YearToAvoid

2021 Nissan Kicks Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2021 Nissan Kicks has a Complaint Index of 57, ranking 4th worst out of 8 model years and earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 76 complaints, 2 recalls (both steering-related), 6 crashes, and 2 injuries for this year.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
57/100
#4 of 8 Kicks years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
76
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
6
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Top issue
Structure & Body
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2021 Nissan Kicks problems

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

  1. Structure & Body26 (34%)
  2. Other16 (21%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras15 (20%)
  4. Electrical System11 (14%)
  5. Engine10 (13%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain9 (12%)
  7. Brakes5 (7%)
  8. Airbags4 (5%)
  9. Steering3 (4%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (3%)

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

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end and multi-vehicle crashes.
  • At low speed, the vehicle rolls forward and strikes objects after being shifted into park, with no warning lights active.
  • Forward collision warning triggers falsely when driving toward the sun, causing unexpected braking.
  • Heater blend doors malfunction, switching abruptly between cold and maximum hot air with a one-degree setting change.
  • Paint chips above the windshield crease with rust forming underneath on some vehicles.
  • A loud bang from the engine compartment accompanies multiple warning lights and loss of forward movement.
2021 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per month22Sep 2021Mar 2022Nov 2022Apr 2023Feb 2025Jun 2025Feb 2026Aug 2026
76 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Feb 2022 (22).

2021 Nissan Kicks recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V496000Jul 18, 2023Steering11,824 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.

    Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA26. This recall involves vehicles that were previously inspected, but did not receive a steering column replacement, under recall number 22V-693. These vehicles will need to be reinspected for this recall.

  2. NHTSA 22V693000Sep 15, 2022Steering20,040 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.

    Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / PMA25.

2021 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.

2021 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
2019Avoid86134133
2020Avoid10096033
2021Caution5776233
2022Best1423033
2023Best018133

All Nissan Kicks years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Kicks reliable?
It ranks 4th worst among 8 Kicks model years with a Complaint Index of 57 and a Caution verdict, based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Kicks?
Structure & Body complaints lead at 34% of the total, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 20% and Electrical System issues at 14%, per NHTSA data.
Does the 2021 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls (22V693000 and 23V496000) cover an intermittent electric power steering torque sensor connection that can disable power steering assist.
How does the 2021 Kicks compare to other years?
It's rated Caution, worse than the 2022 and 2023 Kicks (Best verdicts, Complaint Index 14 and 0) but better than the 2019 and 2020 Kicks (Avoid, indexes 86 and 100).
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Nissan Kicks?
EPA rates it at 33 mpg combined (31 city / 36 highway), with an 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.