CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Nissan Armada powertrain problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 17 powertrain complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Armada, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Nissan Armada we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 17.
Powertrain accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
VIBRATION DURING LIGHT OR MODERATE THROTTLE INPUT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or obvious CV Joint risk due to water intrusion and/or complete grease loss, check for REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) availability. ï· If there is a REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) available for the vehicle being repaired, do NOT replace the axle. Install a new boot kit following the procedure in the ESM. o Refer to the ESM: TRANSMISSION & DRIVELINE > FRONT AXLE > REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION > FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BOOT o If the complete axle (drive shaft) is replaced when only a new boot is required, the
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VIBRATION DURING LIGHT OR MODERATE THROTTLE INPUT IF YOU CONFIRM A vibration during light or moderate throttle input between 20 â 40 mph, OR RPM flare / slip feeling / vibration during or immediately after a 2 â 3 upshift or 3 â 4 upshift with light or moderate throttle input. ACTION Replace the Torque Converter.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Armada powertrain exhibits multiple, well-documented failures. The VK56VD V8 engine develops cylinder 7 scouring per Nissan TSB NTB19-057a, starting as a progressive ticking noise and culminating in engine stall or catastrophic failure—with no warning lights to alert the driver. Nissan refuses goodwill coverage once the vehicle exceeds 60,000 miles, leaving owners facing $9,200+ repair costs.
Transmission problems dominate complaints. The JATCO RE7R01B loses reverse engagement without warning. More commonly, the transmission hunts erratically between gears, shifts too early, and oscillates violently—behavior software updates (ECM/TCM Revision E) have not resolved. In cold weather, it stays in lower gears longer than normal, degrading fuel economy. Owners report the engine and drivetrain hesitate or shudder unpredictably during acceleration, especially on hills or in traffic. In rare cases, the vehicle drops into limp mode at highway speeds with check engine and ABS lights, unresponsive to dealer diagnostics.
The brake pedal switch fails to recognize pedal application, preventing shift from Park. This defect recurs within one year despite repair; Nissan declines warranty coverage on the second failure. Owners also report rear CV axle wear, rear suspension binding, and low-speed brake or suspension issues the dealership cannot diagnose.
Multiple technical bulletins acknowledge these faults, yet Nissan resists compensation once vehicles leave warranty coverage.
Failure modes owners describe
VK56VD Engine Cylinder 7 Scouring
Cylinder 7 develops significant scouring and wear, eventually leading to engine damage. Owners report a progressive ticking noise that worsens over time. The failure can result in engine stall, loss of power, or catastrophic engine failure while driving. Nissan Technical Service Bulletin NTB19-057a documents this as a widespread defect affecting 2017-2019 models. No warning lights alert the driver until damage is advanced.
When: Typically manifests after 60,000-mile warranty window, though timeline varies
Symptoms owners cite: Progressive ticking noise from engine; Ticking gets louder over time; Engine stall or loss of power; Unpredictable engine failure while driving; No warning lights or messages
Repairs/costs cited: Repair requires replacement of engine short block. One owner quoted $9,203.70 for repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NTB19-057a acknowledges widespread problem. Nissan Consumer Affairs refused goodwill assistance on out-of-warranty vehicles.
Transmission Loss of Reverse Gear
Transmission unexpectedly loses reverse engagement after extended highway driving. The shifter moves to reverse position but no gear engages; vehicle remains in neutral and can roll freely downhill. Occurs without warning noise or vibration. Requires full transmission replacement.
When: 38,200 miles on vehicle after approximately 3 hours continuous highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt loss of reverse gear engagement; Shifter indicates R but no gear engages; Vehicle rolls downhill in neutral despite R position; No excessive noise or vibration; Drive and Park gears continue to function
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan Engineering recommended replacement of JATCO CORP. RE7R01B X100A transmission. One owner with extended warranty had labor and material covered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan Engineering Hotline directed dealership to replace transmission. Nissan Consumer Affairs refused assistance to owner without extended warranty.
Transmission Hunting, Early Shifts, and Hunting
Transmission exhibits unpredictable shift behavior characterized by hunting between gears, shifting too early, and oscillating violently when shifting. Owners report the engine RPM continuously fluctuates at constant throttle and steady speed on flat road. Significant throttle depression required to achieve downshifts. The transmission appears to operate as if air is in the hydraulics. Software updates (ECM/TCM Revision E, multiple TSBs) have failed to resolve the issue.
When: Ongoing across various driving conditions and mileages; some owners report intermittent behavior with days between occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission hunts between gears; Shifts occur too early; Severe oscillations when shifting; Engine RPM fluctuates at constant throttle; Requires excessive throttle depression to downshift; Tachometer flutters or oscillates; Transmission responds opposite to normal—reduces RPM when accelerator slightly depressed; Erratic behavior in city driving
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates applied (ECM/TCM Revision E per TSB). No permanent fix achieved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs issued (ECM/TCM updates, Revision E). Nissan Service department states no fix available.
Transmission Cold-Weather Shift Delay
Transmission stays in 2nd and 3rd gears too long during cold-weather warm-up phase, keeping engine RPM elevated unnecessarily. Dealer explains this as intentional to warm transmission fluid, but owner reports this behavior differs from historical transmission performance in cold climates. Issue persists for approximately 20 minutes from cold start until vehicle warms up.
When: Every cold start, for approximately 20 minutes of driving until engine/transmission warm
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed upshifting in cold weather; Engine stays in 2nd or 3rd gear too long; Elevated engine RPM during warm-up period; Reduced fuel economy during cold-start operation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states behavior is intentional and by design to warm transmission fluid.
Transmission Shift Hesitation and Stall on Acceleration
Engine and transmission hesitate, shudder, or stall when accelerating from stop or climbing inclines. Tachometer needle exhibits visible shudder during hesitation events. Behavior is unpredictable and dangerous during traffic merging or hill climbing. Dealership claims this is normal and no other complaints have been reported, despite owner's assertion that the problem is easily noticeable.
When: Unpredictable onset; occurs during slow starts, acceleration from stops, hill climbing, and traffic merging
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shudders or hesitates on acceleration; Engine feels like it's choking out; Tachometer needle shudders visibly; Unpredictable hesitation during hill climbing; Hesitation during traffic merging; Unpredictable occurrence but highly noticeable when it happens
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership states problem is normal and denies any other complaints reported.
Transmission Limp Mode and Check Engine Light
Vehicle unexpectedly enters limp mode or severe power reduction without obvious cause. Check Engine light, ABS light, and/or Antiskid/4x4 lights illuminate. Vehicle speed drops dramatically (to 5-30 MPH) while driving at normal speeds (45 MPH), creating immediate safety hazard. Diagnostic equipment cannot identify root cause. Temporary restart restores normal operation, but condition recurs unpredictably.
When: Mileage around 55,000 miles; occurs intermittently during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt speed reduction to 5-30 MPH; Check Engine light illuminates; ABS light illuminates; Antiskid and 4x4 lights illuminate; Vehicle cannot accelerate beyond 30 MPH; No diagnostic codes detectable by technician equipment; Condition clears temporarily after restart but recurs
Repairs/costs cited: One owner initially misdiagnosed with output speed sensor defect; later identified as transmission replacement required. Vehicle remained unrepaired at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan case filed but no resolution documented.
Brake Pedal Switch Failure
Brake pedal switch fails to recognize brake pedal application. This is the second failure on the same vehicle within a year. Initial repair occurred when vehicle was only one year old. Nissan refuses warranty coverage on the second failure, claiming it falls outside the 12,000-mile, one-year parts warranty. Service technician noted multiple other 2017 Armadas in for identical repair that same week, indicating systemic issue.
When: Initial failure at approximately one year of age; second failure shortly after one-year warranty expires
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal switch fails to detect brake application; Transmission will not shift from Park; Vehicle hesitates or will not start properly; Switch failure recurs within one year of previous repair
Repairs/costs cited: Switch assembly replacement. First repair covered under warranty when vehicle was one year old.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refuses coverage on second failure, citing 12,000-mile, one-year parts warranty limit.
CV Axle Wear
Driver-side rear CV axle requires replacement at approximately 87,000 miles. Owner notes multiple TSBs exist regarding powertrain issues on this model but questions whether sufficient complaints have been formally documented.
When: Approximately 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: CV axle wear requiring replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs exist regarding powertrain but owner implies inadequate acknowledgment of complaint volume.
Rear Suspension/Brake Binding Issue
At low speeds, increased friction on tires occurs and tires appear to stop rotating properly. Rear tires positioned significantly higher in wheel wells than normal, indicating possible suspension or brake binding issue. No warning lights. Temporary restart clears symptom momentarily but failure recurs. Dealership unable to diagnose root cause.
When: Approximately 79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Increased friction on tires during low-speed driving (30-40 MPH); Tires not rotating properly; Rear tires positioned significantly high in wheel well; Condition recurs after temporary restart; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by dealership.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving 30-40 MPH, she noticed increased friction on the tires, and they were not rotating properly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and restarted it. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle with no issues; however, the failure…
The transmission on my 2017 armada seems to shift improperly and even seems to shift prematurely causing a stall or loss of power to the vehicle. I've notice this as I'm starting to accelerate from a stopped position and it appears to happen sometime between shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. This happens all the time while driving in town, on the highway, I've yet to notice any issues. I…
While driving, the transmission hunts and shifts very early, crippling acceleration. At normal highway speeds, significant depression of the accelerator is required to effect a downshift. This presents a safety hazard when acceleration is required for maneuvering. When the vehicle does shift into the next gear, significant oscillations occur until the transmission settles on a point. Also, at…
My driver's side rear "CV axel" needs replaced, and there are many TSB's regarding the Powertrain. My vehicle has roughly 87,000 miles on it. It seems as if there is an issue the manufacturer knows about but there hasn't been enough complaints as of yet.
The transmission does not seem to shift in a normal manner it does not shift up when starting from a stopped position and seems to downshift un-necessarily. You can hear the engine working harder than it should since it's in a lower gear than it should be, and you can see it in the tachometer because it's running at a much higher rate. On one occasion I noticed the tachometer fluttering for…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2017 Nissan Armada?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2017 Nissan Armada?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 8,000 and 64,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,000; a quarter make it past 64,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Nissan/Armada.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.