Reliable Auto DB

2021 Nissan Kicks reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Kicks over 6 years — 15 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 7 Kicks years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Electric power steering.

2018 Nissan Kicks
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

76

Per year

15

Recalls

2

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (24 of 76), then Forward collision avoidance (15) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Kicks has 96 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2022 has 23 complaints, 5 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Nissan Kicks. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall Electric power steering 2023-07-18 · NHTSA campaign 23V496000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA26. This recall involves vehicles that were previously inspected, but did not receive a steering column replacement, under recall number 22V-693. These vehicles will need to be reinspected for this recall.
Recall Electric power steering 2022-09-15 · NHTSA campaign 22V693000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / PMA25.

Complaints by component (76 total)

Structure
24
Forward collision avoidance
15
Electrical system
11
Powertrain
9
Engine
8
Air bags
4
Service brakes
4
Steering
3
Lane departure
2
Speed control
2
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

4202129202213202322024142025142026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Engine light keeps coming on, just had 1 camshaft changed."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-03
  • "The rear door actuator on the passenger side failed causing the door to not be able to unlock electronically. This is particularly concerning as this is the side we would put our infant child on and we would be unable…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-21
  • "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…"
    Steering, Powertrain, Wheels · filed 2026-08-14
  • "The CVT transmission is slipping and losing acceleration while driving, overheating and smelling really bad like burnt rubber, the oil is black and smells burnt, its currently at 52,100 miles and I sent it up to Chuck…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-07-25
  • "I was involved in a pile up on the highway, upon impact, my seatbelt and my daughter’s seat belt popped off. My sons however, remained intact. The air bags did not go off."
    Air bags, Seat belts · filed 2026-07-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Nissan Kicks SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Kicks 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 31 36 33 MPG $1950

Specs and fitment

P15 generation, 2018–2024
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 205/60R16, 205/55R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 22V-693 covers certain 2021 Kicks and Versa vehicles: an intermittent electrical connection in the EPS torque sensor can disable power steering assist. Dealers inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the column if needed. Recall 24V-154 covers certain 2023-2024 Kicks vehicles among other Nissan models: the driver air bag inflator may absorb moisture and deploy improperly; dealers replace the front driver air bag assembly.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Nissan Kicks Next year 2022 Nissan Kicks See every Nissan Kicks model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Kicks reliable?

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Kicks over 6 years — 15 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 7 Kicks years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Electric power steering.

What are common problems with a 2021 Nissan Kicks?

The complaints owners file most often name Structure (24 of 76), then Forward collision avoidance (15) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Nissan Kicks more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Kicks has 96 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2022 has 23 complaints, 5 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Nissan Kicks been recalled?

The 2021 Nissan Kicks has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Nissan Kicks?

Owners have filed 76 complaints about the 2021 Nissan Kicks with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Nissan Kicks get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Nissan Kicks is 33 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Nissan Kicks take?

US Kicks in this generation use 0W-20 (about 4.5 qt with filter).

Does recall 22V-693 affect the Nissan Kicks?

Yes for certain 2021 Kicks (and Versa): an intermittent EPS torque-sensor connection can disable power steering assist; dealers inspect the sensor lot code.

What generation is the 2020 Nissan Kicks?

P15 generation (2018-2024 in the US catalog this site tracks).