Last updated: 2026-10-10

Nissan Kicks

Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid

9 scored model years (2018–2026) · model average 78/100

Skip the 2018 and 2019 model years. They have the highest complaint rates of any Kicks year, led by engine stalls with warning lights and ABS faults, and 2019 adds CVT trouble. The 2022 is the year to buy, with far fewer complaints and no recalls.

Verdict

Avoid
2018 71/1002019 73/100
Buy
2022 82/100
Model average
78/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Nissan Kicks average of 78/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1201871/100Good178Electrical System (17)
2201973/100Good1123Electrical System (36)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

71
GoodReliability score: 71 out of 100, rated Good

2018 Nissan Kicks

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.

1 recalls78 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Electrical System (17), Unknown Or Other (16), Service Brakes (10), Power Train (7), Electronic Stability Control (esc) (5), Forward Collision Avoidance (4)

View full 2018reliability report →
73
GoodReliability score: 73 out of 100, rated Good

2019 Nissan Kicks

Owners filed the most complaints of any year here. Sudden stalling with a burst of dash warnings leads, and new air flow sensors often don't fix it. Others report CVT slipping and shudder, some ending in a transmission replacement, plus faulty ABS modules, one reported on national backorder.

1 recalls123 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Electrical System (36), Unknown Or Other (24), Power Train (16), Engine (9), Service Brakes (7), Vehicle Speed Control (6)

View full 2019reliability report →

What Are Common Nissan Kicks Problems?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

96 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2018

2019: Sudden power loss and stalling lead this category, usually with a burst of dash warnings for automatic emergency braking, front collision, slip or traction, and check engine.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

63 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2018, 2021

2019: Stalling and limp-mode episodes with front collision, traction and check engine lights show up here too.

POWER TRAIN

44 complaints

Most reported in 2020, 2019, 2018

2020: The CVT slips, shudders, hesitates and loses power, especially when pulling away from a stop or climbing a hill.

SERVICE BRAKES

35 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2018, 2020

2019: ABS warning lights are the most common brake complaint, and dealers diagnose a faulty ABS actuator or module.

STRUCTURE

27 complaints

Most reported in 2021, 2024, 2023

2021: Paint chips away above the upper crease of the windshield, and some rust shows through.

ENGINE

24 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2022

2019: Stalling while driving or at stop lights is the main engine complaint.

Best Nissan Kicks Year to Buy Instead

82
ExcellentReliability score: 82 out of 100, rated Excellent

2022 Nissan Kicks

Owners 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.

Score: 82/100 (Excellent)0 recalls19 complaints
View full 2022reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2022 Nissan Kicks has 0 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Nissan Kicks Years by Generation

First generation (P15) (2018–2025)

82
ExcellentReliability score: 82 out of 100, rated Excellent

2022 Nissan Kicks

0 recalls · 19 complaints

81
ExcellentReliability score: 81 out of 100, rated Excellent

2024 Nissan Kicks

1 recalls · 20 complaints

80
ExcellentReliability score: 80 out of 100, rated Excellent

2023 Nissan Kicks

1 recalls · 23 complaints

78
GoodReliability score: 78 out of 100, rated Good

2020 Nissan Kicks

0 recalls · 85 complaints

78
GoodReliability score: 78 out of 100, rated Good

2021 Nissan Kicks

2 recalls · 66 complaints

78
GoodReliability score: 78 out of 100, rated Good

2025 Nissan Kicks

3 recalls · 24 complaints

73
GoodReliability score: 73 out of 100, rated Good

2019 Nissan Kicks

1 recalls · 123 complaints

Weakest Year
71
GoodReliability score: 71 out of 100, rated Good

2018 Nissan Kicks

1 recalls · 78 complaints

Weakest Year

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nissan Kicks years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2018 and 2019. Both sit well below the model's own average, with the highest complaint rates of any year. Stalling with warning lights and ABS failures are the main reasons. The 2022 is the better choice.
Which Nissan Kicks years have transmission problems?
The 2019 is the year with CVT complaints in the data. Owners report slipping, shudder, jerking and sudden loss of acceleration, and some needed a full transmission replacement. Several reports fall between about 65,922 and 80,000 miles.
Why is the 2018 Nissan Kicks a year to avoid?
Owners report the engine stalling at stops and in traffic, with a P0101 air flow code that comes back after the sensor is replaced. ABS failures are also reported, including a $2,448 dealer quote. It has the highest complaint rate of any year.
Are the 2020 and 2021 Nissan Kicks safe to buy?
They sit between the weak and strong years. Both rate good. The 2020 still draws electrical and power train complaints. The 2021 has two recalls, and most of its structure complaints are one repeated fleet filing about paint chipping. The 2022 is the safer pick.
Is a 2025 or 2026 Nissan Kicks a safer choice?
Not yet proven. Both have few complaints, but they have had little time on the road to collect them. The 2025 also has three recalls on record. A 2022 has a longer track record and no recalls.

How we score every Nissan Kicks model year

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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