue months prior, but my Armada would not start again. I took it to the dealership, and they charged me diagnostic but could not find any issues. After numerous times of my Armada not starting, I bought portable jumper whenever this happens. Just last week I was in Milford and went to start my Armada and it would not start. It clicked and then no power anywhere... the same as other times. I called Geico roadside and while waiting about 10 minutes, my Armada started, and I drove it straight home. I tried to start it the next day, and it started with a slight hesitation, but it started. So now when I go places, I will not turn my Armada off for fear it will not start again.

14mo ago
Brakes 2

Break pressure sensor is bad, the car will intermittently not crank. If car is in park it will not go into gear. It’s as if the break system can not build up enough pressure for the car to register the breaks are being pressed

14mo ago
Brakes 4

BCI (Back-up Collision Intervention) Malfunction. It's random when this comes up on the dashboard warning lights. It lights up several other things as well. It doesn't allow you to use the cruise control, or the 4-wheel drive. It disables the ABS and traction control. I don't know how this is not a recall, because I see several forums talking about this issue for this vehicle specifically in this year. We took it to the dealership, and they brushed it off, and claimed they didn't know how to fix it. It has caused multiple problems and has put my family at harms risk due to it disabling the safety features.

15mo ago
Body 1

Camera/navigation randomly cycling, not dependable with alerts and crash detection. Has caused several close calls.

15mo ago
Electrical 1

Infotainment system went black with no warning. Effects adjustment to temperature contols, information for maintenance. Radio accessibility, sound, bluetooth, navigation, etc. I have only owned the vehilcle for 1 year, and drove 7500 miles. There was no warning, glitching or flashing. I have been to the dealership and they told me there were no errors to report but only suggested to replace entire infotainment center at $5K.

16mo ago
Engine 2

The vehicle won't start all the dashboard lights come on but the truck will not start I got a warning alarm message that the CBI has a malfunction .

17mo ago

73 total

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