Problems · NHTSA complaints
2019 Nissan Kicks problems
Owners filed 134 complaints about the 2019 Nissan Kicks with NHTSA between Mar 2019 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is forward collision avoidance (43).
Complaints
134
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Forward collision avoidance43
- Electrical system39
- Engine35
- Power train19
- Service brakes17
- Vehicle speed control15
- Fuel/propulsion system11
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Suspension4
- Steering4
- Back over prevention4
- Air bags4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Wheels2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
17
9
18
27
16
30
12
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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.”
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.”
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.”
Power train
19 reports1 crash
“My vehicle has experienced transmission-related issues that have affected its safety, reliability, and overall performance. The symptoms include hesitation during acceleration, delayed response when pressing the accelerator, jerking, loss of power, and unpredictable driving behavior. These issues have made it difficult to safely merge into traffic, cross intersections, and maintain normal driving speeds. The transmission problems occurred despite routine maintenance and normal vehicle operation. These symptoms raise serious concerns about the safety and durability of the CVT transmission installed in this vehicle. I am concerned that these issues may represent a broader defect affecting 2019 Nissan Kicks vehicles equipped with CVT transmissions. Drivers should be able to rely on their vehicles to accelerate and operate safely without fear of sudden loss of power or transmission failure. I respectfully request that this matter be thoroughly investigated and that Nissan be held accountable for any manufacturing defects associated with the CVT transmission. I also request consideration for appropriate repairs, reimbursement for related expenses, or any other…”
Service brakes
17 reports2 crashes
“While I was driving, my vehicle’s Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) suddenly stopped working. At the same time, the Automatic Emergency Braking / Forward Emergency Braking (AEB/FEB) warning light turned on. While the vehicle was in motion, warning messages appeared on the dashboard, including: “Unavailable: Front Radar Obstruction,” and/or “Forward Driving Aids Temporarily Disabled – Front Sensor Blocked. See Owner’s Manual.” These warnings appeared even though there was no visible obstruction to the front radar sensor. The sudden loss of Intelligent Cruise Control and forward safety features while I was driving reduced my ability to rely on these systems to help maintain a safe following distance. The unexpected warning lights and messages were distracting and created a potential safety risk. This issue occurred during normal driving conditions. I had to take the vehicle in for inspection to determine whether there was a malfunction with the front radar sensor or related safety systems.”
Vehicle speed control
15 reports
“It is hard to explain what specific component put my safety at risk. But my car is suffering from unintended acceleration and unintended deceleration, which I've been told is related to my engine/ABS actuator, but Nissan is doing "further investigation" after holding my car for a month and clearing it for use. When I've been driving on the highway my car will decelerate at rapid speed, even with my entire gas pedal on the floor, and then rapidly accelerate when my foot is not on the gas. My inability to control my vehicle in those instances led to near collisions and instances of me getting my car towed. Nissan finally accepted there was an issue with my car and held it for over a month while they waited for a part to come in. They then returned it to me and said it cleared testing. Within an hour of operating the car the same thing happened again while I was on the highway, and I almost was hit from behind after going from 65 miles an hour to 40 and back up to 50+ without any warning. Then I pulled to the side and all my lights flashed including my engine and steering lights. This is a manufacturer issue that other drivers have experienced and without a recall…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.