A search of the database of official Nissan recalls since the Titan was introduced in 2004 reveals no recalls for matters related to the Titan differential. A search of consumer complaints tells a different story.
Axles contain a seal at the point where the axle extends out of the axle casing to connect to the hub of the wheel. The purpose is to keep the grease inside the grease-packed casing, which also holds the differential. Numerous complaints have been logged regarding the axle seals on the Nissan Titan, according to Lemon Law Claims.
Axle seals are factory installed. They are not part of any scheduled maintenance check. For this reason, leaky axle seals are not usually detected until something major has gone wrong.
If a Titan has a leaking axle seal, the backside of the wheel next to the seal will be coated with an oily substance.
Axle seals can be replaced if the problem is caught early. Unfortunately, because of the location of the source of the problem, catching it early is rare good luck. In most cases, the first inkling the driver has that something is wrong is a smell or a noise. The smell is caused by the differential heating up due to friction. The noise is the dry gears of the differential grinding on each other. If the problem has progressed to the where the differential is acting up, the only remedy is to have the axle, differential and all, replaced.
