Last updated: 2026-10-10
Jeep Compass vs Nissan Kicks: Reliability Compared
Jeep Compass
Nissan Kicks
Shoppers weighing the Jeep Compass against the Nissan Kicks will find the Kicks slightly ahead, with fewer owner complaints per car sold. Both stand as good. The Compass carries more serious stall, coolant, and steering failures, which is what separates them.
How Do the Jeep Compass and Nissan Kicks Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Jeep Compass, scoring 78/100 vs 75/100.
Slightly ahead on reliability, the Nissan Kicks wins on complaint volume. Owners filed 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 11.8 for the Jeep Compass, and the Kicks has fewer recalls. Both models stand as good, so the gap is small. The Compass file holds the heavier failures: sudden stalls, coolant mixing into transmission fluid, and failed steering racks. Kicks reports lean toward odd glitches such as shattering rear glass and brief power loss. That keeps the edge with the Kicks, but not by a wide margin.
Key Differences
- 1Nissan Kicks has 5 fewer total recalls
- 2Nissan Kicks has 3.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Nissan Kicks scores 3 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Jeep Compass vs Nissan Kicks: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Jeep Compass | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 75/100 | 78/100 |
| Years Tracked | 8 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 15 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 11.8 | 8.3 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2025 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 3 | 5 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Jeep Compass and Nissan Kicks?
Stalling defines the Compass. Electrical reports describe dashboard warnings, then the engine shutting off, and 7 of those complaints are crash-linked. Engine and power train reports add false coolant warnings, oil burning, and coolant mixing with transmission fluid. Steering is a separate Compass weak spot, with failed racks and 6 crash-linked complaints. The Kicks has no steering complaints in its top areas. Its reports center on rear glass that shatters while parked, sudden power loss that clears after a rest, and rear automatic braking that stops the car for no reason. Its brake complaints include 3 crash-linked reports.
| Component | Jeep Compass | Nissan Kicks |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4.1Average | 1.8Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.4Low | 1.2Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.6Low | 0.8Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1.9Low | 0.5Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.3Very Low | 0.7Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.5Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.5Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| WHEELS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Jeep Compass vs Nissan Kicks Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Jeep Compass | Nissan Kicks | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83/1000R / 13C | 78/1003R / 24C | Jeep Compass |
| 2024 | 84/1000R / 34C | 81/1001R / 20C | Jeep Compass |
| 2023 | 78/1002R / 43C | 80/1001R / 23C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2022 | 70/1004R / 204C | 82/1000R / 19C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2021 | 80/1000R / 70C | 78/1002R / 66C | Jeep Compass |
| 2020 | 76/1001R / 129C | 78/1000R / 85C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2019 | 70/1002R / 305C | 73/1001R / 123C | Nissan Kicks |
| 2018 | 61/1006R / 912C | 71/1001R / 78C | Nissan Kicks |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Jeep Compass scored 84/100 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 Jeep Compass vs the Nissan Kicks?
Jeep Compass vs Nissan Kicks: Common Questions
- Is the Jeep Compass more reliable than the Nissan Kicks?
- No. The Nissan Kicks has a slight edge, though both stand as good. Kicks owners filed 8.3 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 11.8 for the Compass. The Compass also has more serious reports, including stalls, coolant mixing into transmission fluid, and failed steering racks.
- Which has more recalls, the Compass or the Kicks?
- The Compass has more. Federal recall records show 15 recalls across 8 model years for the Jeep Compass and 10 across 9 model years for the Nissan Kicks. The Compass therefore averages more recalls per model year, which fits its heavier complaint load.
- Which Jeep Compass years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2018 and 2022, the weakest Compass years in the data. The 2024 and 2025 models rate best, but they are recent and have had less time to collect complaints. Whatever year you choose, ask about stall history and have the steering rack checked.
- Why do Nissan Kicks rear windows shatter?
- The data does not give a cause. Owners report the rear glass breaking with a loud pop while the car sat parked, with nothing touching it. One owner needed a tow, and the dealer found no cause. Check the hatch glass and ask about past repairs before buying.
- Do Compass stalls cause crashes?
- Yes, in some reports. Electrical complaints include 7 crash-linked reports, and two describe crashes after stalls in traffic. Owners also describe steering and brakes going stiff after the engine shut off. Dealers often could not reproduce the fault, so a clean test drive does not rule it out.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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Decided between Jeep Compass and Nissan Kicks? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Jeep Compass 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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