Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Nissan Kicks model year (2018–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Nissan Kicks Years to Avoid
0 recalls · 85 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Problem score: 89
0 recalls · 23 complaints
1 reported injury
Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 25
0 recalls · 20 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: ENGINE
Problem score: 24
Best Nissan Kicks Years to Buy
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 0
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 0
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 0
Found the right year? Verify that specific Kicks with a free VIN report.
Nissan Kicks — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 20 | 22 | Good |
| 2023 | 0 | 23 | 25 | Good |
| 2022 | 0 | 20 | 24 | Good |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 6 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 85 | 89 | Avoid |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellent |
Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.
Nissan Kicks Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2025Recent Kicks models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2025 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Kicks should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2020 Nissan Kicks if possible. It has 0 recalls, 85 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE. The overall problem score is 89 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Kicks to buy?+
The 2018 Nissan Kicks is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 0. It has only 0 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Kicks has the fewest problems?+
The 2018, 2019, 2025 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Nissan Kicks Research
Check a Specific Nissan Kicks VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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