[marctronixx]

The nissan is a solid car. This question gets asked a lot from new users to the Nissan Armada.

The car is only as good as its previous owner(s), so take that into consideration. This also goes for any used car.

My recommendation is to start at 2006 and up. Look out for leaky manifolds, and rust (since you you’re up in canada )...

 

[marctronixx]

The older armadas dont have #4 (ICC).

 

[marctronixx]

I've read the 2005-6 seem to have the best overall reliability in this vintage?

Would love to read who stated this. The 2005 had more plastics and cosmetic issues and smaller disc brakes. The 2006 would be the EARLIEST car i would look at.

 

[marctronixx]

Engine is strong, so is the tranny. Smaller rotors and more plastic on the 04. Check manifolds and o2 sensors/cats. Also rust if in the rust belt.

The car is solid all across its heritage. There’s a thread with the highest mileage of members that post here. Proof that these cars are reliable.

 

[marctronixx]

You can find a car with low miles and treated like crap and you can find a car with high miles and pampered... the first thing to do is find the history of the car. I would base my decision on that.

You seem to have the rest covered in terms of what typical things fail on that model year. Personally I’d go for a 2006 and newer rather than a 2005

 

[marctronixx]

Hello and welcome.
Lots info discussion here that can potentially hello you decide.

First off, it depends on how well the car was cared for with the previous owner(s). Then you go from there.

I had a 2006 and Nissan upgraded the brakes on those models over the 05. Curious what “brake issue” are you referring to? Do you have a link to share?

Look for rust if it was in the rust belt and manifolds which were troublesome for many.

The blend doors in the dash can stick at times and cause a “woodpecker” type sound.

Check for any codes at rthe obd port. Best to do this by someone who has a scanner that can read enhanced codes (air bag/srs, etc).

The tranny and engine are solid and many members here have had their cars over 200K.

 

[marctronixx]

hello and welcome.

any USED car is as reliable as its been maintained. that said. these cars are tanks and built to last. there are many members here who have 2005 model cars that are over 200K miles.
#2. maintenance costs if you have the dealer maintain it will very depending on the location. you can always ask the dearl what they charge for X or Y. we dont know you budget...so what may be expensive to me may be nothing to you...

3. you are going to get awful petrol mileage. PERIOD> the car is 6000 pounds, a V8 and 5.6 L. there are threads discussing the petrol mileage. dont get this car if you want high MPG...

4. cant speak for everyone but id assume nearly all love the car, or else why even own it?

 

[marctronixx]

if its a used car, then use your judgement like you would for any other used car. the nissan is a solid vehicle. reliable - just look at the high mileage thread.

that CLUNK is going to happen on the 2018 too.

 

[marctronixx]

car is only as good as it previous owner(s) but the car has a long history of satisfied users. ive had 2 armadas and a qx.

the nav display is touch screen yes.

some old models will not stream music through bluetooth.

 

[marctronixx]

indeed, labor costs and the like vary from state to state and from model year.

 

[marctronixx]

in my opinion i would not get a rental.

if you read that there are features "missing" from the second gen, do those "features" matter to you?

 

[marctronixx]

hello and welcome.
lots of advice in this thread and there are lots of owners who have high mileage armadas.

Who is the King of the highest mileage Armada, is it you?

We have a 2009 LE. 290,000 and going strong. Original engine and tranny. Just got back from a MS to Ohio round trip. A few creaks and squeaks but otherwise a great ride. ?

www.clubarmada.com

of course a used car is only as good as its previous owners, so keep that in mind.

the armada is a tank and the 2006 saw some improvements over the earlier models.

id look at the manifolds and any rust.

yes sounds like a clockspring issue to me as well, especially if the controls on the wheel are flaky acting too.

 

[marctronixx]

congrats on getting close to finding the car you want.

you are going to continue to get "mixed" opinions since everyone has their own experience with cars. since you did your research already. at some point you need to decide what you want to do.

whatever used car you choose to get, have a trustworthy mechanic look it over. a used car is only as good as its previous owners.

check the codes at the obd port if any, kick the tires, look for rust, check the carfax, smoke over the maintenance records.

again, use your own judgement, and read over this thread.

