Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 83/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Nissan Kicks Reliability Report

The 2026 Nissan Kicks rates excellent for reliability, with one owner complaint so far and one recall in latches, locks, and linkages.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$1,950–$2,000

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact88/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

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.

Top Issues to Watch

STEERING (1)

Should You Buy the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

Reliability standing is excellent, and it is above average among 2026 SUVs. Within the Kicks line it ranks best of nine scored model years. That ranking needs context. Owners have filed only one complaint so far, and a new model year has had little time to collect more. The 2025 Kicks is rated good, rates worse than this year, and has 24 complaints and 3 recalls.

The complaint on file points to trouble early in ownership. Electrical system failures show up between 1,000 and 2,000 miles. CV axle problems show up between 1,500 and 1,900 miles. Federal recall records list one recall, in the area of latches, locks, and linkages. The federal crash-test rating is 4 of 5 stars.

Before buying, ask for proof that the latch recall work was done. Ask for any repair records covering the electrical system or the CV axles. A 2025 car is a fallback, but expect a longer problem history.

See also the 2025 Nissan Kicks for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+Low recall count
+Low complaint frequency
+Only 1 complaints reported

Cons

−STEERING (1)
−Electrical system failures reported at 1,000–2,000 miles

Compare 2026 Nissan Kicks With

2026 Buick Envista

Reliability: 82/100

Excellent

2026 Buick Encore GX

Reliability: 82/100

Excellent

2026 Audi Q3

Reliability: 82/100

Excellent

2026 BMW X1

Reliability: 74/100

Good

2026 Volvo XC60

Reliability: 74/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

LOW RISK

STEERING (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2026 Nissan Kicks carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 4/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Nissan Kicks Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2026 Nissan Kicks. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

26V0230002026-01-21

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."

Consequence

A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 28, 2026.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Nissan Kicks? Check its history first

Steering problems lead owner complaints about the 2026 Nissan Kicks, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Nissan Kicks NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 3/5Passenger: 3/5

Rollover risk: 19.8%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Nissan KicksRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

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.

This benchmark covers the Nissan Kicks model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 89.8%
Depreciation: 10.2%
Listings Analyzed: 25

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Nissan Kicks depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

2026 Nissan Kicks Example Repair Prices

National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.

Common repair costs and price estimates
Repair	Estimated Cost
Pre-Purchase Car Inspection	$183 – $269
Electrical System Diagnosis	$122 – $179
Air Bag Clockspring Replacement	$395 – $458
Air Bag Control Module Replacement	$751 – $871
Alternator Replacement	$1,132 – $1,273
Ignition Switch Replacement	$187 – $232
Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement	$378 – $400
Door Mirror Replacement	$491 – $525
Brake Pad Replacement	$315 – $372
Transmission Fluid Change	$149 – $177

Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

30–31 MPG

Fuel cost: $1,950–$2,000/yr

Fuel only

27–28 city / 34–35 hwy MPG

Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Kicks 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	28	35	31	$1,950
Kicks AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	27	34	30	$2,000

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2026 Nissan Kicks.

Inspect for warning lights on dashboard during startup
Check for clicking noises when turning the steering wheel
Verify if both front axles have been replaced or repaired
Test drive to ensure no sputtering or unexpected shutdowns

2026 Nissan Kicks Common Problems by Component

1 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

STEERING

1 complaint

2025-12-26

2026 Nissan Kicks, less than 1,500 mi. Computer system several warning lights appeared without notice; caused car to shut off and sputter before starting several times. The first time the warning lights that came on were: Warning (exclamation point inside triangle); Malfunction See Owner's Manual (In Orange box on panel) with all collision symbols showing [pictures avail on request] Second warning lights ( Warning Temporarily disabled clean sensor area See Owner's Manual) in bigger yellow / orange box on computer screen with exclamation point in triangle symbols and crash symbol) [Pics avail] Vehicle problem both duplicated and inspected at dealership. Connector pin harness needed repair/replaced. Oil light flashed after repairs. Clicks heard while turning right or left. Vehicle diagnostic inspected at another Nissan dealership out of state. [Audio and vid avail] Nissan dealership Ocala FL could not duplicate either problem with test drive. Problem persisted. Scheduled appointment at an Ice Cold Air. Problem was identified as possible CV axle problems and referred to Nissan dealership since have warrenty. Went to Maas Nissan dealership in Brooksville FL. Dealership was able to hear and duplicate customer complaint with noise turning wheel. Dealership had to replace both right and left front axles of brand new 2026 Nissan Kicks car, a major repair less than 1,900 miles. [Service records avail]

When Do 2026 Nissan Kicks Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

1,000–2,000 milesElectrical system failures

1,500–1,900 milesCV axle problems

Best & Worst Nissan Kicks Years

Best Nissan Kicks Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

Nissan Kicks Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Nissan Kicks reliability scores by year
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

Nissan Kicks Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	83/100	+5	Excellent	1	1
2025	78/100	-3	Good	3	24
2024	81/100	+1	Excellent	1	20
2023	80/100	-2	Excellent	1	23
2022	82/100	+4	Excellent	0	19
2021	78/100	0	Good	2	66
2020	78/100	+5	Good	0	85
2019	73/100	+2	Good	1	123
2018	71/100	—	Good	1	78

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Nissan Kicks reliable?

Yes, its standing is excellent and above average among 2026 SUVs. It also ranks best of nine Kicks model years. The record is thin, though. Owners have filed just one complaint, and a new model year has had little time to build a history. Federal records show one recall.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

Owner reports point to electrical system failures and CV axle problems. The electrical failures appear between 1,000 and 2,000 miles. The axle problems appear between 1,500 and 1,900 miles. With so few complaints, no pattern is established yet, but both problems came early.

Does the 2026 Nissan Kicks have CV axle problems?

Owners have reported CV axle problems, starting at about 1,500 to 1,900 miles. That is very early in a car's life. Only one complaint is on file for this model year, so it is too soon to call it a widespread issue. Ask for any axle repair records.

Has the 2026 Nissan Kicks been recalled?

Yes. Federal recall records list one recall for this model year, in the area of latches, locks, and linkages. Before buying, ask the seller for proof the recall work was completed. The records given here do not describe the recall in more detail.

Is the 2026 Nissan Kicks better than the 2025 model?

On the numbers, yes. The 2026 rates excellent, while the 2025 rates good and rates worse overall. The 2025 has 24 complaints and 3 recalls, against one complaint and one recall for 2026. The 2026 has had less time on the road, so the gap may narrow.

Don’t buy a 2026 Nissan Kicks without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Nissan Kicks

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Nissan Kicks does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on repair costs (80/100). 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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