Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Nissan Armada owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that the vehicle recognized the fob key; however, the vehicle would not start. The contact's husband replaced the battery, starter, gasket, and manifold; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
On [redacted] my vehicle engine would not turn over. It then lost complete power moments later. The battery was recharged and reinstalled. I attempted to start the vehicle again and it drained the battery. I installed a NEW battery on [redacted] and the vehicle worked properly. On [redacted] I attempted to start the vehicle and the it drained the battery. This time, I called Nissan Customer Service and was instructed nothing old be done until a NISSAN DEALERSHIP ran diagnostics on the vehicle. Obviously, I had to call for a tow because the battery was dead. The tow truck driver was able to jump the battery and I drove to Ron Marhofer Nissan in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to have the diagnostics performed. …
The middle section of lights in the instrument panel has been blinking on/off intermittently for about two weeks. This makes it difficult to see your speed while driving at night and it's distracting, which causes me to take my eyes off the road for longer than I consider safe. Also, intermittently the truck hesitates to start, today it had to be towed to the dealer. After the diagnosis, I was told the Instrument Cluster Assembly should be replaced to resolve the light panel issue and the starter needs to be replaced. I find it surprising that the instrument panel would go out so soon. I wonder if this is connected to the previous intermittent BCI (Backup Collision Intervention) malfunction lights on the dash issue I had a few years ago. Additionally, I've had to replace the battery in the truck three times in the last four years since I purchased it (pre-owned). …
There are several electrical problems with this vehicle that through research has proven to be a problem with several people with this vehicle. The speedometer lights only illuminate half of the numbers, which can cause an issue when its dark and you can't see your speed. The battery seems to be drained in about a year after installing new battery. The right rear tv in the headrest does not work properly as well as the cooled and heated seats on the driver side. This does not necessarily cause a safety problem, but it does seem to be assisting in draining the battery. This morning the car would not start, but when trying to turn the car off the vehicle remained on, no matter what was tried to turn off. It is a fear that the vehicle will cut off while driving and would put the driver and passengers in danger. …
The vehicle's brake light switch has failed and been replaced twice. When this happens: 1. the rear brake lights do not illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed (which poses a serious safety hazard when driving) 2. If the vehicle is off, the vehicle will not start, given it requires the brake pedal to be pressed and used this switch as the means to confirm that. This is also dangerous because it's left me stranded in dangerously cold weather. Nissan is already aware this is a pervasive problem on 2017-2021 Armadas, as the switches are prone to failure. They even issued a TSB notifying dealers of the problem and instructing them to cover replacements for vehicles still within the bumper-to-bumper warranty, using a new "updated" part number, but one just as prone to failures. …
The airbag light on the dash started blinking in 12/2020 and was repaired under warranty in 1/2021. Was diagnosed as passenger curtain airbag. Airbag light started blinking again in April/May 2022. Diagnosed again as passenger curtain airbag. Repaired in August 2022, at a cost to me of $2800+. Picked car up on September 3, 2022. Airbag light came back on on the 6th after my daughter exited the passenger seat. Dropped car off on the 7th and it has been at the dealership ever since. Now they want me to pay $2600+ to have the wiring harness replaced. I have reported the issue to Nissan and the dealership has been working with Nissan. I have already paid to have this safety issue repaired. So far Nissan or the dealership has not agreed to pay. This is a safety issue. This is not a luxury item or an add on. I don't feel safe having a passenger in the front seat. …
I've had my 2017 armada since 2018 and have had issues from the beginning. My GPS antenna has never worked and I assumed it was just a settings issue but after many attempts at resetting them and even purchasing the updated maps CD from the Nissan website it never fixed the issue. When I am driving you can feel the car jerk and slip. We have replaced the battery maybe 3 times in the last year. When I try to start my car it will turn on all the dash lights, shake, then shut off and sometimes if I wait it starts back up and other times it doesn't. My car is running lean as well. I have kept up with the maintenance of my car and about 6 months ago I paid $3,000 to do repairs on it not related to these issues. These are all TSBs, but for some reason no recalls have been done. My car has become very unreliable.
It's my starter switch I had to have it replace twice once last year and the year before and this morning I hit into my truck which is z9-18-22 to go to work and everything came on but the switch didn't so I couldn't start it and for everything else to come on it's not my battery so on Monday I am taking it back to the Nissan place to get it replace again this will be the third time for the same thing the engine switch to start the truck so this will be the third time it's once a year around the same time for the same thing but yet you guys says it's no recall on it have to be something causing it and each time it's costing me 600.00 each . Who have that money to keep on replacing the same thing so it have to be some kind of fault with the switch .
Car is has been having BCI Malfunction warning come up. This has happened numerous times since purchasing. It has been taken to the dealership multiple times for this issue. They have replaced brake switch sensors and even the battery and calibrated everything and the problem continues to persist. This has left us stranded on the side the road with the car not starting. It has caused sudden braking while driving on interstate with no warning and nothing to cause this reaction... two Nissan dealerships that have looked it it play it off as nothing meanwhile I keep reading of more people having similar issues with this vehicle. This needs to be further investigated before someone is out in a deadly situation
Although I have a brand new battery, there is a short in the system that causes it to drain entirely when turned off. At least twice a month, the battery will die because it won't hold a charge when not operating. This is especially challenging when it is very warm in the summer. Once the battery is jumped, I have to run the vehicle for 30 minutes to recharge and hope it is full. I've been told it's a known defect but not yet a recall, but I can cite many examples of how this creates a safety issue when I am unable to jump it repeatedly with my portable jumper. As it is an electrical issue, this needs to be addressed and cited as a recall to stop the insanity!
Electrical complaints in other Armada years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2017 Nissan Armada?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Nissan Armada, 41% of the model year's 81 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Nissan Armada electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2017 Nissan Armada. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Nissan Armada electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.