Nissan Kicks: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Kicks problems by model year, from 449 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2020 (45%, 41 drivetrain complaints), 2019 (44%, 57 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (36%, 29 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 5 Nissan Kicks years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (21%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (45%) to 2021 (21%), down 24 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (57 of 153 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Kicks year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kicks | elevated | 36% | 29 | 85 | 3/5 | 1 |
| 2019 Kicks | high | 44% | 57 | 134 | 2/5 | 1 |
| 2020 Kicks | high | 45% | 41 | 97 | 1/5 | 0 |
| 2021 Kicks | no elevated signal | 21% | 15 | 76 | 5/5 | 2 |
| 2022 Kicks | too few to score | – | 7 | 23 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Kicks | elevated | 33% | 11 | 34 | 4/5 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Kicks years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Kicks recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the Nissan Kicks years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V693000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V496000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2021 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V154000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Kicks
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Kicks
What are the worst years for the Nissan Kicks?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Kicks years are the 2020 (45% of relevant complaints, high), the 2019 (44% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (36% of relevant complaints, elevated). 4 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Kicks?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Kicks years are the 2021 (21%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Kicks have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 153 of 415 relevant NHTSA complaints (37%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Is the Nissan Kicks reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 5 Nissan Kicks years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 37% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Kicks?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the Nissan Kicks years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.