The 2023 Nissan Armada shows off its reliability while driving off-road in front of a mountain.

Is the Nissan Armada a Reliable SUV?

Reliability is king in full-size SUVs, and the Nissan Armada has a crown of its own. The burly utility vehicle offers stout reliability.

by Scott Prewitt

Published on April 27, 2023 1:18 pm

2 min read

When it comes to full-size SUVs, reliability is everything. Owners expect large SUVs like the Nissan Armada to press on for hundreds of thousands of miles without significant reliability concerns. Fortunately, there’s good news for those wondering whether the Nissan Armada is a reliable SUV.

The Nissan Armada offers above-average reliability

The Nissan Armada is a reasonably reliable full-size SUV with an above-average rating for durability and maintenance costs.

The experts at RepairPal have compiled data and anecdotal information on the Armada over the years. RepairPal gives the Armada a 3.5 out of five stars rating. That’s higher than the average rating of three stars for the segment.

It isn’t the highest-rated full-size SUV for reliability, but the Armada is in the upper echelon. Other models with similar ratings include the Toyota Sequoia, GMC Yukon, and Dodge Durango.

What are the common problems with the Nissan Armada?

Even with its good reliability rating, the Nissan Armada isn’t perfect. There are a few items to watch out for while maintaining the full-size SUV for the long term.

Catalytic converter damage due to failed fuel pump

According to RepairPal, one of the most common problems with the Nissan Armada is catalytic converter damage due to a failing fuel pump. When the fuel pump fails, low fuel pressure leads to power loss. This can affect the catalytic converter’s performance.

Owners report that the issue tends to happen around the 100,000-mile mark. Fuel pump replacement services typically run about $2,000.

Water accumulation in the connector between the transmission wiring harness and the engine

One vulnerability in some Nissan Armada models is that water can enter a connector between the engine and transmission wiring harness. This can short wires and prevent the engine from turning over or cause incorrect transmission shifts. According to RepairPal, this problem is mainly found in models between 2005 and 2010 with around 125,000 miles.

Vibrations under braking

The Nissan Armada can also develop vibrations under brake pressure. According to RepairPal, this may require a resurfacing of the SUV’s brake rotors or brake component replacement with updated parts.

How much does the full-size Nissan SUV cost to maintain?

RepairPal estimates that the Nissan Armada costs about $550 annually to maintain.

That’s good news for Armada owners, as a full-size SUV’s average yearly maintenance cost is around $784. The Armada’s annual ownership costs sit well below average.

Overall, the Nissan Armada is a solidly reliable SUV with modest ownership and maintenance costs.

Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words, “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.