Is the Hyundai Kona more reliable than the Nissan Kicks?

No. The Nissan Kicks leads by a large gap. Owners filed 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Kicks, against 13.4 for the Kona. The Kona's engine, electrical, and transmission reports are also more serious, though both models hold a good standing overall.

Which has more recalls, the Kona or the Kicks?

The Kona has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across its nine model years, against 10 for the Kicks. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, whichever model you choose.

What are the most common Kona problems?

Engine trouble leads, with 264 complaints. Owners describe power cutting out while driving, coolant leaks, and cars that will not restart. Electrical faults come next, including a horn that keeps failing and a draining 12V battery on the Kona Electric. Transmission failures follow.

Why does the Nissan Kicks rear glass shatter?

The data gives no cause. Owners report the rear glass breaking with a loud pop, sometimes right after the car is parked and shut off, with nothing touching it. One dealer could not find a cause. Ask a seller whether the glass has ever been replaced.

Which model years should I avoid?

For the Kona, avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest years. For the Kicks, avoid 2018 and 2019. Treat 2025 and 2026 cars as unproven, since they have had little time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Kona

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Kicks

Good

Shoppers get the more reliable car in the Nissan Kicks, which beats the Hyundai Kona by a wide margin. Both hold a good standing, but the Kona draws more complaints and recalls, plus engine cutouts, transmission failures, and crash-linked speed control reports.

How Do the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?

Most used shoppers will land in the Hyundai's first generation, which ran from the 2018 to 2023 model years with a facelift in 2021. That generation holds both its strongest used year, 2018, and its weakest, 2019 and 2020. The second generation began with the 2024 model year and is still on sale. The Nissan's first generation ran from 2018 through 2025, also with a 2021 facelift, and its second generation started in 2025. Its weakest years, 2018 and 2019, come from the early first generation. Cars from 2025 and 2026 are new, so their short complaint history proves little.

Verdict

The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Hyundai Kona, scoring 78/100 vs 65/100.

The more reliable car is the Nissan Kicks, and the gap is large. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, and federal recall records show fewer recalls across the same nine model years. The Hyundai also carries heavier problems: engines that cut out while driving, transmissions that fail outright, and crash-linked reports tied to speed control and automatic braking. Both models hold a good standing, so neither is a bad buy. The Kicks simply gives you less to worry about.

Key Differences

1Nissan Kicks scores 13 points higher in reliability
2Nissan Kicks has 6 fewer total recalls
3Nissan Kicks has 5.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0Hyundai Kona

—

3Nissan Kicks

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Kona	Nissan Kicks
Reliability Score	65/100	78/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	16	10
Complaints per 10k Sold	13.4	8.3
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	9

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks?

Losing drive power is the core of the Hyundai's trouble. Engines cut out at highway speed, some cars will not restart, and transmissions have failed on cars with only a few thousand miles. Electric versions add a draining 12V battery. Only the Hyundai has crash-linked complaints in vehicle speed control and in the engine, including a car that accelerated while parking. The Nissan's problems are stranger but milder: rear hatch glass shattering on a parked car, a failed rear body vent seal letting water in, and sudden power drops that clear after the car sits. Dealers often find nothing on either model.

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Kona	Nissan Kicks
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3.3Average	1.8Low
ENGINE	4.5Average	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.8Low	1.2Low
POWER TRAIN	1.6Low	0.8Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.7Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.3Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.5Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	0.2Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Kona	Nissan Kicks	Edge
2026	67/1002R / 4C	83/1001R / 1C	Nissan Kicks
2025	74/1000R / 21C	78/1003R / 24C	Nissan Kicks
2024	68/1003R / 50C	81/1001R / 20C	Nissan Kicks
2023	66/1002R / 68C	80/1001R / 23C	Nissan Kicks
2022	64/1002R / 115C	82/1000R / 19C	Nissan Kicks
2021	63/1001R / 102C	78/1002R / 66C	Nissan Kicks
2020	57/1002R / 140C	78/1000R / 85C	Nissan Kicks
2019	55/1004R / 224C	73/1001R / 123C	Nissan Kicks
2018	69/1000R / 66C	71/1001R / 78C	Nissan Kicks

Best years to cross-shop: The 2018 Hyundai Kona scored 69/100 and the 2022 Nissan Kicks scored 82/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Kona vs the Nissan Kicks?

Pick the Kicks if you want the lower risk of a costly surprise. Its complaint rate is well under the Kona's, and its recall count is lower. Target 2022, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Check that the rear glass and the rear body vent seal are intact, and ask whether the car has ever shown sudden power-loss warnings. Pick the Kona only if its features matter more to you than the extra risk, and shop carefully. Avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest years. 2018 ranks among its stronger years, but check the cooling system, the horn, and the transmission on any car you test. Skip adaptive cruise if you can, since owners describe it as slow to engage. If you want the Electric, test the 12V battery and make sure the car unlocks and starts after sitting. Treat 2025 as unproven rather than best, because newer years have had less time to collect complaints.

Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Kona more reliable than the Nissan Kicks?: No. The Nissan Kicks leads by a large gap. Owners filed 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold for the Kicks, against 13.4 for the Kona. The Kona's engine, electrical, and transmission reports are also more serious, though both models hold a good standing overall.
Which has more recalls, the Kona or the Kicks?: The Kona has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across its nine model years, against 10 for the Kicks. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, whichever model you choose.
What are the most common Kona problems?: Engine trouble leads, with 264 complaints. Owners describe power cutting out while driving, coolant leaks, and cars that will not restart. Electrical faults come next, including a horn that keeps failing and a draining 12V battery on the Kona Electric. Transmission failures follow.
Why does the Nissan Kicks rear glass shatter?: The data gives no cause. Owners report the rear glass breaking with a loud pop, sometimes right after the car is parked and shut off, with nothing touching it. One dealer could not find a cause. Ask a seller whether the glass has ever been replaced.
Which model years should I avoid?: For the Kona, avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest years. For the Kicks, avoid 2018 and 2019. Treat 2025 and 2026 cars as unproven, since they have had little time to collect complaints.

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How we score the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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