Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Nissan Kicks, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 3 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 3 | 8% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 8% |
| Back over prevention | 3 | 8% |
| Wheels | 3 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Driving on a highway when rear differential and drive shaft broke loose from vehicle while driving at 65 mph. Right rear wheel went over real diff. causing the rear end of vehicle to come off the pavement. Fortunately wa
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I received a recall notice on my 2025 Nissan Kicks. I took my vehicle to the dealer where I purchased it to get the recall repaired on 8/7/2026. The repair was quoted to be completed within 2 hours. After 5 hours the
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
On August 5, 2026, an authorized Nissan dealer performed safety recall PMA66 / NHTSA 26V-331 on my 2025 Nissan Kicks SR. The vehicle’s combination meter/instrument cluster had been functioning normally before the recall.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
It' makes noise spoke to nissan dealer did oil change and did not get fixed have the car Uber driver I don't fell safe traveling or picking up passengers
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
My family and I departed the dealership around 7:27 PM with our 2025 Nissan Kicks that only had 4,500 miles on it. My step son and I were driving the new car home. We got maybe a mile from our house and I heard a small p
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
On 05.28.2026 my car veered sporadically to the right causing my tire to hit the curb as I was going under a viaduct with a high curb I lost my hub cap and damaged my rim slightly. Now my wheel is at a constant angle to
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Kick. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V188000 (Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
Upon inspection by a certified technician, the windshield was found to have a stress crack. The repair evaluation confirmed there is no visible point of strike or impact from road debris. Although similar issues are comm
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2025 Nissan Kicks. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Kicks vehicles. The "Shift-to-Park" warning may not activate as intended when the vehicle is shut off and still in a gear other than "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety St
Risk: When the vehicle is not in "Park" and the ignition is shut off, the vehicle could move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway and crash.
Fix: Dealers will reconfigure the body control module (BCM) to activate the "Shift-to-Park" warning, free of charge. Some owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2025. The remaining owner notif
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Kicks vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with the incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) values, which can result in the vehicle being overloaded. As such, these vehicles fa
Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash. Vehicles with incorrect wheel and tire information may lead to tires that are inflated improperly, which can also increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new labels, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will mail replacement labels to owners. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's custo
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Frontier and Kicks vehicles. The center information display unit may display a blank screen when shifted into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.
Risk: A rearview image that does not display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the software on the vehicle’s center information display, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2025. The manufacturer numbers for this recall are PD152 a
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,
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 8
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 3 of them (8%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2025 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.