YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Titan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 14 Titan years

The 2017 Nissan Titan ranks worst of 14 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 187 complaints, 9 fires, and 5 crashes. Engine problems dominate at 59% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 22,062, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Titan years.

Complaints
187
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 9
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
15 city / 21 hwy

Top 2017 Nissan Titan problems

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

  1. Engine110 (59%)
  2. Electrical System34 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain26 (14%)
  4. Fuel System25 (13%)
  5. Other13 (7%)
  6. Airbags11 (6%)
  7. Brakes9 (5%)
  8. Steering7 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body6 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls or shuts off completely while driving at highway speed, sometimes with smoke from under the hood and no warning lights.
  • Some engines lock up entirely, with the starter smoking as it tries to turn over a seized engine.
  • Electrical wiring issues have led to smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment or passenger-side air conditioner vent while parked or driving at 40 MPH.
  • Sparks have appeared from the engine compartment on startup.
  • Airbags have deployed without a crash, accompanied by intense vibration, a loud boom, and smoke filling the cabin.
  • Brakes have failed to respond initially, with pulsating ABS, clunking, and clicking through the brake pedal before regaining partial function.
2017 Nissan Titan complaints: complaints filed per quarter222016 Q42018 Q12019 Q22020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
251 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (22).

2017 Nissan Titan recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V495000Jun 26, 2019Electrical System91,319 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017-2019 gasoline, light duty, Titan vehicles. The alternator harness may have been damaged during the engine installation process, possibly resulting in an electrical short.

    Risk: An electrical short may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, it increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator harness for the proper routing and any damage. The harness will be clipped into the correct position or replaced as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 8, 2019. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

  2. NHTSA 18V240000Apr 16, 2018Other483 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Nissan Titan, 2016 and 2018 Nissan Titan XD vehicles. Accessories installed on these vehicles reduced the load carrying capacity, however, a Load Carrying Capacity modification label was not installed, possibly allowing the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and provide a new modification label, with installation instructions, free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

  3. NHTSA 17V268000Apr 24, 2017Seat Belts44,264 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab and Titan XD Crew Cab vehicles. In the event of a crash, the rear seatbelt assembly may not adequately protect the occupant's head, allowing it to contact the D-ring bolt trim cap. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

    Risk: If the occupant's head contacts the D-ring bolt trim cap during a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install energy absorbing material to the C-Pillar Finishers and replace the Seatbelt Bolt and Bolt Cap, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2017 Nissan Titan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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 Titan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best010214.5
2015Good4612114.5
2017Avoid100187318
2018Avoid8590418
2019Avoid7747418

All Nissan Titan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Nissan Titan reliable?
Among 14 Titan model years tracked, 2017 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 187 NHTSA complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Titan years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Nissan Titan?
Engine problems make up 59% of complaints (110 of 187), with a median failure mileage of 22,062, including reports of stalling, seizing, and engine-compartment fires.
Does the 2017 Nissan Titan have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 Titan, covering the electrical system (alternator harness routing), a load-carrying label issue, and rear seat belt energy-absorbing material for crew cab models.
How does the 2017 Titan compare to other years?
The 2017 Titan has the highest Complaint Index (100) and complaint count (187) of any year in the dataset; by comparison, 2014 has an index of 0 and is rated Best.
Are there fire risks with the 2017 Nissan Titan?
NHTSA data lists 9 fires among the 187 complaints for the 2017 Titan, several tied to engine and electrical system reports.

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.