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Nissan LeafModel year report

2017 Nissan Leaf Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,400miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
112 MPGecombined, Electric FWD · 124 city / 101 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Nissan Leaf (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2017 Nissan Leaf. The part named most often is air bags, with 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and fuel system (3). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 88% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,400 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 76 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 34 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “My son and I were in a major crash on a freeway, we were hit by a semi-truck, sent into a spin, hit by another vehicle and stopped by slamming into freeway guardrail. The car was totaled. My son was driving and airbags on the drivers side all deployed but nothing deployed on the passenger side at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11716717, filed 2026-02

Electrical system: “When driving our 2017 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle at about 65 MPH up a steep hill / steep incline, we are experiencing a loud clunk from the battery area when the vehicle climbs over 2000ft elevation within a short distance (16 miles). The clunk always happens within the same 1 mile stretch of road and happens every time we drive the car from salt lake city, ut (4,226 feet) to summit park, ut (6,887 feet). We first noticed it this summer 2019. There is an audible clunk and it can be felt through the passenger foot-well behind the driver's seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #11245292, filed 2019-08, 29,500 miles

Fuel system: “A sudden loss of propulsion with out an audible warning. The vehicle operates at creep speed. I notice it because the can not accelerate. A moment of confusion sets in in trying to figure out what is going on. A tell tale light of a turtle comes on. I have to work my way through traffic to pull on the side of the road. This is a concern on a busy highway. The tell tale light goes away after cycling the power by turning the car off and starting it all over. It gives me the impression that the trouble went away. This issue occurred once a year. I didn't think much of it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11364521, filed 2020-10, 61,749 miles

Other or unknown: “When driving our Nissan LEAF from 4000 feet altitude up to about 7000 feet altitude (about 2500 feet altitude change), something under the left rear passenger side of the car (behind the driver) makes a loud bang and can be felt through the foot-well or floor. This happens every time we drive the same section of road, which is usually twice a week. Internet research suggests other Nissan LEAF owners have had the same issue and at altitude, and that it may be a issue with compression and expansion of the battery case. …”

NHTSA complaint #11324479, filed 2020-05, 36,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

88% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,000 and 29,500 miles.

63%0–100%10–2525%25–5013%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,400 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

201720182019202032021202220233202420263
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Nissan Leaf. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Leaf BEV · hatchback FWDnot rated5 / 3——4 · 10.9% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2017 Nissan Leaf version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Leaf FWDElectricsingle-speed124101112 MPGe$650

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2017 Nissan Leaf → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 76 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 76 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Leaf

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202578,75005111 MPGe—Too new
20245—05111 MPGe—Too new
2023227,50035111 MPGe—Too new
20229642,39845108 MPGe51 · TypicalRising
20215727,50045108 MPGe49 · TypicalRising
202016712,00065108 MPGe75 · MoreRising
201926030,0005—108 MPGe71 · MoreRising
2018677,2504—112 MPGe50 · TypicalRising
2017174,4002—112 MPGe—Stable
20163620,00044114 MPGe26 · FewerRising
201511027,00044114 MPGe66 · MoreFalling
20143421,25064114 MPGe38 · TypicalFalling
20138124,00054115 MPGe67 · MoreRising
20125713,9200599 MPGe21 · FewerStable
20119527,8620599 MPGe28 · FewerFalling

All Nissan Leaf model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2017 Nissan Leaf have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2017 Nissan Leaf as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Nissan Leaf is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 4 complaints (24% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2017 Nissan Leaf been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2017 Nissan Leaf according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2017 Nissan Leaf (Leaf, Electric) at 112 MPGe combined, 124 city and 101 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $650 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Nissan Leaf reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,400 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 29,500 miles; 88% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.