2021 Nissan Kicks Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kicks years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Kicks. That ranks 4th out of 9 Kicks model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (24 complaints, 31%). Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 78owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Nissan Kicks problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 24 | 31% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 21% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 15 | 19% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 15% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 14% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 9 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 5% | 83,015 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Nissan Kicks recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The car wonât accelerate pass 40mph , ABS light will turn on , it completely stopped on the free way. I waited 5 minutes and the car started running. I d been doing this since march 2026. Got a diagnosis they thought it was a wheel bearings and sensor but the car didnât accelerate again. And…
Engine timing and Transmission failed and replaced before 90,000 miles,
Engine light keeps coming on, just had 1 camshaft changed.
The rear door actuator on the passenger side failed causing the door to not be able to unlock electronically. This is particularly concerning as this is the side we would put our infant child on and we would be unable to access in an emergency. The dealership was not helpful in addressing this…
I had a noise and highway vibration in my 2021 Nissan Kicks. Brought it to the dealer and was told the front axle nut was loose. They said it is a common issue. There is a TSB on it but I believe it is a safety issue due to it being a loose axle nut and vibration
Other Nissan Kicks years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kicks | 8 | 3 |
| 2025 Kicks | 40 | 4 |
| 2024 Kicks | 38 | 1 |
| 2023 Kicks | 18 | 1 |
| 2022 Kicks | 23 | 0 |
| 2021 | 78 | 2 |
| 2020 Kicks | 97 | 0 |
| 2019 Kicks | 134 | 1 |
| 2018 Kicks | 86 | 1 |
See all Nissan Kicks problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
Similar Nissan models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Nissan Kicks?
Owners most often report structure, unknown or other, forward collision avoidance problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Nissan Kicks?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Nissan Kicks a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Kicks model years, the 2021 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.