Last updated: 2026-03-28
Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Kona
Nissan Kicks
Choosing between the Hyundai Kona and the Nissan Kicks? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Kicks currently leads with an average score of 78/100 compared to 65/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Hyundai Kona, scoring 78/100 vs 65/100.
The Nissan Kicks demonstrates superior reliability with an average score of 78/100, compared to the Hyundai Kona's 65/100. Over nine years, the Kicks has experienced fewer recalls, totaling 10, while the Kona has had 16. Additionally, the Kicks reports a lower owner complaint rate of 8.3 per 10,000 vehicles sold, contrasting with the Kona's 13.4. Both models share issues with their electrical systems and power trains, but the Kicks' overall lower complaint rate and fewer recalls make it the more reliable choice.
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
Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?
| 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 | 8 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks?
The Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Kona exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Hyundai Kona facing a higher volume of complaints, particularly in the engine category with 264 complaints, including 2 linked to crashes. The Kona also has significant issues with the electrical system, accumulating 193 complaints and 4 associated with crashes, compared to the Kicks' 96 complaints in the same category with 3 crash-linked. While both models have electrical system concerns, the Kona's issues extend more severely into crash-linked incidents in categories like vehicle speed control and unknown or other problems. Conversely, the Nissan Kicks presents a more balanced distribution of complaints across various components, with notable concerns in the electrical system and service brakes, but fewer total complaints and crash-linked incidents in comparison to the Kona.
| 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 |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| WHEELS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —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?
| Year | Hyundai Kona | Nissan Kicks | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026(predicted) | 69/100(predicted) | 80/100(predicted) | Nissan Kicks |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Hyundai Kona scored 74/100 and the 2022 Nissan Kicks scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Kona vs the Nissan Kicks?
Hyundai Kona vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Kona more reliable than the Nissan Kicks?
- Based on our data, the Nissan Kicks is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 65/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Kona or the Nissan Kicks?
- The Hyundai Kona has more recalls (16) compared to the Nissan Kicks (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Kona or the Nissan Kicks?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Kicks has a lower complaint rate at 8.3 per 10,000 sold versus 13.4 for the Hyundai Kona. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Hyundai Kona or Nissan Kicks safer?
- Both the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 4/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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