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Research · Midsize Cars

2019 Nissan KicksRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 134 owner complaints for the 2019 Nissan Kicks. Most complaints involve forward collision avoidance (43) and electrical system (39). The EPA rates it 33 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
33mpg
EPA · 1 version
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Sep 2019
Owner complaints
134
Top: forward collision avoidance
Fuel cost / yr
$1,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Back over prevention: camera

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Back over preventionReported Sep 12, 2019NHTSA 19V654000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

134 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2019 – Jul 2026
  1. Forward collision avoidance43
  2. Electrical system39
  3. Engine35
  4. Power train19
  5. Service brakes17
  6. Vehicle speed control15
  7. Fuel/propulsion system11
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  9. Suspension4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Kicks model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
201886
2019134
202098
202178
202224
202334
202439
202542
202610
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Forward collision avoidance

43 reports2 crashes
“When driving in rainy, snowy/icy, or wet conditions, water/slush impacts the front sensors/MAF sensor, causing the engine to shudder, stall, and shut off completely while in drive. The ABS, battery, and oil lights instantly flash on the dashboard, and the Automatic Emergency Braking system triggers/faults, creating a severe stall and safety hazard on active roads.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11752190

Electrical system

39 reports1 crash
“Frequently and randomly I get errors on my dash for the front collision sensor and slippery roads warning. This seems to occur for no reason as all while I am driving. When this happens my RPM's drop and my car will stall at red lights or stop signs. In a few instances, my car has refused to accelerate because it believes the car is obstructed. This has put me at risk of getting rear ended on numerous occasions. I need to turn my car off and on multiple times in order to get to my destination. Once the car is left alone for awhile, the issues completely goes away and the car drives like normal until it inevitably randomly occurs again. This appears to be an issue with the Kicks model across the board, as loads of other people online have had the same issue and tried multiple things to fix it to no avail. Mechanics have no idea what is causing it or how to fix it. It is also impossible to replicate the issues since it happens for seemingly no reason and then goes away for no reason. 3 images are attached to show proof at different miles (however this has occurred more times than I can count). Dates can be seen in the metadata. This is incredibly unsafe and needs to be recalled.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11745726

Engine

35 reports
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine and three other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic five times for unknown diagnoses and repairs; however, the failure persisted after the mechanic performed the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2026EngineODI 11735552
All 2019 Kicks problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

1 version rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Kicks
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
313633$1,950271
  • Kicks
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    31 city · 36 hwy · $1,950/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Nissan Kicks SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 13463
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2019 Kicks questions

How many recalls does the 2019 Nissan Kicks have?

1 safety recall as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2019 Nissan Kicks problems?

Owners filed 134 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are forward collision avoidance (43), electrical system (39), engine (35). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2019 Nissan Kicks get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Nissan Kicks at 33 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).

How safe is the 2019 Nissan Kicks?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2019 Nissan Kicks 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026