RoadVitals

2018 Nissan Kicks Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 9, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 84 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Nissan Kicks submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle occasionally experienced reduction in automotive power with the "System Malfunction" message displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced twice however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11672377
Incident
Dec 31, 2024
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 29, 2025

I was driving on the road like normal and suddenly I got a front collision warning on the dash, the car wouldn’t accelerate and lost all power. Check engine light also came on with code reading P0101. I’ve had this issue before and the dealer doesn’t know what to do or they want to charge me a lot of money to fix it. I’ve read online many many people having the same issue. Luckily this hasn’t happened on the highway but if it does happen it could be catastrophic

NHTSA ID
11670107
Incident
Jun 29, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 16, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated while trying to place the vehicle into reverse(R) the gear shifter failed to move. The contact turned off the vehicle and on several occasions the contact had to wait for over 20 minutes before the shift lever would move into reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure started as an intermittent failure but was now constant. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed due to a fee being charged. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

NHTSA ID
11497771
Incident
Oct 16, 2022
Mileage
4,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 27, 2022

Here I am for a 3rd time reporting an issue with this car. After work I went to get in my car. I could not turn it on, I was not able to push the brake and a lot of lights came on. I decided it needed jumped so I got jumped. The next day I remote start the car and see it did not turn on. So I went out to start it and it once again didnt start. I jumped it again. I then decided it needed a new battery as it was the original to the car. I went to batteries plus and the guy was not even sure how I managed to jump it as it was completely drained. He mentioned something about the alternator. The one I just had replaced a year ago for my car stopping on me at speeds of 50+. He recommended me not to drive it and get it towed to a dealership. He tested my alternator and said it is not testing where is should. I had a tow truck driver follow me to South Colorado Springs Nissan. I took it in they said the battery test (brand new battery that was only hours old) and my alternator both failed testing. They then let me car sit over the weekend and of course its acting normal now. Clearly something is triggering the alternator to fail quickly as I had just got this one replaced a year ago. That needs to be looked into more. They didn't find anything and sent me on my way. The photos attached are from the 2 years worth of problems I have had.

NHTSA ID
11486653
Incident
Sep 23, 2022
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 6, 2021

Randomly when driving I will have a malfunction see owner manual warning pop up it. Once I clear that to see the error I am getting the traction control and the indicator that looks like two cars colliding. While this is one the car does not have the power that it did before. If I stop and let the car sit for 10 to 15 minutes it mostly goes away but keeps the check engine light on for a couple days. The. The check engine light will go away and this will happen all over again. I bought the car used in May and it is having the same issue. I have had Nissan look at it as it is still under warranty but it seems to go away once I get it to the shop. They tell me nothing is wrong with the car. I have even took pictures of the indicators and they still say my kicks is 100 functional.

NHTSA ID
11442767
Incident
May 27, 2021
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 9, 2021

A few weeks ago while I was driving 50mph on a completely dry hwy the slip indicator came on. I thought I accidentally hit traction control so i hit that button and then realized they we two different icons. Shortly after the slip indicator came on the screen popped up saying Malfunction See owners manual. I pulled over where lights just started popping on and then my car died. After waiting 6 hours for a tow truck it was finally brought to the dealership. they did their inspection and said I needed a new alternator and they replaced that. Today 3 weeks later my car was parked. I was going to leave as my car was on and Malfunction see owners manual and the slip indicator started popping on. I went to put it in reverse and could not press the peddles and gravity rolled me back. I then had to throw it into park to stop it. I turned off my car and same thing again. I turned it off again and restarted and it was fine. I took it back to the dealership and they are still trying to figure out what is going on. this is extremely dangerous especially it stopping when driving. Looks like I am not the only one having this problem.

NHTSA ID
11439872
Incident
Nov 8, 2021
Body & structureDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2020

SE ME APAGA CORRIENDO , RUIDO EN LA PARTE FRONTAL. Y EN D NO QUIERE PONERSE EN MARCHA.

NHTSA ID
11366540
Incident
Jun 21, 2019
Mileage
23,753 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 22, 2019

CAR OVERSTEERS,ALMOST ROLLING OVER; WHEN ON INCLINE OR STEEP DRIVEWAY, (STEEP DRIVEWAY LIKE MY HOME) CAR ROLLS BACK SEVERAL FEET; WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, KICKS MAKES GRINDING NOISE AND SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY; HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CONCERNS TO NISSAN, SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ID
11233889
Incident
Feb 2, 2019
Mileage
4,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .