2018 Nissan Armada Electrical Problems

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!

NHTSA ID

11737392

Incident

May 12, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11718887

Incident

Dec 24, 2025

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)

NHTSA ID

11673811

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11667327

Incident

Jun 14, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11664270

Incident

May 11, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11662546

Incident

May 20, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11661693

Incident

May 13, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11654459

Incident

Feb 15, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11645056

Incident

Dec 7, 2024

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 .

NHTSA ID

11639268

Incident

Jan 21, 2025

I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER FOR ALL SERVICES AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I'VE HAD "BATTERY ISSUES" THAT TURN OUT TO BE CONTROL MODULE ISSUES THAT REQUIRE NEW WIRING FOR THE VEHICLE TO RUN AT ALL, BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINS AFTER SEVERAL SMALL TRIPS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE FULLY REPLACED THE BATTERY, DONE A WARRANTY ON IT AFTER THAN AND I'M STILL CONSTANTLY STRANDED. NISSAN DOESN'T WANT TO COVER ANY OF THE LABOR ($645.00) THAT IT REQUIRES TO RUN AT ALL. NO PARTS ARE NEEDED, IT'S JUST LABOR TO RECONFIGURE THE WAY THE ALTERNATOR WORKS BUT THEY'RE TELLING ME IT'S MY PROBLEM TO FIX BUT IT'S NOT A WORN OUT PART, IT'S LITERALLY THE ELECTRICAL. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? BATTERY & SMART ALTERNATOR How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? VEHICLE WILL NOT START, BATTERY COMPLETELY DRAINS AFTER SEVERAL SMALL TRIPS AROUND TOWN. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES, THEY'RE FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT THESE ARMADAS ARE HAVING, RECALLS CURRENTLY ON 2017 & 2019 MODELS BUT THEY'RE NOT RECALLING MY YEAR, 2018! Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES, DEALER SERVICE CENTER SEVERAL TIMES. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO. FIRST STARTED IN 2019. I'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL BATTERIES, ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND PERSONAL JUMPS DUE TO THE FAULTY BATTERY LEAVING ME STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES OVER.

NHTSA ID

11617598

Incident

Sep 25, 2024

Every year for the past 3 years the battery will not start stranding me multiple times. The dealer has stated tomhat multiple armadas have the same issue it is unknown what causes this random drain of the battery but each time the battery has to be replaced

NHTSA ID

11616984

Incident

Sep 23, 2024

Here’s an updated response for the NHTSA, incorporating the new information: --- **What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The component that malfunctioned is the battery and electrical system in my 2018 Nissan Armada (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle experienced repeated battery drainage, requiring a replacement battery after only one year. I had to pay $300 to get the battery replaced, as I could only start the car with a jump. The replaced battery is currently at the dealership and available for inspection upon request. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The repeated battery drainage compromised my safety by potentially stranding me in unsafe conditions. I was unable to start the vehicle without a jump, which could have left me and my passengers stranded on the road or in other hazardous situations. **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** Yes, the problem was confirmed by the dealership, who replaced the battery but suggested that a software issue within the vehicle is causing the repeated drainage. They did not provide a permanent solution to prevent future occurrences. **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, but not by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. **Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the battery failure. The issue occurred without any prior warnings, making it difficult to anticipate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11615222

Incident

Sep 16, 2024

The display screen only works for camera system on vehicle, unable to control radio/climate control on the touch screen. It is just a blank backlit screen unless using cameras. I have had the radio control unit reprogrammed and nothing is working. There is an electrical issue and I’m worried it will get worse.

NHTSA ID

11595687

Incident

May 24, 2024

The back up camera shuts down while in reverse, disabling the view for safety. The infotainment system continually reboots itself. It cycles over & over. Research on line shows this is a problem for Nissan Armada's and Infiniti QX80 models. On February 17, 2024, the dealership stated the vehicle is out of warranty therefore the owner must replace the assembly unit for an internal fault. I contacted NISSAN HQ, on March 11, 2024, inquiring about the safety issue and was told that its the owner's responsibility to complete all repairs. The reverse camera is not a safety issue for Nissan to be concerned about. I conducted a VIN search for recalls. My vehicle VIN does not reflect any open recalls but there a recall campaign for the backup cameras.

NHTSA ID

11576732

Incident

Feb 17, 2024

It will stall out when we try to start the vehicle. The battery is still pretty new and there are no check engine lights on. It will stall 2 or 3 times but then start about 5 to 10 minutes later.

NHTSA ID

11545094

Incident

Sep 18, 2023

Randomly fails to start. New batteries installed and still fails to start at random times

NHTSA ID

11536358

Incident

Aug 3, 2023

Tired of this !! Battery keeps dying and leaving me stranded. Dealer says battery test fine . Will be fine for a couple days then for no reason hope in car and wont start. Jump start it and it goes. Many others complaining on sites nissan armada has a fuel efficiency alternator resistance . it will on charge battery 85% . Tired of being stranded at random places. have replaced battery several times and this keep happening.

