REDUCED POWER AFTER COLD START AT BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Nissan Kicks engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Nissan Kicks have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kicks | 5 |
| 2019 Kicks (this page) | 11 |
| 2020 Kicks | 8 |
| 2022 Kicks | 4 |
| 2023 Kicks | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 engine complaints filed for the 2019 Nissan Kicks, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Nissan Kicks we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 11.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire âFuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly). The fuel level sensor can be replaced separately. ï· P0460 (FUEL LEV SEN SLOSH) ï· P0461 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR) ï· P0462 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) ï· P0463 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) NOTE: Warranty claims referring to fuel level issues that result in the replacement of the entire fuel pump assembly will be charged back.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2019 Kicks stalling without warning while driving, decelerating, and stopped at traffic lights—sometimes accompanied by dashboard warnings (collision avoidance, slip, emergency braking system) that have no relation to actual hazards. The stalling episodes occur as early as 5,000 miles and trigger check-engine codes P0101 and P0102, both pointing to the Mass Air Flow sensor.
Multiple owners have replaced the MAF sensor with factory parts two to three times each, cleaned the throttle body, and swapped the air filter—only to have the fault codes return and stalling resume. One owner documented spending $250 on a sensor plus $300 in mandatory Nissan diagnostic relearning, with no permanent fix. One vehicle stalled at 43 mph after an undercarriage impact and required complete engine replacement (not completed). Another stalled on a freeway exit, forcing emergency braking. A third stalled mid-intersection with traffic narrowly avoiding collision.
Some owners also report CVT transmission slipping with RPM jumping, one with catastrophic loss of power on the highway at 5,000 miles. Center console and radio electronics malfunction independently—powering on/off and changing volume without input—and one repair did not resolve the issue. Dealers either cannot duplicate the stalling problem, cannot identify a fault, or provide no solution. Nissan has offered no recall, warranty extension, or buyback.
Failure modes owners describe
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Failure
Faulty MAF sensor triggers check engine light and causes stalling, hesitation, and rough idle. Multiple owners replaced the sensor with OEM parts and continued experiencing the problem, suggesting either a deeper electrical/sensor circuit issue or defective replacement parts.
When: 67,736 miles in one case; recurring across ownership; as early as 5,000 miles in another vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; Stalling at low speed and at traffic lights; Hesitation during acceleration; Rough idle when stopped; Diagnostic codes P0101 and P0102 displayed
Repairs/costs cited: MAF sensor replaced multiple times (2–3 times per owner) with OEM parts; throttle body cleaned; air filter replaced; Nissan diagnostic tool relearning required, costing $300+ in addition to $250 for sensor replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance provided in two documented cases; manufacturer made aware but no recall or TSB mentioned
Engine Stalling During Operation
Engine shuts off suddenly while driving, decelerating, or stopped in traffic, creating a safety hazard. Stalls occur both with and without warning lights. One incident involved collision avoidance system warnings; another occurred on a freeway exit. Restart capability varies.
When: 43 mph in one incident; freeway deceleration in another; city traffic scenarios; ranges from 5,000 to 67,736 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown mid-driving; Engine shutdown while stopped or at traffic lights; Front collision warning light triggered (unrelated to actual collision threat); Master indicator, slip warning, and automatic emergency braking system warnings displayed; Engine struggles to turn over on restart; Difficulty regaining speed after restart
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required complete engine replacement after stalling at 43 mph; replacement not completed. Dealer unable to identify problem in at least one case despite multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no assistance documented
Transmission Slipping and Loss of Power
CVT transmission exhibits slipping behavior with erratic RPM changes and sudden loss of power. One owner reported total shutdown on highway with all systems shutting off simultaneously, creating acute safety risk.
When: As early as 5,000 miles (4 months ownership); mileage not stated in other cases
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slipping randomly; RPM fluctuations; Complete loss of power while driving on highway; Vehicle dead stop in traffic lane
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; owner cites inability to afford transmission replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance or recall mentioned
Infotainment/Center Console Electrical Malfunction
Center display and radio controls malfunction independently, turning on/off and adjusting volume without driver input. Steering wheel controls sometimes work but radio ignores them. Center console replacement was performed but did not resolve the issue.
When: Within one year of purchase; persistent since new
Symptoms owners cite: Radio powers on and off randomly; Volume adjusts automatically; Steering wheel controls ineffective; Center console controls unresponsive
Repairs/costs cited: Center console replaced; one-week wait for part; no receipt provided after replacement; issue unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Corporate contacted; refused buyback on vehicle with 15,500 miles, one year old
Acceleration Hesitation and Poor Fuel Response
Engine refuses to accelerate normally when throttle is applied, particularly during city traffic merging. Vehicle behaves as if fuel is not reaching engine despite accelerator depression.
When: City traffic scenarios; mileage not documented
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle struggles to gain speed; Poor acceleration response despite throttle input; Inability to safely merge into traffic; Engine runs rough after stalling event
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reports no diagnostic codes present despite symptom occurrence
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle immediately hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the Mass Air Flow Sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced.…
Transmission has been iffy. Randomly slipping rpms. Driving down the highway everything shut off and it stopped in the middle of the road multiple cars narrowly missing me. I could have died because of a broken transmission! Only four months old bought it brand new only 5k miles on it. This is not okay! This could have killed me and people around me! Unacceptable!
Had engine trouble with your 2019 Nissan Kicks?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2019 Nissan Kicks?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 37,931 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Nissan/Kicks.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.