FaultScore

2018 Nissan Kicks brake problems

15 of the 157 complaints about the 2018 Nissan Kicks are about the braking system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 5,350 miles.

B

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 14 93.3%
ABS Warning Light 1 6.7%

Brakes across every Nissan Kicks year

2018 15 31.3%
2019 22 45.8%
2020 11 22.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Layton, UT

SERVICE BRAKES

Intermittently for the last year, car will show 3 dash lights: 1. AEB light 2. Slip indicator light 3. Master warning light When this occurs, the car can be slow to accelerate. When the three lights are on, the problem will persist until the engine is shut off for a period of several minutes. It does not occur every time the car is driven. In the last 3 months, there have been 3-4 instances where the check engine light has come on as well. The code every time has been P1010 or no code displayed. We tried changing out the MAF sensor with a third party part, and the issue occurred even more frequently. We then went back to the first sensor after cleaning it with MAF sensor cleaner. This seemed to resolve the issue for a month, but then it started to reoccur. The last two occurrences of the check engine light have occurred after rapid acceleration. - Yes original part is available for inspection. - Safety is at risk for self and others as car can have issues accelerating, which makes it dangerous to enter freeways and highways (which are necessary for my commute). - Dealer has not reproduced the error, however they have not seen it with a check engine code (taking the car in tomorrow). - no inspection by insurance, police, or manufacturer. - before the 3 error lights started to come on fairly regularly (several times a week) I had a few issues of intermittent sluggish acceleration over the course of 1-2 years when this issue first started, but no lights came on at first.

NHTSA complaint #11717137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Havasu City, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES

All brake failure warning lights remain on while driving and ABS no longer works. It is a very common safety failure that Nissan is making a small fortune on. It is a definate safety item.

NHTSA complaint #11713616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Orlando, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

The ABS and forward collision system failed. This caused the car not to respond during a hard brake when it was raining. I almost had an accident. The car was inspected on September 4, 2025, by Universal Nissan (12785 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida). Universal Nissan found a malfunction in the ABS control (Actuator & ECU Assy antiskid) with a repair cost of $2,448. The car has 18,689 miles. The warning lamps appear as soon as the malfunction starts. The Nissan Kicks owner forum reports this ABS problem as recurrent. There are multiple reports on the website. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs (Case #5576215). They did not take responsibility for the ABS problem.

NHTSA complaint #11686580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Myers, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

ABS system warning light turns on and off, and ABS fails after 50,000 miles on vehicle. System requires ABS actuator replacement, but replacement isn't reliable. Nissan has been contacted and refused to acknowledge issue or offer assistance with issue. This has been an issue in ALL Nissan Kicks and Leaf models dating back to 2018 and through current models. I believe a recall should be instated for this problem because multiple cars could potentially be driving without their ABS systems active. This could lead to poor ability to stop in inclement weather and could lead to more accidents on highways. The lights randomly turning off could mislead drivers into thinking that nothing is wrong with their vehicles. Upon first inspection at local Nissan dealership they reported no problem but loose battery terminal.

NHTSA complaint #11616750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green Valley, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA complaint #11576778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Trujillo Alto, PR

SERVICE BRAKES

El Panel de control tiene prendidas las luces de ABS, luz de Warning, luces de Resbalizo, luces de choque entre vehículos (4 luces encendidas). Mi vehículo tiene 19,000.00 y casi no se usa y tiene 4 años de comprado. Por favor, ayúdenme con esta Situacion

NHTSA complaint #11514615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES

Vehicle randomly brakes and shuts down. Had sensor replaced yet problem resurfaced yesterday.

NHTSA complaint #11434961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Buda, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT (IF SO EQUIPPED) I PURCHASED MY 2018 NISSAN KICKS IN FEB OF 2019, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE WARNING LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE TWO CARS COLLIDING RANDOMLY APPEARING ALONG WITH A MESSAGE "UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION." THESE WARNING LIGHTS CAN COME ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME DURING THE TIME IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, AND BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. WEATHER CONDITIONS, ETC HAVE NO EFFECT ON THIS ISSUE. THE WARNING LIGHT/MESSAGE HAS COME ON WHEN IT'S SUNNY. IT CAN COME ON WHEN CHANGING LANES, AND NOT EVEN HAVING A VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU. I MONITORED THE BEHAVIOR FOR QUITE AWHILE IN ORDER TO CONFIRM THIS WAS AN ACTUAL DEFECT. MY VEHICLE IS GARAGED MOST OF THE TIME, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO IT WHATSOEVER. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL THEN REALIZED THE WARNING LIGHT THAT I HAVE BEEN SEEING IS ACTUALLY THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARS ON THE DASH INDICATES A FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION, OR IMPACT NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR AS WELL. THESE MAY BE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES, BUT THEY OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME EVERYTIME. I ALWAYS SEE THE AEB LIGHT, AND THE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION WARNING SIMULTANEOUSLY. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BLIND SPOT WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY APPEARING, AND MY BACK UP CAM GLITCHING OUT/FREEZING IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING UP.

NHTSA complaint #11387330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,000 miles Hamilton, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

THE NISSAN EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM IS GIVING OUT FALSE WARNINGS. THE SYSTEM ON MY CAR HAS GIVEN ME HUNDREDS OF FALSE READINGS AND WARNINGS WHILE IN MOTION, MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS AND EXPRESSWAYS. NISSAN REFUSES TO SAY THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. I FEAR THAT THE SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AND STOP ME FOR NO REASON ON THE EXPRESSWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11268816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,500 miles Lorain, OH

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A ROAD WITH A 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT WIT NO CARS IN FRONT OF OR BEHIND ME, AND MY VEHICLES AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ENGAGED, SLOWING MY CAR DOWN FOR NO REASON. THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES AHEAD OF ME

NHTSA complaint #11255138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,700 miles Pell City, AL

SERVICE BRAKES

NISSAN AEB (AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING) HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD LEAVE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED THAT COULD BE FATAL. THE AEB SYSTEM SOMETIMES MALFUNCTIONS ON A BROAD RANGE OF NISSANS CAUSING THEM TO ABRUPTLY STOP WHILE STOPPING. THIS IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO OCCUR IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11254815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,700 miles Yelm, WA

SERVICE BRAKES

THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO DEAD HALF WHEN NOTHING IS IN FRONT OF ME

NHTSA complaint #11232899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Fresno, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION. SHOWS A WARNING 'FRONT RADAR UNAVAILABLE DUE TO OBSTRUCTION' THERE WERE NO CARS OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11194309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Southport, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

FREQUENT AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING DEACTIVATION WHILE DRIVING DURING WHICH A WARNING IS DISPLAYED THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED, A WARNING LIGHT IS DISPLAYED AND CRUISE CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED.

NHTSA complaint #11165757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Indianapolis, IN Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

WITHIN THE FIRST 300 MILES THE SENSORS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SIDE SENSORS. THE THE FRONT SENSOR RELATING TO THE AEB STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I NOW HAVE 6000 MILES ON THE CAR IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOP WITH NO CLEAR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT SENSOR, BUT WITHIN 24 HOURS IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT 6 DAYS AGO, THE AEB DID NOT ENGAGE, THE SENSORS DID NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED (2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE) IT WAS DRIZZLING, BUT I WAS STATIONARY WHEN SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. IT WOULD ALSO MALFUNCTION ON A DRY SUNNY DAY IN A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE SENSOR GOING OFF OR ON.

NHTSA complaint #11156033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Nissan Kicks problems

← Full 2018 Nissan Kicks report