Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2026 Nissan Kicks with NHTSA between 2026 and 2026.
The largest single group is the other & unspecified.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 8
Against the median year of the Nissan Kicks. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2026 Nissan Kicks
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Other & Unspecified
426.7%
Wheels
213.3%
Steering
213.3%
Median failure at 2,086 miles
Electrical System
213.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
16.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Brakes
16.7%
Median failure at 2,086 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
Engine & Cooling
16.7%
Median failure at 2,086 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2026peak 6Aug 2026
Recalls on the 2026 Nissan Kicks
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20262505,640 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the instrument cluster not to display when the vehicle is started. As a result, you may not be able to see certain information about the vehicle, including the speedometer, gear selection indicators, warning lights and malfunction tell-tales. Safety Risk: Warnings, tell-tales and gauges that don't display could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the instrument cluster software.
Recall 2026016843 units in Canada
Structure
Issue: On certain vehicles, the door strikers may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the strikers could break and allow the doors to open while driving or in a crash. Safety Risk: A door that opens suddenly while driving or in a crash could increase the risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Nissan will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the door strikers.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Virginia Beach, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2026 Nissan Kicks SV intermittently fails to accelerate despite accelerator pedal application. Vehicle may remain at approximately 20 mph. Dealer has been unable to duplicate the failure despite extended testing. Owner considers the vehicle unsafe because sudden loss of acceleration could result in collision.
NHTSA complaint #11757299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2026 Nissan Kicks SV intermittently fails to accelerate despite accelerator pedal application. Vehicle may remain at approximately 20 mph. Dealer has been unable to duplicate the failure despite extended testing. Owner considers the vehicle unsafe because sudden loss of acceleration could result in collision.
NHTSA complaint #11757299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2026 Nissan Kicks SV intermittently fails to accelerate despite accelerator pedal application. Vehicle may remain at approximately 20 mph. Dealer has been unable to duplicate the failure despite extended testing. Owner considers the vehicle unsafe because sudden loss of acceleration could result in collision.
NHTSA complaint #11757299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,086 milesAshburn, GA
STEERING
The contact owns 2026 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The brakes and steering wheel were locked. All the warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there was a total communication failure across the modules. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,086.
NHTSA complaint #11754398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,086 milesAshburn, GA
ENGINE
The contact owns 2026 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The brakes and steering wheel were locked. All the warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there was a total communication failure across the modules. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,086.
NHTSA complaint #11754398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,086 milesAshburn, GA
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns 2026 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The brakes and steering wheel were locked. All the warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there was a total communication failure across the modules. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,086.
NHTSA complaint #11754398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
WHEELS
The issue involves defective malfunction of the dashboard (usb,audio, and sometimes warning lights are hidden then appear) and improperly unbalanced wheels. Which has significantly impacted the safety, reliability, and usability of my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11753446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The issue involves defective malfunction of the dashboard (usb,audio, and sometimes warning lights are hidden then appear) and improperly unbalanced wheels. Which has significantly impacted the safety, reliability, and usability of my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11753446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukee, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The issue involves defective malfunction of the dashboard (usb,audio, and sometimes warning lights are hidden then appear) and improperly unbalanced wheels. Which has significantly impacted the safety, reliability, and usability of my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11753446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monroe, NC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle has an open recall; the dealership has stated that they cannot fix the recall because Nissan doesn’t have a solution for it. Consequently, I have had to take it in three times now to have the drive axles replaced. At first they told me they had it fixed and then tell me that it’s another drive axle that needs to be repaired. This car was purchased in January 2026 off the showroom floor and I’ve had nothing but trouble since then.
NHTSA complaint #11750036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Traverse City, MI
WHEELS
I am writing to file a formal safety complaint concerning a rental vehicle provided to me by Hertz, 1) because I want to help ensure this does not happen to anyone else, and 2) to request action that prevents a similar safety failure from recurring. Hertz rented me a near-new vehicle to transport my medically fragile daughter, but it had a slow-leaking front tire that Discount Tire documented as “not repairable” due to an existing non–RMA-approved rope plug repair, which is unsuitable for passenger vehicles. When this was discovered, I had already driven the vehicle over 200 miles. I am asking for a review of Hertz’s fleet safety and tire inspection practices so that other renters are not given vehicles with unsafe, improperly repaired tires. The Hertz general manager of Michigan and Ohio revealed that the Kicks they had rented to me was a new Hertz acquisition, and that they had no record of having performed any repairs on the vehicle. As such, he was unaware of this temporary rope plug repair. I am requesting a review of Hertz's inspection and tire-repair practices, including whether vehicles are being placed into service with plug-only tire repairs or without proper pressure checks and safety screening. I am also requesting action requiring clear safeguards so that any vehicle with an improperly repaired, leaking, or unsafe tire is removed from rental service immediately and not offered to another customer until the tire is replaced and the vehicle is verified safe for highway use. While my case specifically involves missed tire inspections, this incident raises concerns about Hertz’s inspection protocols for the entire vehicle. We do not know how many other unsuspecting customers across Hertz’s global rental fleet have been placed in danger because of this negligence. I am writing to demand that Hertz be held accountable, and that the proper authorities make sure this negligence is corrected.
