YearToAvoid

2018 Nissan Kicks Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

29/100

#6 most-complained of 8 Kicks years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Nissan Kicks has 85 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 29 out of 100 — #6 highest of 8 Kicks model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is brakes (25 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
85
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy

Top 2018 Nissan Kicks problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other27 (32%)
  2. Brakes25 (29%)
  3. Engine25 (29%)
  4. Electrical System24 (28%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (22%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain8 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (6%)
  8. Fuel System4 (5%)
  9. Steering4 (5%)
  10. Airbags2 (2%)
2018 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per quarter142018 Q32019 Q32020 Q32021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42025 Q12026 Q1
148 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (14).

2018 Nissan Kicks recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V654000Sep 12, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,228,830 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    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."

    Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

2018 Nissan Kicks fuel economy and fuel cost

City
31 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
33 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Kicks years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Good2985133
2019Avoid86134133
2020Avoid10096033

All Nissan Kicks years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Nissan Kicks a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Nissan Kicks ranks #6 of 8 among Kicks model years (Complaint Index 29/100, verdict: Good). It has 85 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Kicks?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (25 complaints), engine (25 complaints), and electrical system (24 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 6,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Nissan Kicks, most recently reported 2019, covering collision avoidance & cameras.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Nissan Kicks?
EPA rates the 2018 Nissan Kicks at 33 MPG combined (31 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.