YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Kicks Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 8 Kicks years

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

The 2020 Nissan Kicks has 96 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 8 Kicks model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is collision avoidance & cameras (34 complaints, 35% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
96
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy

Top 2020 Nissan Kicks problems

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

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras34 (35%)
  2. Electrical System27 (28%)
  3. Engine25 (26%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain20 (21%)
  5. Fuel System13 (14%)
  6. Brakes12 (13%)
  7. Other12 (13%)
  8. Lane Departure10 (10%)
  9. Airbags7 (7%)
  10. Steering3 (3%)
2020 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per quarter162020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (16).

2020 Nissan Kicks recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 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.

2020 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
2022Best1423033

All Nissan Kicks years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Nissan Kicks a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Nissan Kicks ranks worst among Kicks model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 96 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Kicks?
The most reported problem areas are collision avoidance & cameras (34 complaints), electrical system (27 complaints), and engine (25 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 6,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2020 Nissan Kicks in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Nissan Kicks?
EPA rates the 2020 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.