NHTSA complaint #11735737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Valley Stream, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
To whom it may concern: I am writing to express my concern regarding the recurring issues with the safety cameras on my 2026 Nissan Kicks, which were purchased on [XXX]. Despite multiple visits to the dealership for repairs and replacements, the problem persists. Initially, the cameras were not functioning properly on [XXX], and subsequent visits to the dealership on February 21st, February 28th, and March 3rd did not resolve the issue. The dealership's attempts to reset the camera, replace the camera, and change the module, respectively, have been unsuccessful. On March 3rd, I spoke with service manager Mac regarding the ongoing issue, and he informed me that there is no solution to fix the problem. Mac advised me to contact Nissan's Manufacturing department for assistance. I subsequently contacted Nissan's Compliance Department and opened a case with case number #[XXX]. They indicated that someone would contact me within 10 days to discuss a potential solution. Given that we have only had the vehicle for three weeks, I am disappointed that we are still experiencing this issue and that no resolution has been found. I would appreciate any further assistance or guidance from the dealership or Nissan's Manufacturing department to ensure that the safety cameras are functioning properly. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11722288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crystal River, FL
POWER TRAIN
2026 Nissan Kicks, less than 1,500 mi. Computer system several warning lights appeared without notice; caused car to shut off and sputter before starting several times. The first time the warning lights that came on were: Warning (exclamation point inside triangle); Malfunction See Owner's Manual (In Orange box on panel) with all collision symbols showing [pictures avail on request] Second warning lights ( Warning Temporarily disabled clean sensor area See Owner's Manual) in bigger yellow / orange box on computer screen with exclamation point in triangle symbols and crash symbol) [Pics avail] Vehicle problem both duplicated and inspected at dealership. Connector pin harness needed repair/replaced. Oil light flashed after repairs. Clicks heard while turning right or left. Vehicle diagnostic inspected at another Nissan dealership out of state. [Audio and vid avail] Nissan dealership Ocala FL could not duplicate either problem with test drive. Problem persisted. Scheduled appointment at an Ice Cold Air. Problem was identified as possible CV axle problems and referred to Nissan dealership since have warrenty. Went to Maas Nissan dealership in Brooksville FL. Dealership was able to hear and duplicate customer complaint with noise turning wheel. Dealership had to replace both right and left front axles of brand new 2026 Nissan Kicks car, a major repair less than 1,900 miles. [Service records avail]
NHTSA complaint #11716741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crystal River, FL
STEERING
2026 Nissan Kicks, less than 1,500 mi. Computer system several warning lights appeared without notice; caused car to shut off and sputter before starting several times. The first time the warning lights that came on were: Warning (exclamation point inside triangle); Malfunction See Owner's Manual (In Orange box on panel) with all collision symbols showing [pictures avail on request] Second warning lights ( Warning Temporarily disabled clean sensor area See Owner's Manual) in bigger yellow / orange box on computer screen with exclamation point in triangle symbols and crash symbol) [Pics avail] Vehicle problem both duplicated and inspected at dealership. Connector pin harness needed repair/replaced. Oil light flashed after repairs. Clicks heard while turning right or left. Vehicle diagnostic inspected at another Nissan dealership out of state. [Audio and vid avail] Nissan dealership Ocala FL could not duplicate either problem with test drive. Problem persisted. Scheduled appointment at an Ice Cold Air. Problem was identified as possible CV axle problems and referred to Nissan dealership since have warrenty. Went to Maas Nissan dealership in Brooksville FL. Dealership was able to hear and duplicate customer complaint with noise turning wheel. Dealership had to replace both right and left front axles of brand new 2026 Nissan Kicks car, a major repair less than 1,900 miles. [Service records avail]
NHTSA complaint #11716741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crystal River, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2026 Nissan Kicks, less than 1,500 mi. Computer system several warning lights appeared without notice; caused car to shut off and sputter before starting several times. The first time the warning lights that came on were: Warning (exclamation point inside triangle); Malfunction See Owner's Manual (In Orange box on panel) with all collision symbols showing [pictures avail on request] Second warning lights ( Warning Temporarily disabled clean sensor area See Owner's Manual) in bigger yellow / orange box on computer screen with exclamation point in triangle symbols and crash symbol) [Pics avail] Vehicle problem both duplicated and inspected at dealership. Connector pin harness needed repair/replaced. Oil light flashed after repairs. Clicks heard while turning right or left. Vehicle diagnostic inspected at another Nissan dealership out of state. [Audio and vid avail] Nissan dealership Ocala FL could not duplicate either problem with test drive. Problem persisted. Scheduled appointment at an Ice Cold Air. Problem was identified as possible CV axle problems and referred to Nissan dealership since have warrenty. Went to Maas Nissan dealership in Brooksville FL. Dealership was able to hear and duplicate customer complaint with noise turning wheel. Dealership had to replace both right and left front axles of brand new 2026 Nissan Kicks car, a major repair less than 1,900 miles. [Service records avail]
NHTSA complaint #11716741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.