Illustration2021Nissan Kicks[XXX]Paint Chipping -Fleet Unit - Paint chipping above upper crease of windshield of vehicle, some rusting present. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2021 Nissan Kicks
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Kicks do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 37.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Kicks years →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
Limited mileage data: 6 of 76 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
76 reports2021Nissan Kicks[XXX]Paint Chipping -Fleet Unit - Paint chipping above upper crease of windshield of vehicle, some rusting present. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Blend doors on the heater do not work. If the temperature is set to 62 degrees, cold air as expected comes out of vents. If set to 63 degrees, maximum hot air comes out of vents, even after the cabin is warmed up. This is distracting to keep fumbling with the temperature control, toggling between 62 and 63 while driving. Keeping…
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Blend doors on the heater do not work. If the temperature is set to 62 degrees, cold air as expected comes out of vents. If set to 63 degrees, maximum hot air comes out of vents, even after the cabin is warmed up. This is distracting to keep fumbling with the temperature control, toggling between 62 and 63 while driving. Keeping the air controller at 63 is also a distraction since the cabin is uncomfortably hot.
While traveling on a hwy with my 2021 Nissan Kicks, me and my wife were sandwiched. A black SUV suddenly stopped in front of us causing us to rear end them going approximately 50-60 mph then we were rear ended. No air bag deployed and the passenger seat appears to have come off of its tracks. Nissan has been notified of this and…
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While traveling on a hwy with my 2021 Nissan Kicks, me and my wife were sandwiched. A black SUV suddenly stopped in front of us causing us to rear end them going approximately 50-60 mph then we were rear ended. No air bag deployed and the passenger seat appears to have come off of its tracks. Nissan has been notified of this and should conduct an investigation. Not sure if the automatic emergency braking failed or if the car just did not have time to react.
I have experienced my forward collision warning light coming on when driving toward the sun in the mornings on my way to work. When I go into a shade it turns off but immediately pops back on and slows my car down when I return into the sunlight. It has not done this since I bought in July 2021 until last week.
On September 5th 2021 I purchased a new Nissan Kicks from Pine Belt Nissan, 229 Route 37 East of Toms River, NJ. 08753. On Saturday September 11th 2021 I was on my way to work and stopped at the light, the car make a different sound and feel. By the time the light changes and I get to around 100 feet at the gate to the developm…
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On September 5th 2021 I purchased a new Nissan Kicks from Pine Belt Nissan, 229 Route 37 East of Toms River, NJ. 08753. On Saturday September 11th 2021 I was on my way to work and stopped at the light, the car make a different sound and feel. By the time the light changes and I get to around 100 feet at the gate to the development the car shuts off. I looked around to see if I did anything wrong and to my knowledge I didn’t. The car was still in drive my foot was still on the brakes and on the dash board was the oil and engine lights, then a flash warning saying to push the brakes and start switch to start. I just did exactly that and at the end of work I went to the dealer to have them check the car. I was told to return on Monday. At my return to the dealer on Monday September 13th 2021 I was told the service department cannot recreate the problem, so I should continue to drive the car and if it happens again to take pictures and bring it in. Well on September 16th 2021 it shuts off again this time on a busy street with cars honking and people shouting at me. This time I took the pictures and drove directly to the dealer. I was given a rental and was told they will try to recreate the problem. On September 18th 2021 I receive a call from Gary in service who informed me to bring the rental back and pickup my car because they cannot find anything wrong with it. I returned the rental and request anew kicks because I feel unsafe in the other one. My sales person showed me two new cars saying it’s the only new vehicle on the lot. I decline that offer as well as the offer to trade in the car at a loss to me and take another car. I was then referred to Nissan customer service at consumer affairs by Mike one of the managers. I spoke to a David on September 22nd 2021 and said they will call me in three days. On the 23rd I receive a call from Mia saying the same thing the dealer said. I told her I need my money back, a different car or an atty. She said to get an attorney
Official recalls
223V496000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Jul 18, 2023
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
22V693000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Sep 15, 2022
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.