YearToAvoid

2018 Nissan Kicks Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2018 Nissan Kicks ranks 6th worst out of 8 model years, with a complaint index of 29 and a Good verdict. NHTSA logged 85 complaints, mostly about brakes, engine, and electrical issues, with one crash reported and one recall.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
29/100
#6 of 8 Kicks years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
85
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2018 Nissan Kicks problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Automatic emergency braking activates or deactivates on its own with no vehicle or obstruction ahead, sometimes showing a 'front radar unavailable' warning.
  • Front and side sensors for the AEB system malfunction repeatedly even after dealer replacement, in one case linked to a crash.
  • Dashboard gauges, stereo, and power steering intermittently fail to turn on at startup and require multiple restart attempts.
  • Transmission shifts roughly or grinds when moving from park to reverse, and the vehicle rolls back on inclines.
  • Fuel gauge and mileage readouts malfunction after refueling, with dealers unable to diagnose the software issue.
  • Backup camera image remains unclear even after the recall remedy was applied.
2018 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per quarter72018 Q32019 Q32020 Q32021 Q42022 Q42023 Q42025 Q12026 Q1
85 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (7).

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 reliable?
Among Kicks model years, the 2018 rates Good with a complaint index of 29, the 6th lowest of 8 years tracked. NHTSA recorded 85 complaints, mainly involving brakes, engine, and electrical systems.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Kicks?
Brakes account for 29% of complaints, engine issues another 29%, and electrical system problems 28%. Collision avoidance and camera issues make up 22% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 19V654000) covers a backup camera software issue affecting several Nissan models, including the 2018 Kicks. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year Nissan Kicks should I avoid instead of the 2018?
The 2019 and 2020 Kicks carry Avoid verdicts, with complaint indexes of 86 and 100 respectively, both higher than the 2018's index of 29.
At what mileage do 2018 Kicks problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for the 2018 Kicks overall is 6,000 miles, though electrical issues showed up at a median of 2,600 miles.

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.