YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Leaf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2017 Nissan Leaf has a complaint index of 13, the lowest among Leaf model years with data, and ranks 14th worst out of 16 years, earning a Best verdict. It has 17 complaints, 2 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
13/100
#14 of 16 Leaf years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
17
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2024
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
112
124 city / 101 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2017 Nissan Leaf problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags4 (24%)
  2. Electrical System4 (24%)
  3. Fuel System3 (18%)
  4. Other3 (18%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (18%)
  6. Brakes2 (12%)
  7. Engine2 (12%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (12%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers2 (12%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the front passenger airbag not deploying properly in a crash, tied to a manufacturing defect in the inflator.
  • Some drivers describe brake failure at low speeds, including two separate incidents where the car did not stop when brakes were applied.
  • One owner reported sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed with no audible warning, accompanied by a turtle warning light and reduced creep-speed operation.
  • Reports describe a rear hatch that does not close or latch properly due to misalignment from the factory, sometimes popping open while driving.
  • One owner described a loud clunk from the battery area when climbing steep grades at highway speed.
  • A driver reported poor visibility from the A-pillar and side mirror when turning left, which they said contributed to an accident.
2017 Nissan Leaf complaints: complaints filed per month1Jan 2017May 2018May 2020Aug 2022Jun 2023May 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2017 to Jun 2026; peak Jan 2017 (1).

2017 Nissan Leaf recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V296000Apr 26, 2023Other94,343 vehicles

    Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

    Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.

  2. NHTSA 17V253000Apr 13, 2017Airbags30,038 vehicles

    Air bags

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2017 Nissan Leaf fuel economy and fuel cost

City
124 MPG
Highway
101 MPG
Combined
112 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
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 Leaf 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
2015Avoid801104114
2016Good27364113
2017Best13172112
2018Caution60664112
2019Avoid1002595108

All Nissan Leaf years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Nissan Leaf reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Leaf has a complaint index of 13, the lowest of any Leaf model year, and carries a Best verdict relative to other Leaf years.
Does the 2017 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2017 Leaf: one for a passenger frontal airbag inflator defect and one for incorrect defroster instructions in the owner's manual.
What is the top problem area for the 2017 Nissan Leaf?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 24% of complaints, tied with Electrical System issues also at 24%.
How does the 2017 Leaf compare to other Leaf years?
The 2017 Leaf ranks 14th worst out of 16 model years, with a much lower complaint index (13) than years like 2019 (100) or 2015 (80), which carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Nissan Leaf?
The EPA rates the 2017 Leaf at 112 MPGe combined, 124 MPGe city and 101 MPGe highway, with an annual fuel cost of $650.

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.