AutoUtility currently tracks 84 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2018 Nissan Kicks. Brakes & Traction Control issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 25 complaints (29.8% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 1 filing cites a crash.

Key Problem Findings
  • Total NHTSA Complaints: 84 reports
  • #1 Reported Problem Area: Brakes & Traction Control (25 reports • 29.8% of submitted complaints)
  • Secondary Problem Areas: Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (23), Electrical System (23)
  • Crash-Citing Complaints: 1 filings
  • Fire-Citing Complaints: 0 filings
  • Complaints Reporting Injuries / Fatalities: 0 injury filings • 0 fatality filings
Reporting Methodology: Statistics describe unverified consumer submissions voluntarily filed with NHTSA. Complaint volume is not normalized for vehicle sales volume or miles driven. Multiple components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission.
Total Complaints
84
Submitted to NHTSA ODI
Crash-Citing Complaints
1
Filings citing a collision
Fire-Citing Complaints
0
Filings citing smoke or fire
Complaints Reporting Injuries
0
Filings citing one or more injuries
Complaints Reporting Fatalities
0
Consumer filings citing fatalities

Most Reported Problems for 2018 Nissan Kicks

Top automotive subsystem defect categories ranked by unique owner complaint volume in federal records

#1 Problem Area 29.8% of complaints

Brakes & Traction Control

25 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 1 crash report
#2 Problem Area 27.4% of complaints

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech

23 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ NHTSA Recall Context

NHTSA records list 1 official safety recall campaign for this model year involving the same broad component area:

*Component overlap means an official recall exists for the same broad vehicle system. It does not establish that an individual owner complaint was caused by, covered by, or resolved through that recall.
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
#3 Problem Area 27.4% of complaints

Electrical System

23 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
#4 Problem Area 22.6% of complaints

Engine & Cooling

19 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
#5 Problem Area 9.5% of complaints

Powertrain & Transmission

8 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
Domain Share Note: Share percentage represents the proportion of unique complaint filings referencing each vehicle system. Because single complaints may cite multiple systems (such as engine and electrical simultaneously), domain percentages represent individual category incidence and may sum to over 100%.

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2018 Nissan Kicks

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech NHTSA ODI ID: #11752756
Filed: 07/25/2026

"It originally started about two years ago when the check engine light came on (along with others) that point to a code with the Mass Air Flow sensor. It would stall at low RPMs at traffic lights, and was extremely worrying during normal driving. We got it replaced and so far okay, but recently the..."

Incident Date: 04/16/2024 • Raw NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Other / Miscellaneous NHTSA ODI ID: #11742963
Filed: 06/09/2026

"2018 Nissan Kicks evap system has holes in it from Freon that causes the Freon to leak out. The required Freon is contributing to the holes being made in the aluminum evap. It leaks out and the air blows hot. Is there any help with a recall or repair. I was quoted $4000 to fix. Possible lemon laws...."

Incident Date: 05/04/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Engine & Cooling NHTSA ODI ID: #11732218
Filed: 04/19/2026

"Vehicle experienced sudden engine stall/shutdown after warning indicators illuminated. While driving at low speed, the ABS warning light, front collision warning light, and check engine light appeared. After placing the vehicle in Park, the engine shut off unexpectedly. Vehicle would then restart..."

Incident Date: 04/18/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE
Engine & Cooling NHTSA ODI ID: #11729769
Filed: 04/07/2026

"The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and lost motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the..."

Incident Date: 04/07/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech NHTSA ODI ID: #11725369
Filed: 03/18/2026

"When put in park car started idling rough and then stalled. Engine light, collision warning light, and traction control light came on. Code scanned as a P0101 code."

Incident Date: 03/18/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Consumer Narrative Notice: Excerpts are sanitized text descriptions submitted by vehicle owners to the federal ODI database. They reflect the reporting consumer's observations at the time of filing and have not been independently confirmed by vehicle manufacturers or government investigators.

Complaint History for Nissan Kicks

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2018–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2018 Nissan Kicks Current Page 84 1 1 Current
2019 Nissan Kicks 134 5 1 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Nissan Kicks 93 7 0 View 2020 Problems →
2021 Nissan Kicks 75 6 2 View 2021 Problems →
2022 Nissan Kicks 22 2 0 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Nissan Kicks 30 2 1 View 2023 Problems →
2024 Nissan Kicks 33 2 1 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Nissan Kicks 35 2 4 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Nissan Kicks 0 0 3 View 2026 Problems →
Comparative Disclaimer: Complaint totals are unadjusted historical counts and are not normalized for vehicles sold, active fleet size, or total road mileage. Newer model years naturally have had less calendar exposure time to accumulate owner filings.

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2018 Nissan Kicks

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 48 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Reported Injury Entries Reported Fatality Entries
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 6 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 4 0 0 0 0
Forward Collision Avoidance NHTSA category: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 3 0 0 0 0
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 3 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 0 0 0 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
Connected Vehicle & Communications NHTSA category: COMMUNICATION 1 0 0 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Seats & Restraints NHTSA category: SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
TIRES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
Data Attribution & Reporting Methodology: Complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Because multiple vehicle components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission, component-level rollups may sum to more than the unique complaint count (84). Injury and fatality entries in the detailed table reflect raw values entered by reporting consumers across individual submissions; they are not deduplicated casualty statistics and may include duplicate or unverified entries. Complaint volume is not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and does not represent an audited component failure rate.
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.