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2018 Nissan Kicks

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Kicks do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 37.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2026
EngineForward Collision AvoidanceService 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…

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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 ODI #11717137

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2026
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 ODI #11713616

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2025
Forward Collision AvoidanceService 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 (Actuat…

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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 ODI #11686580

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2024
Forward Collision AvoidanceService 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 201…

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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 ODI #11616750

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2023
Forward Collision AvoidanceService 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 ODI #11514615

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2021
Forward Collision AvoidanceService BrakesUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #11434961

2,000 miles · Jan 9, 2021
Electrical SystemForward Collision AvoidanceService 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 A…

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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 ODI #11387330

9,000 miles · Oct 16, 2019
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 ODI #11268816

14,500 miles · Sep 12, 2019
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 ODI #11255138

4,700 miles · Sep 11, 2019
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 ODI #11254815

Official recalls

1

19V654000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 12, 2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.