Last updated: 2026-10-10
Nissan Kicks Reliability by Year
Nissan Kicks owners report stalls, ABS faults and false braking alerts, mostly on early years. Here is what to check before you buy a used one.
Nissan Kicks Reliability Overview
Engine stalls with a cluster of warning lights, plus ABS faults, are the main risk in the 2018 and 2019 model years of this compact SUV, which otherwise rates good and above average among SUVs on the site. The 2022 is the year to buy, with no recalls and few complaints. Even there, some owners report steering wander in crosswinds.
Current generation: 2nd gen (2025–2023).
Best & Worst Nissan Kicks Years
Best Nissan Kicks Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreOwners filed far fewer complaints on the 2022, and federal recall records show no recalls for it. Its top complaints are steering wander in crosswinds and occasional stalls, not the repeated stalling, CVT trouble and ABS failures seen on the 2018 and 2019. It has also been on the road long enough for that record to mean something.
Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid
Stalling leads the complaints. Engines shut off at stops or in traffic, with check engine, slip and emergency braking lights, and a P0101 air flow code that returns after the sensor is replaced. Brake owners report ABS failures, including a dealer quote of $2,448. This year has the highest complaint rate of any Kicks year.
Nissan Kicks Reliability Score Trend
Nissan Kicks reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 81/100 compared to 75/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 83/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Nissan Kicks
1 recalls · 1 complaints
Rates excellent and ranks best of nine Kicks years, though only one owner complaint and one latch recall so far reflect limited time on the road.
2025 Nissan Kicks
3 recalls · 24 complaints
Rates good and above average for 2025 SUVs, but sits among the weaker Kicks years, with dark screens and a camera recall repair owners struggle to get.
2024 Nissan Kicks
1 recalls · 20 complaints
Excellent reliability with low complaint volume, though owners report rear glass shattering without impact, and it carries one air bag recall.
2023 Nissan Kicks
1 recalls · 23 complaints
Excellent standing and a middle-of-the-pack year for the Kicks, with reports of stalling and false emergency braking plus one air bag recall.
2022 Nissan Kicks
0 recalls · 19 complaints
Excellent reliability with no recalls, a clear step up from the 2021, though owners report loose steering in crosswinds and sudden stalls.
2021 Nissan Kicks
2 recalls · 66 complaints
Middle of the pack among Kicks years, with two steering recalls and owner reports of false collision braking and CVT power loss.
2020 Nissan Kicks
0 recalls · 85 complaints
Rates better than the 2019 and has no recalls on record, but owner complaints center on electrical warning-light faults and CVT problems.
2019 Nissan Kicks
1 recalls · 123 complaints
Good overall but among the weaker Kicks years, with owner reports of stalling, ABS module failures near 34,000 miles, and CVT trouble after 60,000 miles.
2018 Nissan Kicks
1 recalls · 78 complaints
First-year Kicks with the weakest standing of its nine scored years, marked by stalling, ABS failures, and false front radar warnings.
Found Your Nissan Kicks? Check Its History
Steering (1) problems come up most in Nissan Kicks owner complaints, and 10 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Nissan Kicks Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
4/5
Nissan Kicks Resale Value
The Nissan Kicks is estimated to retain about 89.8% of its original value after 1 year, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 89.8%
- Depreciation
- 10.2%
- Listings Analyzed
- 25
after 1 year
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Nissan Kicks depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comNissan Kicks Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
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Compare all Nissan models by reliability
Compare Nissan Kicks With Similar SUVs
The Nissan Kicks competes with other compact suvs such as Kia Soul, Buick Envista, and Buick Encore.
Kicks vs Kia Soul
8 years tracked · 1005 complaints
Kicks vs Buick Envista
3 years tracked · 80 complaints
Kicks vs Buick Encore
5 years tracked · 190 complaints
Kicks vs Kia Niro
2 years tracked · 25 complaints
Kicks vs Buick Encore GX
7 years tracked · 210 complaints
More Nissan Kicks comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the Nissan Kicks?
- The 2022 is the best pick. It has excellent reliability, no recalls, and few owner complaints, with steering wander in crosswinds the most reported issue. The 2026 also rates well, but it is too new for its record to count in its favor.
- Is the Nissan Kicks reliable?
- Yes, its standing is good, and it ranks above average among SUVs on the site. The weak spots are concentrated in 2018 and 2019. Newer years show far fewer complaints, though they have had less time to collect them.
- What are the most common Nissan Kicks problems?
- Electrical complaints lead. Owners describe the engine stalling at stops or in traffic, with check engine, slip and emergency braking lights, often tied to a P0101 air flow code. Next come sudden power loss with a malfunction message, and ABS failures with warning lights.
- How much do Nissan Kicks repairs cost?
- The clearest costs in owner complaints are for the ABS. One dealer quoted $2,448 for an ABS actuator and control unit on a 2018, and another quoted over $4,000 for a controller and actuator on a 2019. Stall repairs often fail to fix the problem.
- Does the Nissan Kicks have transmission problems?
- Mostly in the 2019. Owners of that year report CVT slipping, shudder, jerking and sudden loss of acceleration, with some transmissions replaced entirely. Several failures were reported between about 65,922 and 80,000 miles. Dealers often found no codes.
How we score the 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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