YearToAvoid

2019 Nissan Kicks Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2019 Nissan Kicks has a Complaint Index of 86, ranking 2nd-worst of 8 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Top complaint areas are Collision Avoidance & Cameras (45 complaints), Engine (43), and Electrical System (39), plus one recall for back-up camera software.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
86/100
#2 of 8 Kicks years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
134
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Collision Avoidance & Cameras
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2019 Nissan Kicks problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras45 (34%)
  2. Engine43 (32%)
  3. Electrical System39 (29%)
  4. Other32 (24%)
  5. Brakes23 (17%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain19 (14%)
  7. Fuel System14 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (5%)
  9. Airbags4 (3%)
  10. Steering4 (3%)

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

What owners report

  • Rear-view camera systems trigger false collision-avoidance alerts or emergency braking warnings, sometimes citing a laser misalignment code.
  • Some drivers report unintended acceleration or failure of automatic emergency braking while maneuvering at low speed, leading to a crash.
  • Owners describe transmission slipping RPMs or the vehicle losing power and shutting off while driving on the highway.
  • Fuel gauge readings were reported as inaccurate, showing rapid drops in indicated range without matching actual fuel use.
  • One driver's front airbag reportedly failed to deploy in a front-end collision despite the passenger airbag deploying.
  • Electrical glitches were reported including a radio that randomly changes volume and a front crash sensor that activates without cause.
2019 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per quarter102019 Q12020 Q32021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
134 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (10).

2019 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.

2019 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.

2019 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
2021Caution5776233

All Nissan Kicks years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Nissan Kicks a bad year?
Compared to other Kicks model years, 2019 ranks 2nd-worst out of 8 years with a Complaint Index of 86 and an Avoid verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Nissan Kicks?
NHTSA complaints most often involve Collision Avoidance & Cameras (45 complaints, 34%), Engine (43 complaints, 32%), and Electrical System (39 complaints, 29%).
Does the 2019 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 19V654000) covers a back-up camera software issue, fixed by a free dealer software update.
How does the 2019 Kicks compare to other years?
The 2019 model has a Complaint Index of 86, worse than 2018 (29, Good) and 2022-2023 (14 and 0, both Best), but slightly better than 2020 (100, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Nissan Kicks?
EPA rates it at 33 mpg combined (31 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950.

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.