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2021 Nissan Kicks problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
21%
15 of 76 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Nissan Kicks. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 21% of relevant complaints.

Better than 86% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2021 Nissan Kicks have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 76 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Kicks concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 45%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
15
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
76
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
6 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

STRUCTURE24 · 32%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16 · 21%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE15 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 14%
POWER TRAIN9 · 12%
ENGINE8 · 11%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
36%
29 of 85
2019
44%
57 of 134
2020
45%
41 of 97
2021
21%
15 of 76
2022
too few complaints
2023
33%
11 of 34

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN11/07/2025CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a loud boom coming from the engine compartment with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the traffic light turned red, and the contact stopped the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to move…
ENGINE09/03/2026
Engine light keeps coming on, just had 1 camshaft changed.
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS08/14/2026
I had a noise and highway vibration in my 2021 Nissan Kicks. Brought it to the dealer and was told the front axle nut was loose. They said it is a common issue. There is a TSB on it but I believe it is a safety issue due to it being a loose axle nut and vibration

Three of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Kicks (2)

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque…
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2021 Nissan Kicks

Questions people ask about the 2021 Nissan Kicks

Does the 2021 Nissan Kicks have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 76 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Kicks concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Nissan Kicks?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Nissan Kicks. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Nissan Kicks years are better?

The 2021 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Nissan Kicks years we track (21%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2021 Nissan Kicks?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Nissan Kicks shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.