YearToAvoid

2023 Nissan Kicks Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#8 most-complained of 8 Kicks years

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

The 2023 Nissan Kicks ranks best among 8 model years, with 18 complaints, a Complaint Index of 0, and 1 recall. Its top problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 33% of complaints, but overall reported issues are low compared to other Kicks years.

Complaints
18
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
33
31 city / 36 hwy

Top 2023 Nissan Kicks problems

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

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (33%)
  2. Electrical System5 (28%)
  3. Engine5 (28%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain4 (22%)
  5. Other3 (17%)
  6. Brakes2 (11%)
  7. Lane Departure2 (11%)
  8. Steering1 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Emergency braking activates on its own with nothing in front of the car, including during parking and while driving past pedestrians on sidewalks.
  • The CVT transmission lost power while stopped at a light and needed replacement at a median mileage of 57,866 for transmission complaints.
  • The driver-side lane departure camera loses signal in sunlight and cuts out entirely at night, leaving safety features unreliable.
  • Adaptive cruise control triggers an unexplained warning light at the end of some drives, appearing intermittently.
  • The engine and powertrain occasionally fail to respond to the accelerator while stopped, requiring the ignition to be cycled before the vehicle moves again.
  • The vehicle failed to start intermittently, with the engine not turning over for periods of 20 minutes to an hour despite no warning lights.
2023 Nissan Kicks complaints: complaints filed per month6Jul 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026May 2026Aug 2026
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2025 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (6).

2023 Nissan Kicks recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V154000Feb 27, 2024Airbags351 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.

    Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

2023 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.

2023 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
2021Caution5776233
2022Best1423033
2023Best018133
2024Good4337133
2025Caution7137431

All Nissan Kicks years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Nissan Kicks reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2023 Kicks ranks best among the 8 model years with data, with only 18 complaints and a Complaint Index of 0.
What is the top problem area for the 2023 Nissan Kicks?
Collision Avoidance & Cameras is the top problem area, accounting for 33% of complaints, including 1 crash.
Does the 2023 Nissan Kicks have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 Kicks, campaign 24V154000, covering a manufacturing issue with the driver's front airbag assembly.
How does the 2023 Kicks compare to other years?
The 2023 Kicks has a Complaint Index of 0 and ranks 8th (best) among model years, compared to 2019 (86) and 2025 (100), both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Nissan Kicks?
EPA rates the 2023 Kicks 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.