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2019 Nissan Kicks Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2019 Nissan Kicks carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering camera. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “ABS control module and actuator failure.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #19V654000 · Dec 9, 2019

Issue: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 Nissan Kicks.

Reported to NHTSA

ABS control module and actuator failure

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

5 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10 → 2026-04

“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11704675
“The ABS control Module is working intermittently. Nissan states that they have a problem with this so much that there is a backorder on the item. The replacement cost from the manufacturer is between $1500 and $2000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11631964
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11621122

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front and rear coil spring fracture

SUSPENSION

4 NHTSA complaints · 2024-07 → 2026-06

“The front driver’s side coil spring broke. The front passenger side was showing signs of premature wear. Nissan does not just sell the coil spring, so a strut assembly had to be purchased for both sides. This was a very expensive repair”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11746933
“Left rear coil spring is broken”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11709288
“Broken front springs. Yes, it is available for inspection. Possible front tire failure, due to rupture of tire by broken spring”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11602892

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Backup camera display failure

BACK OVER PREVENTION

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-07 → 2025-07

“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated while reversing, the back over protection camera system displayed a black screen. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11672333
“THE BACKUP CAMERA IS VERY HARD TO SEE IN DAYLIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11340068
“REAR VIEW CAMERA ADJUSTMENT COULD AFFECT IMAGE VISIBILITY. A LETTER WAS RECEIVED, INDICATING THAT THE ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11353395

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

MAF sensor fault triggering engine stall and warning lights

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

66 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2026-07

“CEL on, code PO101 indicates MAF sensor is faulty with related ABS, FCW, and slippery road lights illuminating when braking on a curve or at a stop sign. Car often loses power and need to be turned off to reset and become driveable again”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739866
“Frequently and randomly I get errors on my dash for the front collision sensor and slippery roads warning. This seems to occur for no reason as all while I am driving. When this happens my RPM's drop and my car will stall at red lights or stop signs”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11745726
“The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Radar System is faulty which makes the vehicle suddenly brakes on it's own. My daughter reported that the alert light began coming on about a week ago”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11456707

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission judder, slip, and loss of power

POWER TRAIN

22 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2026-07

“The CVT transmission in my Kicks slips every time I try to accelerate. It will also stall out from time to time, lose power and die. I've had this happen on an interstate before, almost causing a serious wreck”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11576847
“The transmission in this car is a CVT and it pulls very bad and there is times that it smells like rubber is burning under the car people safety is put at risk because it could start a fire under there”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11458805
“When I try to accelerate after a red light, I feel a bang from my car, later the car don't move to any direction, engine still running. It have to be towed to repair shop. The diagnostic was catastrophic failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11580497

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

30 crashes 1990–2024

How the 30 occupant deaths break down

30

driver deaths

0

passenger deaths

30

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2019 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2019 Nissan Kicks reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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