YearToAvoid

2017 Nissan Versa Note Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#4 most-complained of 6 Versa Note years

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

The 2017 Nissan Versa Note has 10 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls, giving it a complaint index of 40 and a rank of 4th worst out of 6 model years. NHTSA rates it 'Good' relative to other Versa Note years, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 40% of complaints.

Complaints
10
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2017 Nissan Versa Note problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain4 (40%)
  2. Airbags2 (20%)
  3. Electrical System2 (20%)
  4. Engine1 (10%)
  5. Fuel System1 (10%)
  6. Steering1 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body1 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the CVT transmission slipping or feeling sluggish, revving high before the car catches up and accelerates.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle suddenly stopping acceleration at speed, with the engine revving but the car not moving forward until restarted.
  • One complaint describes the engine cutting off on the highway with the ignition failing to restart for several minutes, similar to a known ignition switch issue.
  • Owners report the passenger frontal airbag failing to deploy in a crash, resulting in injuries.
  • A case involved premature rust along with worn steering bolts, steering arm, and bushings that independent mechanics could not diagnose.
  • One owner reported the vehicle shutting off while driving at 45 mph with the check engine light and other warning sensors activating.
2017 Nissan Versa Note complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2017Aug 2019Nov 2019Feb 2023Jun 2024
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2017 to Oct 2024; peak May 2018 (2).

2017 Nissan Versa Note recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns 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.

  2. NHTSA 17V275000Apr 26, 2017Airbags509 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Versa, and Versa Note vehicles. The ring plate that secures the air bag cushion to the passenger frontal air bag assembly may fail, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2017 compared with other Versa Note years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid80862—
2016Caution60290—
2017Good40102—
2018No verdict2033—
2019No verdict011—

All Nissan Versa Note years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Nissan Versa Note reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Versa Note ranks 4th worst out of 6 model years with a complaint index of 40, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other years of this model.
What problems does the 2017 Nissan Versa Note have?
NHTSA lists 10 complaints for this year, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 40% of complaints, followed by Airbags and Electrical System at 20% each.
Does the 2017 Nissan Versa Note have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for an ignition switch in the electrical system and one for a passenger frontal airbag ring plate that could fail to secure the airbag cushion.
At what mileage do transmission problems show up on the 2017 Versa Note?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints is 86,511 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
How does the 2017 Versa Note compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 40, the 2017 model has fewer complaints than the 2014 (100), 2015 (80), and 2016 (60) model years, but more than the 2018 (20) and 2019 (0) model years.

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.