Last updated: 2026-03-04

Predicted

2026 Nissan Kicks Reliability Score & Common Problems

Name: 2026 Nissan Kicks
Brand: Nissan

The 2026 Nissan Kicks has a predicted reliability score of 80/100 based on prior model year data. Early data shows 1 recall and 1 owner complaint.

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

per 10k sold

Est. Annual Cost

N/A

Major Repair Risk

N/A

NHTSA Rating

4/5

Buy

Based on historical reliability patterns, predicted to score 80/100 — a strong pick.

Top Issues

STEERING (1)

1 recall on record

Should You Buy the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

The 2026 Nissan Kicks has a predicted reliability score of 80/100 ("Excellent") based on prior model year performance.

So far: 1 recall, 1 owner complaint. Early complaint volume is still developing.

Prior model years suggest dependable ownership. Confirm all recall repairs are completed, and consider a pre-purchase inspection for used examples.

See also the 2025 Nissan Kicks for an earlier comparison.

Pros

Strong predicted reliability based on prior model years
Low recall count
Low complaint frequency
Only 1 complaints reported

Cons

Score is a prediction — real-world data still developing
STEERING (1)

Compare 2026 Nissan Kicks With

Predicted

2026 Audi Q3

Predicted: 66/100

Predicted

2026 BMW X1

Predicted: 68/100

Predicted

2026 Volvo XC60

Predicted: 74/100

Common Problem Categories

Safety

1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

STEERING (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2026 Nissan Kicks has 1 recall on record. This is a low count. Recalls are manufacturer-initiated fixes for safety or compliance issues and are repaired at no cost to the owner at authorized dealerships.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

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.

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 Kicks Repair 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.

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.

When Buying a Used 2026 Nissan Kicks

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing, based on the most common reported issues.

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

Check Any 2026 Nissan Kicks's History Before You Buy

Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2026 Kicks in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Nissan Kicks with a free VIN lookup.

Run a Free VIN Check

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

The best Nissan Kicks year is 2022 with a reliability score of 82/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2024 (81/100) and 2023 (80/100).

Excellent

2022

0 recalls · 19 complaints

Excellent

2024

1 recall · 20 complaints

Excellent

2023

1 recall · 23 complaints

Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid

The worst Nissan Kicks year is 2018 with a score of 71/100, primarily due to electrical system (17) issues.

Good

2018

1 recall · 78 complaints

See full Nissan Kicks years-to-avoid analysis →

Nissan Kicks Reliability Score Trend

Nissan Kicks reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 78/100.

avg 78

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

Nissan Kicks Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	80/100 (predicted)	—	Predicted	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?

The 2026 Nissan Kicks has a predicted reliability score of 80/100 ("Excellent") based on prior model year data. So far there is 1 recall and 1 owner complaint on file. This is a prediction — the actual score will be available once more real-world data accumulates.

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

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Nissan Kicks. Based on prior model years, review known issues from previous years to understand potential problem areas.

How many recalls does the 2026 Nissan Kicks have?

The 2026 Nissan Kicks has 1 recall on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.

How is the predicted score calculated?

The predicted score of 80/100 is calculated by averaging reliability scores from prior model years of the same generation. When generation data is unavailable, the average of the most recent model years is used. The prediction updates automatically as new data becomes available.

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.