 

[marctronixx]

welcome. this thread has lots of data points you may find useful.

to get you started,

id looke at no earlier than a 2006. that year nissan made some nice improvements.

first gen armada had manifolds that would crack easily. there was a recall on the petrol tank.

test the rear AC and make sure it works. first gen armadas the ac lines ran under the car and there are some points in that run that can wear out due to rubbing on the under chassis, requiring the car to be lifted slightly off the frame to replace those lines.this would only be an issue if you sourced an armada that was in the rust belt/northern areas as salt and slush can corrode these components. there's threads on here you can search if that matters.

i had two armadas and one qx (2006, 2008, 2012) all new when i got them and they all gave me worry free use. i had no major issues with any of them and i drove them like a rental.

at the end of the day, no matter what you get, the car is only as good as its maintenance and previous owner(s), so look for maintenance records. look for rust. if you have a mechanic you trust get them to smoke it over.

by and large the armada (and qx) are very reliable cars. many cats have had them upwards of 300K miles and more.


EDIT: the 2007 is cosmetically better than the 2008, but again, check the maintenance records on them. if you can take either one to a shop to check for obd codes that would be ideal. its not much to go on off just photos.

 

[marctronixx]

this is a master thread of such questions since we get this question asked often.

like i say to folks looking to get into a used car, the vehicle is only as good as its previous owner(s), so maintenance records are a MUST. the armada/qx are quality and reliable vehicles, and many members have had them for decades and for thousands of miles.

the particular year you are looking at is the same as the patrol Qx. mechanically, the car is solid. if its a base model ad if it has high miles, maybe worth getting some aftermarket shocks (many use bilsteins). if the vehicle has lived in the rust belt, look at corrosion.

grab the vin and check for any recalls that may be outstanding.

im a second gen qx owner and dont have any issues with the vehicle.

 

[marctronixx]

this forum gets this kind of message often, so it may be helpful to se what others have suggested on older, discontinued models.

regardless of what the owner says, get the maintenance records and carfax. check the underbelly for corrosion , especially if its been in the rust belt. main points are manifolds, cats/o2 sensors. the car will run forever , just look at the high mileage thread we have on here of owners with 300K+ miles.

just find a reputable mechanic shop who knows suvs (nissan/import would be a bonus) - look on yelp.com or crackbook in your area.

 

[marctronixx]

What's the reliability of a 2015 Nissan armada

we get these messages often so there is a master thread here which is a "catch all" for these questions.

in short, a car is only as good as its previous owner(s). that said, the armada has a long history of satisfied owners, but again, depends on how it was cared for.

being in canada, my major concerns would be rust from salt/slush rotting out those components you listed.

here is a thread worth taking time to search.

Older Armadas, how many miles you got? What have you had...

K My 170,000 mile 2008 is exactly yours (minus the window motor) and includes: Starter Clockspring/combo switch Air con condensor That frustrating brake booster thing to replace the failed delta sensor that plagued so many Armadas Plastic overhead console Oil cooler gasket Leaky transmission...

www.clubarmada.com

 

[marctronixx]

it begs to reason model years get better during a production cycle. my 2012 qx fully loaded never gave me any issues.

 

[marctronixx]

mileage is not a real concern for this vehicle. there are many members with over 200K and even some with over 300K miles (there is a thread). but like i always say, a used car is only as good as its previous owner(s). check maintenance records, check for TSBs, check for any codes at the obd port. ask the owner what idiosyncrasies the car may have. test the AC/refrigerant and the viscous fan. if you are in the rust belt check for rust. having a mechanic versed on nissans would be icing on the cake.

 

[marctronixx]

manifolds on newer armadas were not as problematic as older more vintage model years. the good thing is you can usually hear this on a cold engine.