YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Frontier Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Frontier years

The 2017 Nissan Frontier ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 40 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Frontier years. NHTSA lists 38 complaints, 1 recall, 4 crashes, 1 fire and 1 death for this year.

Complaints
38
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16 city / 22 hwy

Top 2017 Nissan Frontier problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System10 (26%)
  2. Electrical System6 (16%)
  3. Other6 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain6 (16%)
  5. Airbags5 (13%)
  6. Engine5 (13%)
  7. Brakes3 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (5%)
  9. Steering1 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Fuel system complaints describe fuel leaking or spraying back out while fueling, sometimes tied to a check engine light and a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles.
  • One owner reported the engine caught fire while driving at low speed shortly after starting, destroying the engine compartment at 2,100 miles.
  • Electrical system complaints describe warning lights and mileage display activating without a key in the ignition, and one report describes a complete power and ignition failure while driving that resulted in a crash and a death.
  • A transmission complaint describes the truck failing to accelerate normally from a stop, requiring heavy throttle to move forward, at 500 miles.
  • A structure and body complaint describes the hood latch failing at highway speed, causing the hood to strike the windshield and roof.
2017 Nissan Frontier complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2017Feb 2018Feb 2019Nov 2019Dec 2020Jan 2023Sep 2023May 2025
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Feb 2018 (3).

2017 Nissan Frontier recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V551000Aug 21, 2018Electrical System153,047 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

2017 Nissan Frontier fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other Frontier years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Good3333018.5
2016Caution5343118.5
2017Good4038118.5
2018Best025218.5
2019Good2728118.5

All Nissan Frontier years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Nissan Frontier reliable?
Compared to other Frontier model years, 2017 has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 years tracked, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
What problems does the 2017 Nissan Frontier have?
NHTSA complaints are led by the Fuel System (26% of complaints, median failure mileage 40,000), followed by Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain, each at 16%.
Does the 2017 Nissan Frontier have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (18V551000) covers an ignition switch inspection and possible replacement on the Electrical System; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year Nissan Frontier should I avoid instead of 2017?
Among Frontier years, 2011, 2012, 2022, and 2023 carry "Avoid" verdicts with complaint indexes of 80, 87, 100, and 93 respectively, all higher than the 2017 model's index of 40.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.