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2020 Nissan Kicks problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Nissan Kicks are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 42%).
Does the 2020 Nissan Kicks have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 91 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Kicks concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under power train (21). For comparison, the 2019 scores 44% and the 2021 scores 21%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Nissan Kicks years
Of the 5 Nissan Kicks years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the worst on engine and transmission share (45%). The best is the 2021 (21%). By volume, the 2020 drew 97 complaints (41 drivetrain), against 134 for the 2019 and 76 for the 2021.
Nissan Kicks years to avoid and best years →
2018 Kicks problems · 2019 Kicks problems · 2020 · 2021 Kicks problems · 2023 Kicks problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Nissan Kicks
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 41 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2020 Nissan Kicks? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Nissan Kicks have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 41 of 91 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Kicks concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Nissan Kicks?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Nissan Kicks is forward collision avoidance: 34 of 97 complaints (35%) name it, followed by electrical system (27) and power train (21). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 45% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Nissan Kicks reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Nissan Kicks years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Nissan Kicks?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2020 Nissan Kicks.
Which Nissan Kicks years are better?
Among the Nissan Kicks years we track, the 2021 (21%), the 2023 (33%) and the 2018 (36%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (45%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-kicks
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.