Carlexica

2020 Nissan Kicks: problems, recalls and reliability

0 recalls and 97 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is forward collision avoidance (20% of complaints).

Data updated weekly · 5 new complaints in the last 90 days

0
recalls
97
owner complaints
0
fire reports
30,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

NHTSA crash testOverall ★★★★★Front ★★★★★Side ★★★★★Rollover ★★★★★
4-star NHTSA overall safety ratingNo fire reportsNo recall campaignsWeak spot: forward collision avoidance (20%)Problems reported early (median 30,000 mi)

Common problems

Computed from 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Forward Collision Avoidance (automatic emergency braking, sensors)20% · 18 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)17% · 15 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)15% · 13 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System (fuel pump, tank, lines)9% · 8 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)9% · 8 complaints
Lane Departure (lane keeping assist)7% · 6 complaints
“My tire is 205 50r17 and they gave me a 235 tire which made my car feel funny . I've been sitting here for an hour waiting on a tire and they messed up my rim”Owner report · Tires · Sep 2026
“My car when in over 95 degree weather, literally will not have power to get up hills and starts to jerk and looses power to make the hills. When the temps outside are cooler the car works fine. I live in [XXX] and I drive long distance to work. I also have a [XXX] son that has to be in the car with me. I can't have my car messing up all because it's hot outside and it obviously doesn't like the heat. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2026
“My 2020 Nissan Kicks with 62,000 miles, went into limp mode on XXX and after a diagnostic test by the Pinnacle Nissan dealership in Scottsdale ([XXX]), it was determined a "Throttle Body Replacement" was needed. I paid $1,143.69 for that work. On XXX, the car went into limp mode again while on the freeway and the Pinnacle Nissan dealership in Scottsdale stated it needed an "Engine Wire Harness" replacement that would cost $8,057.83. I then contacted Nissan consumer affairs and after one month of review, it was determined that the car was out of warranty and there was nothing they can do. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“My vehicle over the last 3-4 years has been showing P0101 code errors, resulting in issues with idle, performance, and fuel economy. Cleaning the MAF sensor does nothing. This causes all sensors to turn off and stay off until the car is subsequently turned off again. I have taken it in to Nissan to be inspected and refuse to pay over $500 just for them to diagnose the issue. Have seen this also being a recurring issue with other owners.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2026
“Check engine light appears on and throws code p0101, mass air flow sensor. Have changed mass air flow sensor twice, had code cleared at mechanic. Drive 5 miles and BAM check engine light appears. As soon as my car hits 2000 RPM, the front and rear collision lights and traction light come on... my car almost doesn't move when I press the gas to go after this happens and the rpm's are up to 3000-4000 just going 30 mph”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2026
“Vehicle was just purchased from a Nissan Dealership (2020 Kicks) and less than 1,300 miles of driving throwing a code stating there is a problem with CVT transmission. Will not produce enough power when going uphill. RPMs will suddenly not go over 1 when given gas uphill. There was a recall for this problem on other 2020 kicks but ours isn't covered and we just purchased this vehicle and drove it home less than 2 months ago.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2026
“The dash board lights up and the check engine light comes. It's hard to accelerate or reverse and its idles high. I have replaced coils, spark plugs, censors and it's costs me thousands of dollars and it's still not fixed.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2025
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver's side seat belt independently unlatched. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 197. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Nov 2025
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that the ABS, Forward Facing Camera, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), Lane Variation, and other safety feature lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the ABS and Forward-Facing Camera. The dealer diagnosed that the ADAS needed to be replaced; however, the part was on back order. While awaiting parts for the repair, the battery started to lose power and needed to be jump-started several times. The manufacturer was informed of the issue. The manufacturer opened a case for the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Oct 2025
“The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed electronic control module. The contact was informed that the electronic control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were on back order. In addition, the contact referenced an online site, which referenced the failure with the vehicle, and for parts were not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2025

When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Trouble codes owners mention

OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.

How other years compare

Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Kicks years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.

Check your exact Kicks by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Kicks reliable?

NHTSA has 97 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2020 Nissan Kicks. The most complained-about area is forward collision avoidance (20% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2020 Nissan Kicks problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 30,000 miles or less.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.