Last updated: 2026-10-10
Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared
Jeep Cherokee
Nissan Kicks
Between these compact SUVs, the Nissan Kicks comes out ahead of the Jeep Cherokee on reliability, with 10 recalls to the Cherokee's 105. Cherokee owners also report transmission failures, steering that goes heavy, and stalling. Kicks problems are fewer and less severe.
How Do the Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Jeep Cherokee, scoring 78/100 vs 70/100.
The more reliable car is the Nissan Kicks, and the edge is clear. Federal recall records show 10 recalls across its model years against 105 for the Cherokee. Cherokee owners report failed transmissions, stalling, and steering that goes heavy mid-turn. Kicks owners report odd faults, like shattering rear glass and sudden power loss, but the list of serious failures is shorter. Both stand as good, yet the Kicks carries far fewer recalls and fewer crash-linked complaints.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Kicks has 95 fewer total recalls
- 2Nissan Kicks scores 8 points higher in reliability
- 3Jeep Cherokee has a 1-star higher safety rating
Category Scoreboard
Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Jeep Cherokee | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 70/100 | 78/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 105 | 10 |
| Total ComplaintsRaw count — varies with sales volume | 4984 | 439 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 0 | 8 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Kicks?
Drivetrain and safety systems dominate the Cherokee's complaints. Transmissions slip, shift hard, or refuse to engage, and some owners needed a full replacement. Steering can cut out or turn heavy, with 25 crash-linked filings, and the electronic parking brake can engage at 55 and 70 mph. Engine fires also appear. Many powertrain and engine reports describe a Grand Cherokee, so read those with care. Kicks complaints are milder. Rear hatch glass shatters on parked cars, power drops suddenly with a warning message, and rear automatic braking stops the car while backing up. Steering is not among its main problem areas.
| Component | Jeep Cherokee | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1330 | 44 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1161 | 96 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 618 | 63 |
| ENGINE | 415 | 24 |
| STEERING | 370 | 18 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 252 | 35 |
| AIR BAGS | 107 | 11 |
| SUSPENSION | 101 | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 85 | 8 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 49 | — |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 18 | 23 |
| STRUCTURE | — | 27 |
| SEATS | 22 | — |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 16 | — |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 11 | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 11 | — |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 3 | 8 |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 3 | 4 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | — | 7 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | — | 5 |
| WHEELS | — | 3 |
| VISIBILITY | — | 2 |
Raw complaint counts aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports. Counts vary with sales volume.
How Does Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Kicks Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Jeep Cherokee | Nissan Kicks | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 76/1002R / 1C | 83/1001R / 1C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2025 | 75/1003R / 64C | 78/1003R / 24C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2024 | 67/10020R / 232C | 81/1001R / 20C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2023 | 66/10022R / 396C | 80/1001R / 23C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2021 | 67/10018R / 554C | 78/1002R / 66C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2020 | 76/1005R / 436C | 78/1000R / 85C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2019 | 67/10017R / 1833C | 73/1001R / 123C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2018 | 68/10018R / 1468C | 71/1001R / 78C | Nissan Kicks |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Jeep Cherokee scored 76/100 and the 2024 Nissan Kicks scored 81/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Jeep Cherokee vs the Nissan Kicks?
Jeep Cherokee vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions
- Is the Jeep Cherokee more reliable than the Nissan Kicks?
- No. The Kicks holds a clear edge. It has 10 federal recalls across its model years, while the Cherokee has 105. The Cherokee also has more serious owner complaints, including transmission failures, power steering loss, and parking brake faults. Both still rate as good.
- Which has more recalls, the Cherokee or the Kicks?
- The Cherokee, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 105 across its 8 model years. The Kicks has 10 across 9 model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy, whichever model you choose.
- What is the biggest problem with the Jeep Cherokee?
- The transmission is the largest problem area, with 1,330 complaints. Owners describe harsh shifts, slipping, and failure to engage drive or reverse, and some needed a full replacement. Many of those reports describe a Grand Cherokee, so the count likely includes another vehicle.
- Why does the Nissan Kicks rear window shatter?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report the hatch glass shattering with a loud pop while the car is parked and shut off, with nothing touching it. In one case the dealer found no cause. It shows up in both electrical and structure complaints.
- Which Kicks and Cherokee model years should I avoid?
- Avoid the 2018 and 2019 Kicks, its weakest years, and the 2023 and 2024 Cherokee, its weakest. Better picks are the 2022 Kicks and the 2020 Cherokee. Both models have 2026 cars that rate well, but they have had little time to collect complaints.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Jeep Cherokee and Nissan Kicks? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Jeep Cherokee 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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