VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Nissan Kicks2018–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
2 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Nissan Kicks — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 75 | 41 | 63 | Avoid |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 75 | 56 | 68 | Avoid |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 69 | 77 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 79 | 81 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 86 | 83 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 89 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 88 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 84 | 83 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 82 | 78 | 81 | Excellent |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Kicks compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Kicks to buy?+
See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Kicks model year.
Which Kicks years have the most problems?+
The 2025, 2026 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2025 Kicks leads with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Kicks problems?+
See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.