2021 Nissan KICKS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
76 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,508 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 76 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 13.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 10 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 7 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Structure:Body: 24; Unknown Or Other: 16; Electrical System: 10; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 10; Power Train: 9; Engine: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 7; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 70 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 29 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2021: 4; 2022: 29; 2023: 13; 2024: 2; 2025: 14; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11434331 · 2021-09-25 (September 25, 2021)
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 f…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11435658 · 2021-10-06 (October 6, 2021)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11435658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442404 · 2021-12-02 (December 2, 2021)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444865 · 2021-12-23 (December 23, 2021)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453215 · 2022-02-21 (February 21, 2022)
2021Nissan 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).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453216 · 2022-02-21 (February 21, 2022)
2021Nissan 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).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453218 · 2022-02-21 (February 21, 2022)
2021Nissan 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).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453220 · 2022-02-21 (February 21, 2022)
2021Nissan 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).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453220 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
22V693000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2022-09-15 (September 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V496000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2023-07-18 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