Is the 2018 Nissan KICKS reliable?

The 2018 Nissan KICKS has 154 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: OTHER problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan KICKS?

Top problems: OTHER (27 complaints, avg repair $500); DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS (24 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (22 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Nissan KICKS?

Yes, there are 1 recall(s): BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Nissan KICKS?

The 2018 Nissan KICKS gets 33 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1455. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Nissan KICKS?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Nissan KICKS is approximately $1,607/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2018 Nissan KICKS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Nissan KICKS has 154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 99. The most common issue is other problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: my uncle, [xxx], purchased a brand new 2018 nissan kick, from stevens creek nissan, in santa clara, california, last week. they own a total of five nissan's now, one for each daughter and one for [xxx], they have never had a problem with any of their other nissans. [xxx] has bought five vehicle. There is 1 recall issued for this model year.

2 crash reports

154

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

OTHER

27 complaints

18%

• MY UNCLE, [XXX], PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 NISSAN KICK, FROM STEVENS CREEK NISSAN, IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, LAST WEEK. THEY OWN A TOTAL OF FIVE NISSAN'S NOW, ONE FOR EACH DAUGHTER AND ONE FOR [XXX], THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THEIR OTHER NISSANS. [XXX] HAS BOUGHT FIVE VEHICLE
• CAR, SHUTS OFF IN REVERSE , TRANSMISION PULLS FRONT SENSOR SIGNALS FALLS OBJECTS WHEN DRIVING AT THE HIGH IT STOPS SHUTS OFF
• FRONT COLLISON SENSOR KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING ON A BROAD RANGE OF NEWER NISSANS INCLUDING THE KICKS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP ON ITS OWN. ALSO, MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE SCRATCHED UP AND MALFUNCTIONING TOUCH SCREEN RADIO UNITS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY UNCLE, [XXX], PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 NISSAN KICK, FROM STEVENS CREEK NISSAN, IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, LAST WEEK. THEY OWN A TOTAL OF FIVE NISSAN'S NOW, ONE FOR EACH DAUGHTER AND ONE FOR [XXX], THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THEIR OTHER NISSANS. [XXX] HAS BOUGHT FIVE VEHICLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Nissan KICKS

Based on 54 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 5K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 4K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

In line with typicalmedian 9K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 3K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (1)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA12/09/2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2018 Nissan KICKS

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,455

Per month

$121

Per mile

12.1¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$1,549/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,334/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Nissan KICKS

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,607

Full coverage / month

$134

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1607

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan KICKS Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2018 KICKS, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 154 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: MY UNCLE, [XXX], PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 NISSAN KICK, FROM STEVENS CREEK NISSAN, IN SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, LAST WEEK. THEY OWN A TOTAL OF FIVE NISSAN'S NOW, ONE FOR EACH DAUGHTER AND ONE FOR [XXX], THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THEIR OTHER NISSANS. [XXX] HAS BOUGHT FIVE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT (IF SO EQUIPPED) I PURCHASED MY 2018 NISSAN KICKS IN FEB OF 2019, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE WARNING LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE TWO CARS COLLIDING RANDOMLY APPEARING ALONG WITH A MESSAGE "UNAVAILABLE FRONT RADAR OBSTRUCTION." THES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED THE ENGINE STARTS BUT NONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS IN THE DASHBOARD (DIGITAL GAUGE, SENSORS, ETC...) INCLUDING THE STEREO WOULD TURN ON. IN ADDITION POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES OF RESTARTING THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET ALL THE GAUGES, SENSO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE HAS TURNED OFF 3 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. AND IT WON'T START FAST IT TAKES FROM 15 MINUTES TO HALF AN HOUR. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED IT 2 TIMES AND IT CONTINUES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)