NHTSA ID

11531836

Incident

Jun 6, 2023

Our Armada started having trouble starting a few months ago. A new battery from Nissan was installed 7 months ago. We have been stranded twice do the car failing to start. Portable jump starters of any size have not been able to assist the car in starting. Only jumper cables to another vehicle have allowed us to get the car to start. Some starts are fine, some sluggish but start and some fail to start. It appears to be totally random. My most recent incident went like this. Car had a good strong start. We drove it for 30 minutes and parked. We were out of the car for 10 minutes and car would not start upon our return. We had to wait for someone to come give us a jump start. We have taken the car to two different Nissan service centers. The first told us there was evidence of a problem but nothing they could identify and to just keep driving it. Problems persisted. We then took it to a second Nissan service center. They told us nothing was wrong but possibly a loose battery connection. While at the service center, another Armada was there for the same symptoms. Are problems continue to persist. We spoke with some friends that own a 2019 Armada across the country and it has the same problem. They reported their Nissan dealer was very ellusive as to what is going on. I feel like Nissan knows there is a problem but doesn't want to do anything about it because of the cost to their business. If these failures occur during extreme cold or hot weather, or in isolated places, it could cause bodily harm or even death. I had a problem with Mazda similar to this previously where they knew there was a problem but refused to do anything about it. My friend was a service manager with Mazda at the time and showed me an internal memo on the subject but said I couldn't have a copy. He was afraid for his job. I'll ask our friends to enter a complaint also so you hear it from more than one person.

NHTSA ID

11526209

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

Fall 2020, I began having intermittent, no start issues with my 2018 Nissan Armada. It was sporadic. When the start button is pressed, it would do nothing, turnover slowly, or not turnover at all but make clicking noises. It always eventually started, sometimes within minutes, other times up to a couple hours. December 2020 - I thought the battery might be bad, so I had it replaced at Walmart 12/7/20. March 2021 - the problem continued so I researched online and found that this is a common problem for 2018 Armada’s. Posts on ClubArmad.com stated the problem could be a bad brake switch. I purchased a new switch from Pat Peck Nissan Mobile and replaced it myself. Unfortunately, the issue continued intermittently. December 2021 – I took the vehicle to Matt Bowers Nissan Eastern Shore. Diagnostic testing was done that found a low voltage code. The battery was reconditioned for $145. They also performed an ECM software update that was covered under warranty. They felt like this should fix the issue. This did not correct the problem and it became more frequent. February 2022 – I took the vehicle back to Matt Bowers Nissan Eastern Shore. Their conclusion was now the battery was causing the issue. They stated it was discharged and recommended a replacement even though the battery was only 15 months old. They installed a new battery for $244.98. This did not correct the problem. May 2022 - I took the vehicle back to Matt Bowers Nissan Eastern Shore. Their conclusion this time was it was a bad stop lamp switch, the same part that I replaced December 2020. They replaced the switch which was covered under warranty. This did not correct the problem. January 2023 - I took the vehicle back to Matt Bowers Nissan Eastern Shore. They could not replicate the issue but stated they believe it is the starter and this time recommended replacing the starter for $1124.84 plus tax. This problem has been ongoing for two and a half years with no resolution.

NHTSA ID

11514307

Incident

Jan 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the multi-AV display control unit would not display an image, and the driver was unable to control the front windshield defroster. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the control unit was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11506467

Incident

Sep 1, 2022

Mileage

70,000 mi

This is a 2018 vehicle,but got a dead battery in early 2021. Got a battery change at that time, However having battery start issue again recently. Can start vehicle with a jump starter, however dealer said battery is still good.

NHTSA ID

11495020

Incident

Nov 19, 2022

I own a 2018 Nissan Armada that is getting ready to have its 4th brake switch replaced in this vehicle. This car is completely unsafe and an accident waiting to happen! This is a known problem in the 2018 Nissan Armada and it is a huge safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11493213

Incident

Nov 11, 2022

We have a Nissan Armada that the Multi AV unit / computer has failed (Part # given to us is 283876GY4D). The vehicle is barely 4 years old. We were quoted a $3,800 repair and Nissan has told us there is no help they can provide. Despite having purchased a 7 year 100,000 mile limited warranty this part isn't covered. Investigating online into the issue we have found that this component is problematic in many vehicles and has service bulletins associated with it. Nissan is stating that because it is GPS, Radio, and cabin comfort it is not a safety issue. HOWEVER, it goes beyond that. We have stated several times to Nissan, that as this unit continuously reboots and malfunctions the windshield defrost / fog clearing aspect of the vehicle does not work. We have had several instances where we've had to pull over in less than desirable locations in order to manually clear our windshield. As the windshield fogs up, you can't see. Given our climate and terrain, the windshield inside can fog up instantly and without warning. If the defrost isn't working, we have to clear the windshield with a towel. This generally is a multi-stop event as it does not stay cleared very well without proper airflow. ALSO, the constant rebooting of the display unit is a serious distraction to the driver. The screen continuously cycles through multiple screens and the day night recognition function does not work. So if it is night time, the bright screen continuously reboots in front of your face. It is unacceptable in a 4 year old vehicle to have these issues and Nissan offer NOTHING and not acknowledge the fact that their vehicles have a serious safety issue. This part is a problem and no amount of "normal wear and tear" explains its failure. It is simply a faulty component from the manufacturer. My wife regularly has our 3 children in the car with her. It is not a good situation. Even if Nissan offered to pay for the part and I the labor I would be happy. To acknowledge nothing is unacceptable

NHTSA ID

11488008

Incident

Aug 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that the lights needed to illuminate the speedometer and tachometer were inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced and it was a known failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall associated to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11476211

Incident

Apr 27, 2022

Mileage

62,000 mi