2018 Nissan Kicks Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster in two very different places: a large group of low-mileage reports about the forward radar and AEB system dropping out with obstruction or malfunction warnings, and a separate group at higher mileage about stalling, rough idling and loss of power, often tied to code P0101 and the mass air flow sensor. Owners also describe intermittent electrical faults where warning lights, gauges and even power steering drop out, sometimes with the engine cutting off.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Front radar / AEB unavailable or false warnings

   • 23 complaints (27%)
   • median 3,850 mi at 1.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe a "front radar unavailable due to obstruction" or "front sensor malfunction, see owner's manual" message appearing while driving, often with the two-cars-colliding and slip indicator lights. It comes on in clear weather, rain, or when braking or hitting a bump, and in some accounts the vehicle slows or the AEB applies the brakes with nothing ahead. Complaints say dealers cleaned or replaced the front sensor, sometimes more than once, and that the warning returned shortly afterwards; some owners were told rain, bugs or road spray explained it. Mostly reported in the first few thousand miles, frequently within days or weeks of purchase and at any time of year.

   Recall 19V6540002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front radar/camera sensor has already been replaced or recalibrated, and test drive in rain and highway traffic to see whether warnings appear. A service bulletin describes diagnostic steps for radar-related codes C1A16 and C2582.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Nissan emergency braking system is giving out false warnings. The system on my car has given me hundreds of false readings and warnings while in motion, mostly on highways and expressways. Nissan refuses to say they have a problem with this. I fear that the system will malfunction and stop me for no reason on the expressway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11268816, filed 2019-10, 9,000 miles

   “Within the first 300 miles the sensors started to malfunction. The dealer replaced the side sensors. The the front sensor relating to the aeb started to malfunction. I now have 6000 miles on the car it has been in and out of shop with no clear solution to the problem. They replaced the front sensor, but within 24 hours it was malfunctioning again. I was involved in an accident 6 days ago, the aeb did not engage, the sensors did not engage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11156033, filed 2018-12, 6,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls, rough idle and loss of power (P0101)

   Mentioned in 16 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the car idling rough, shaking at stop lights, refusing to accelerate or shutting off entirely, often with the check engine light, traction control light and collision warning light together. Many complaints name code P0101 and the mass air flow sensor; several say the sensor was replaced once or twice and the problem came back, and some describe the power steering locking up or the car needing a restart to move again. Dealers are described as replacing the sensor, resetting the system, or finding no cause. Appears across the range, from low-mileage cars to examples past 100,000 miles, often at idle or low speed after the car has been driven.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored codes, especially P0101, and ask whether the mass air flow sensor or throttle body has been serviced. Note that a replaced sensor does not always end the symptom according to complaints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “205/55/R17 I’ve taken the car to Nissan Jackie cooper in Tulsa ok they’ve replaced the battery from running on low power. Left it there for two days & they said the computer system is failing always restarting while I’m driving backup camera doesn’t work sometimes or is very very blurry. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11438445, filed 2021-10

   “When driving my car the slip indicator will come on. My car will then struggle to stay running and then the malfunction light and car collision lights will also pop on. This happens when I am driving at any speed and if I place in park the car will completely shut down.”

   NHTSA complaint #11466520, filed 2022-05
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical dropouts: no start, dead gauges, warning lights

   • 14 complaints (16%)
   • median 5,023 mi at 2.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe randomly having to restart the car several times before the instrument cluster, stereo and power steering come back, or the engine starting while all gauges stay dark. Others report the vehicle failing to start at all, needing repeated jump starts, or lights flickering while driving. Complaints mention dealers replacing the battery or alternator, testing the computer, or being unable to reproduce the fault. Reported from very low mileage up through older, higher-mileage examples, often as an intermittent problem.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery and alternator history, and check that the key fob is detected reliably on a cold start. Start the car several times during a test drive and confirm all gauges, the radio and power steering come on each time.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving 30 MPH straight and had to make a left turn. There was a car coming in the opposite direction I was driving so I had to slow down and come to a stop to let the car pass before I turned. When the car passed and I went to turn left my car would not move. My car was still on and in drive with no warning's on. I put my car in park and put it back in drive and it still wouldn't move. I had to turn my car off and back on for it to be able to move. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11255488, filed 2019-09, 5,000 miles

   “Purchased my 2018 Nissan Kicks new in february of 2019. Have had many issues starting within 3 months of purchase. My first issue was while waiting at a light the vehicle cut off and took 3 attempts to restart. Next issue was while driving the key light glowed as if the key was not in the vehicle. The car stutters and don't pick up speed. Crash light and other lights coming on without warning or reason. Have taken vehicle in after every issue and have left vehicle with Nissan on several occasions and issues are still not resolved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11280169, filed 2019-11, 5,023 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Touchscreen and audio head unit glitches

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the radio rebooting or going dark, Android Auto skipping repeatedly, the USB connection dropping, the volume knob not responding, and the display switching menus or reading out options on its own while driving. Owners say the backup camera image is sometimes blank or very blurry, including after the camera recall work was done. Dealers are described as unable to find a fault or simply not fixing it. Reported at low mileage, often within months of purchase, and apparently not tied to weather.

   Recall 19V6540004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the screen, Bluetooth and USB pairing during the drive, and check reverse camera clarity. Ask whether any infotainment software update has been applied, since several service bulletins cover these symptoms.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The audio head until has tech issues connecting and playing android auto. It constantly skips 5 seconds at a time. There is also issues with the usb input staying connected. Looking online, there are hundreds of people with nissans that have the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366696, filed 2020-10, 41,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11231882, filed 2019-07, 15 miles

Buying note. Two things worth verifying on a used example: whether the front radar and backup camera work in rain and after the recall was done, and whether any P0101 or stalling history exists. A scan tool check and a longer test drive covering stop-and-go traffic, reverse and a wet day will surface most of what owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.