Nissan Kicks reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 519 complaints about the Nissan Kicks with NHTSA since 2018, most often about automatic emergency braking and collision warning and electrical system. Nissan has filed 0 warranty extensions and 8 service campaigns for it, and there are 10 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Nissan Kicks? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Kicks a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2018 on.
- Owner complaints
- 519
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 0
- Filed by Nissan
- Service campaigns
- 8
- Filed by Nissan
- Safety recalls
- 10
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Kicks with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | Other or unspecified (50%) | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 39 | Other or unspecified (18%) | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 37 | Other or unspecified (27%) | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 18 | Automatic emergency braking and collision warning (28%) | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 23 | Steering (22%) | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 77 | Body and structure (31%) | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 97 | Automatic emergency braking and collision warning (35%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 134 | Automatic emergency braking and collision warning (32%) | 1 | 3 |
| 2018 | 86 | Other or unspecified (30%) | 1 | 0 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Kicks model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Nissan
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Nissan filed with NHTSA for the Kicks, in its own words. A warranty extension means Nissan pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Service campaignJan 2024· Wheels· model years 2023
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2023 KICKS; FRONT WHEEL HUB INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary service campaign on certain specific model year 2023 Kicks vehicles to replace both Front Wheel Hubs.
- Service campaignOct 2021· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2020
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Replacement Voluntary Emission Service Campaign Dealer Announcement: Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Emission Service Campaign to replace the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) on three (3) 2020 Nissan Kicks vehicle and one (1)…
- Service campaignOct 2021· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2020
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2020 KICKS AND VERSA; CVT REPLACEMENT INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary emissions service campaign, on certain specific model year 2020 Kicks and Versa vehicles, to replace the CVT assembly.
- Service campaignMay 2020· Engine and cooling· model years 2020
Engine Control Module (ECM) Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Campaign Summary***** Nissan has reclassified the previously announced quality action (PC945) for new vehicle inventory as a Voluntary Service Campaign to update the Engine Control Module (ECM) software.
- Service campaignMay 2020· Engine and cooling· model years 2020
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2020 KICKS; ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary service campaign on certain specific model year 2020 Kicks vehicles.
- Service campaignDec 2019· Engine and cooling· model years 2019
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA; ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary emissions service campaign on certain specific model year Nissan vehicles (see APPLIED VEHICLES) registered in the state of California.
- Service campaignDec 2019· Engine and cooling· model years 2019
Engine Control Module (ECM) Reprogram California Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign ***** Campaign Summary***** Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign on approximately 104,221 specific Nissan vehicles identified in Service Comm and currently registered to…
- Service campaignDec 2019· Engine and cooling· model years 2019
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA; ENGINE CONTROL MODULE INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary emissions service campaign on certain specific model year Nissan vehicles (see APPLIED VEHICLES) registered in the state of California.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Kicks model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Automatic emergency braking and collision warning126 (24%)
- Electrical system115 (22%)
- Other or unspecified112 (22%)
- Engine95 (18%)
- Transmission and drivetrain71 (14%)
- Brakes48 (9%)
- Body and structure32 (6%)
- Fuel and propulsion24 (5%)
Safety recalls
10 recalls cover at least one Kicks model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
A software error in the combination meter may cause the screen display to go partially or fully blank.
The hook bracket of the front seat frames may be insufficiently welded, which can cause the front seat frames to become loose.
The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving.
The center information display unit may display a blank screen when shifted into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.
The certification label may have been printed with the incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) values, which can result in the vehicle being overloaded.
The "Shift-to-Park" warning may not activate as intended when the vehicle is shut off and still in a gear other than "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles.
NHTSA's own page for the 2026 Nissan Kicks has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Nissan Kicks reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2018 on: 519 owner complaints, 0 warranty extensions and 8 service campaigns Nissan filed, and 10 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2019 (134), 2020 (97), 2018 (86). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Nissan Kicks?
Across every model year since 2018, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name automatic emergency braking and collision warning (24%), electrical system (22%), other or unspecified (22%). Nissan has filed no warranty extension for the Kicks with NHTSA.
Which Kicks model years have the most complaints?
2019 (134), 2020 (97), 2018 (86). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Kicks with each other rather than with other models.
Has Nissan extended the warranty on the Kicks?
Nissan has filed no warranty extension for the Kicks with NHTSA in the years we hold.
How do I check recalls on a Kicks?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 10 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.