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Nissan · Compact Hatchback

2026 Nissan Kicks

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 9

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg

Starting MSRP6 trims · manufacturer $22,730

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

The 2026 Nissan Kicks is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Kicks, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 9 complaints, most often about the steering. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,730 to $28,460 across 6 trims.

Nissan Kicks — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Nissan Kicks (2016 generation) · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
S	Gas	FWD	$22,730	141 hp	140 lb-ft	31 mpg	5	30 cu-ft	16 in
SV	Gas	FWD	$24,470	141 hp	140 lb-ft	31 mpg	5	29.2 cu-ft	17 in
SR	Gas	FWD	$26,960	141 hp	140 lb-ft	31 mpg	5	29.2 cu-ft	17 in
S AWD	Gas	AWD	$24,230	141 hp	140 lb-ft	—	5	23.9 cu-ft	16 in
SV AWD	Gas	AWD	$26,120	141 hp	140 lb-ft	—	5	23.9 cu-ft	17 in
SR AWD	Gas	AWD	$28,460	141 hp	140 lb-ft	—	5	23.9 cu-ft	17 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Kicks	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	35	31	$2,150
Kicks AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	34	30	$2,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49845, 49868.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Electrical System

PMA66

51,598 vehicles

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Kicks vehicles. A software error in the combination meter may cause the screen display to go partially or fully blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays." Risk A partial or blank screen display will not show critical safety information such as vehicle speed and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will resume the software reprogramming of the combination meter software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA66. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 22, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V331000 reported May 21, 2026 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Seats

PMA64

15 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Dec 22, 2025 – Dec 22, 2025

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Kicks and Sentra vehicles. The hook bracket of the front seat frames may be insufficiently welded, which can cause the front seat frames to become loose. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 207, "Seating Systems" and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." Risk A loose seat may not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the front seat assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA64. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V145000 reported Mar 13, 2026 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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Latches/Locks/Linkages

PD185, PMA61

26,432 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Aug 23, 2025 – Sep 26, 2025

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components." Risk A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 28, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V023000 reported Jan 20, 2026 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Kicks

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Nissan publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Nissan’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2026 Nissan Kicks, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

9complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

1.1 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 85,514 Kicks built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2026: 9

Most-cited components

Unspecified 4

Steering 2

Electrical System 2

Wheels 2

Power Train 1

Engine 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

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

Wheels Jul 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11753446

Driver seat frame broke and is unable to be adjusted. Manufacturer has been unable to fix the problem

Seats Oct 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11773047

I pulled over in a rest area and the windshield was fine, 2 hrs later I started the car and put the windshield defroster on because it started raining and now there's a crack in my wind shield. I do not see and rock marks or dings anywhere in the windshield. I am taking the car to Nissan on Monday to have them inspect the windshield

Visibility/Wiper Oct 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11768743

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.

Engine at 2,086 miles Aug 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11754398

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…

Power Train Feb 9, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11716741

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.

Wheels May 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11735737

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%
SUV FWD	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 6

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-05-01

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 6 service bulletins

Most often about: Fuel/Propulsion System, Engine, Structure.

NTB26-006A Service bulletin
2026-05-01 · Fuel/Propulsion System
FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM This bulletin is no longer active. Please discard previous versions of NTB26-006.
NTB26-019 Service bulletin
2026-04-15 · Engine
MIL ON WITH DTC P0181 STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states the MIL is ON but the vehicle does not have any drivability concerns or reduced power message in the combination meter, AND DTC P0181 for “Fuel Tank Temperature” is stored in either “Past” or “Current” in the ECM. ACTION Follow the SERVICE PROCEDURE in this bulletin to: 1. Replace the fuel temperature sensor. 2. Erase all t
NTB09-131C Service bulletin
2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
NTB09-131C Service bulletin
2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
NTB26-006 Service bulletin
2026-02-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System
FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has a visible leak with a smoke machine test coming from the fuel filler tube lower seal, AND DTC P0456 is stored as “Active”, “Past”, or “Pending” in the ECM. ACTION 1. Remove the supplied funnel from the rear of the vehicle or trunk. 2. Insert the funnel completely in the fuel filler tube and rem
NTB25-063 Service bulletin
2026-01-07 · Engine
VENT CONTROL VALVE IN ACTIVE TEST INOPERATIVE IN CONSULT 4 SERVICE INFORMATION An issue in CONSULT 4 has been identified in “EVAP system close” in Work support. · After selecting the "EVAP system close" in Work support, the “VENT CONTROL/V” in Active test becomes non-functional temporarily. · When selecting “EVAP system close” operation in Work support, wait 10 minutes before starting “VENT CONTRO

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0456 P0456 on Nissan →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Compare the 2026 Kicks with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Compact Hatchback · grade B	Ioniq 5 +17.9
2026 MINI Cooper · Compact Hatchback · grade A	Kicks +27.9
2026 Kia EV6 · Compact Hatchback · grade A	EV6 +17.9
2026 BMW i4 · Compact Hatchback · grade A	Kicks +10.5
2026 Fiat 500e · Compact Hatchback · grade A	500e +41.3
2026 MINI John Cooper Works · Compact Hatchback · grade A	Kicks +34.4

Kicks by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A^* 0 0 31 mpg 2026 this page B 3 9 31 mpg 2025 B 4 42 33 mpg 2024 A 1 38 33 mpg 2023 A 1 18 33 mpg 2022 A 0 23 33 mpg 2021 B 2 78 33 mpg 2020 A 0 97 33 mpg 2019 A 1 134 33 mpg 2018 A 1 86 33 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 Kicks

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2026 Nissan Kicks cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,730 for the S FWD to $28,460 for the SR AWD AWD, across 6 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2026 Nissan Kicks have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Nissan Kicks. The most serious on file is 26V145000, covering Seats. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Nissan Kicks 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 3-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (81/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Nissan Kicks, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Nissan Kicks, most often about unspecified, steering, electrical system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Nissan Kicks?

The manufacturer has filed 6 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Nissan Kicks, most often covering fuel/propulsion system, engine, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-05-01. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

Which 2026 Nissan Kicks trim is the best value?

$5,730 separates the cheapest of the 6 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2026 Nissan Kicks better than the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5?

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 wins clearly, 85.8 to 67.9, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, performance. The Nissan Kicks is ahead on price and safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Nissan Kicks against the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	2 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	9	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	6	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	6 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API