Is the Nissan Kicks more reliable than the Volvo XC60?

Slightly, yes. Both sit in good standing, but the Kicks has far fewer recalls, 10 versus 42. The XC60 draws fewer owner complaints per car sold, at 5.3 per 10,000 against 8.3 for the Kicks. The Nissan's edge is real but narrow.

Which has more recalls, the Kicks or the XC60?

The XC60 has more. Federal recall records show 42 across 8 model years for the Volvo, compared with 10 across 9 model years for the Kicks. A recall count does not say how serious each one was, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.

Which costs less to repair, the Kicks or the XC60?

The data cannot answer that. Independent repair-cost data exists for the XC60, which shows about $746 a year, 0.5 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 7% chance a repair is major. No matching figures are available for the Kicks, so a direct cost comparison is not possible.

What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Kicks?

Electrical faults lead with 96 complaints, 3 crash-linked. Owners describe the rear hatch glass shattering on a parked car, a fuel gauge that stopped working, and a car that restarted by itself. Power train reports of sudden power loss and stalls are the other serious pattern.

What goes wrong with the Volvo XC60?

Electrical trouble is the top issue, with 81 complaints and 5 crash-linked. Water from the sunroof and roof drains reaches electronics under the front passenger seat, and screens can go black while driving. Owners also report fast brake and rotor wear, steering vibration, and front wipers jamming in heavy snow.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Nissan Kicks

Good

Volvo XC60

Good

Reliability favors the Nissan Kicks over the Volvo XC60, but only slightly. The Kicks has 10 recalls against 42 for the XC60, though owners file more complaints on the Nissan per car sold. Both sit in good standing.

How Do the Nissan Kicks and Volvo XC60 Generations Compare?

Used shoppers will mostly see first-generation Kicks cars. That generation, called P15, covered US model years 2018 through 2025 and received a facelift in 2021. A second generation, P16, is also listed. The weakest Kicks years, 2018 and 2019, sit at the start of the first-generation run. The XC60 is in its second generation, which began with the 2018 model year and had facelifts in 2021 and 2025. Most used cars from 2018 to 2023 belong to that generation. The first generation ended with 2017 and is a different car.

Verdict

The Nissan Kicks is more reliable than the Volvo XC60, scoring 78/100 vs 74/100.

A slight edge goes to the Nissan Kicks, and the main reason is recalls. Federal records show 10 across its model years, against 42 for the XC60. Owners file more complaints per car sold on the Kicks, so the lead is narrow. Both land in good standing. The XC60 has independent repair-cost data showing modest yearly costs, and the Kicks has none to compare. Treat this as a close call that tilts toward the Nissan, not a clear win.

Key Differences

1Nissan Kicks has 32 fewer total recalls
2Nissan Kicks scores 4 points higher in reliability
3Volvo XC60 has 3.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Nissan Kicks

—

2Volvo XC60

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60: Which Is More Reliable?

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Nissan Kicks	Volvo XC60
Reliability Score	78/100	74/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	10	42
Complaints per 10k Sold	8.3	5.3
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	7	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Nissan Kicks and Volvo XC60?

Sudden loss of function defines the Kicks complaints. Owners report power dropping while driving, stalls at red lights, a rear hatch glass that shatters on a parked car, and rear automatic braking that stops the car for no reason. The XC60 problems are more about water and electronics. Sunroof drain leaks reach wiring under the front seat, and screens go black while driving. Brake and rotor wear, steering vibration, and wipers jamming in snow also stand out. Crash-linked reports touch Kicks power train, with 2, while the XC60 has no power train area listed. The XC60 has 5 crash-linked electrical reports, versus 3 for the Kicks.

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60 common problem areas comparison
Component	Nissan Kicks	Volvo XC60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.8Low	1.8Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.2Low	0.5Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.7Very Low	0.4Very Low
POWER TRAIN	0.8Very Low	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.3Very Low
ENGINE	0.5Very Low	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.2Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	0.1Very Low	—None
WHEELS	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60 Reliability Compare by Year?

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Nissan Kicks	Volvo XC60	Edge
2026	83/1001R / 1C	74/1003R / 4C	Nissan Kicks
2025	78/1003R / 24C	76/1004R / 22C	Nissan Kicks
2023	80/1001R / 23C	74/1005R / 40C	Nissan Kicks
2022	82/1000R / 19C	72/1006R / 60C	Nissan Kicks
2021	78/1002R / 66C	75/1005R / 31C	Nissan Kicks
2020	78/1000R / 85C	75/1006R / 17C	Nissan Kicks
2019	73/1001R / 123C	72/1008R / 33C	Nissan Kicks
2018	71/1001R / 78C	74/1005R / 35C	Volvo XC60

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Nissan Kicks scored 82/100 and the 2021 Volvo XC60 scored 75/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Nissan Kicks vs the Volvo XC60?

Pick the Kicks if you want fewer recalls and a simple compact SUV, and you can accept a small chance of odd electrical or power-loss faults. Target 2022. Skip 2018 and 2019, the weakest years. The newest year, 2026, looks strong mainly because it has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven. Before buying, check that the rear hatch glass is intact and ask whether the car has ever lost power or stalled. Pick the XC60 if you want a more upscale ride and can live with a long recall history. Target 2021, which ranks among its strongest years. Avoid 2019 and 2022, the weakest. A 2025 is a high-ranking year too, but it is recent and has had less time to show problems. On any XC60, look for damp carpet, test the sunroof drains, run the screens, and feel for brake pulsation or steering vibration at highway speed.

Nissan Kicks vs Volvo XC60: Common Questions

Is the Nissan Kicks more reliable than the Volvo XC60?: Slightly, yes. Both sit in good standing, but the Kicks has far fewer recalls, 10 versus 42. The XC60 draws fewer owner complaints per car sold, at 5.3 per 10,000 against 8.3 for the Kicks. The Nissan's edge is real but narrow.
Which has more recalls, the Kicks or the XC60?: The XC60 has more. Federal recall records show 42 across 8 model years for the Volvo, compared with 10 across 9 model years for the Kicks. A recall count does not say how serious each one was, so check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.
Which costs less to repair, the Kicks or the XC60?: The data cannot answer that. Independent repair-cost data exists for the XC60, which shows about $746 a year, 0.5 unscheduled shop visits a year, and a 7% chance a repair is major. No matching figures are available for the Kicks, so a direct cost comparison is not possible.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Kicks?: Electrical faults lead with 96 complaints, 3 crash-linked. Owners describe the rear hatch glass shattering on a parked car, a fuel gauge that stopped working, and a car that restarted by itself. Power train reports of sudden power loss and stalls are the other serious pattern.
What goes wrong with the Volvo XC60?: Electrical trouble is the top issue, with 81 complaints and 5 crash-linked. Water from the sunroof and roof drains reaches electronics under the front passenger seat, and screens can go black while driving. Owners also report fast brake and rotor wear, steering vibration, and front wipers jamming in heavy snow.

More Nissan Kicks comparisons

Nissan Kicks vs Kia Soul reliability Nissan Kicks vs Buick Envista reliability Nissan Kicks vs Buick Encore reliability Nissan Kicks vs Kia Niro reliability Nissan Kicks reliability by year Nissan Kicks years to avoid

More Volvo XC60 comparisons

Volvo XC60 vs Genesis GV70 reliability Volvo XC60 vs Audi Q3 reliability Volvo XC60 vs BMW X1 reliability Volvo XC60 reliability by year Volvo XC60 years to avoid

Decided between Nissan Kicks and Volvo XC60? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Nissan Kicks and Volvo XC60

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.

See incorrect data? Report an issue