DTC P17F4 STORED IN TCM IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports transmission vibration when accelerating, HINT: Vibration occurs during quick reacceleration after braking, during a 2-1 downshift of the auxiliary gearbox. AND DTC P17F4 for âAUXILIARY GEARBOX (CL JUDDER)â is stored in the TCM. ï· If DTCs other than P17F4 are stored, this bulletin does not apply. Refer to the ESM for further diagnostic information. ACTION Refer to the Repair Overview on page 2 to determine if this bulletin applies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Nissan Kicks powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Nissan Kicks have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kicks | 7 |
| 2019 Kicks (this page) | 19 |
| 2020 Kicks | 17 |
| 2021 Kicks | 7 |
1crash
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Nissan Kicks we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 19.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0746, P0776, P0841, P0965, P17F0 AND/OR P17F1 STORED IN THE TCM This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or obvious CV Joint risk due to water intrusion and/or complete grease loss, check for REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) availability. ï· If there is a REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) available for the vehicle being repaired, do NOT replace the axle. Install a new boot kit following the procedure in the ESM. o Refer to the ESM: TRANSMISSION & DRIVELINE > FRONT AXLE > REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION > FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BOOT o If the complete axle (drive shaft) is replaced when only a new boot is required, the
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION 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 of 2019 Nissan Kicks consistently report problems with the Xtronic CVT transmission that put them at risk on highways and in city traffic. The transmission slips during acceleration, jerks unpredictably, and in several cases loses power entirely while the owner is driving—one owner nearly hit an oil tanker truck when the car lurched forward then nearly stalled. Another owner experienced complete power loss on an interstate exit. Multiple owners report sudden drops from highway speed (55–70 mph) down to 25 mph with no warning. Some transmissions have failed so badly they required replacement; at least one owner already had the transmission replaced once and is experiencing problems again.
A separate issue affects the shifter when the car is parked on an incline. It becomes stuck or extremely difficult to move out of Park and makes loud banging or clanging noises. A dealership confirmed the problem and told the owner that Nissan is aware of it from other customers but has not issued a service bulletin or fix. The recommended workaround (applying the e-brake first) did not work.
Owners also report stalling at red lights, engine excess oil consumption with white smoke from the muffler, and transmission shuddering or rumbling on turns. Most strikingly, dealers often cannot find a mechanical fault even when symptoms are severe and documented by the owner.
Same Nissan Kicks powertrain reports on nearby years: 2020
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Slipping and Loss of Power
CVT transmission slips during acceleration, causing lurching, power loss, and sudden deceleration. Owners report the transmission fails to accelerate properly, sometimes dropping from highway speeds (55–70 mph) to 25 mph without warning. Several owners experienced complete power loss mid-drive, including on interstates. Dealer diagnosis ranges from 'working as designed' to 'transmission needs replacement' or 'catastrophic failure.' No consistent diagnostic codes retrieved.
When: Reported between 65,922 and 80,000 miles; one owner had already replaced the transmission once
Symptoms owners cite: Slipping during acceleration; Sudden loss of motive power mid-drive; Jerking and lunging forward then nearly stalling; Sudden downshift from highway speed to 25 mph; Stalling or inability to move with engine still running; Check Engine light (in at least one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had transmission replaced by Nissan; another received quote for replacement but did not proceed. One dealer diagnosed catastrophic failure requiring replacement. Most dealers found no mechanical issue on inspection.
Shifter Stuck in Park on Inclines
When parked on an incline, the shifter becomes difficult or impossible to move out of Park and produces loud clanging or banging when it does shift. Dealership confirmed the problem and said they are aware of it from other customers but Nissan has not issued a service bulletin or permanent fix. Dealership recommended applying e-brake before parking, then reversing the procedure on restart; owner reports this workaround did not resolve the issue.
When: Occurs when vehicle is parked on an incline
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter difficult to move out of Park; Loud clanging or banging during shifter movement; No warning lights or codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership recommended e-brake procedure workaround; did not work. No repair has been performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership aware of problem from other owners; Nissan has not addressed it and no service bulletin or fix exists.
Transmission Shudder, Rumble, and Jerking
Transmission shudders, rumbles, jerks, and experiences erratic acceleration intermittently. Owner reports rumbling occurs on turns and when starting to take off, with hard shifting around 3rd gear at 35–40 mph. Issues became more noticeable near the end of the 5-year factory warranty period.
When: Intermittent; more noticeable after approximately 60 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering and jerking during acceleration; Transmission rumble on turns and launch; Hard shifting around 3rd gear (35–40 mph); Intermittent acceleration problems
Stalling at Stop Lights with Loss of Power
Vehicle stalls at red lights or comes to a stop with the engine turning off without warning. Engine restarts but then runs rough with all dashboard lights flashing. One case involved loss of motive power at a stop light; steering became firm until driver shifted to neutral and system returned to normal. Dealer diagnosis in one case pointed to mass airflow sensor and throttle body issues.
When: Reported at stop lights; one case at approximately 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at red lights with no warning; Sudden loss of motive power while stopped; Engine restarts with rough idle; All dashboard lights flashing; Firm steering wheel (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner was quoted expensive repair for mass airflow sensor and throttle body; did not proceed. Dealer found no failure in another case.
Engine Excess Oil Consumption and Burning
Engine consumes excess oil, creating burnt smell and white smoke from the muffler. Owner notes this is compounded by transmission stalling and poor acceleration. Owner reports attempting multiple repairs without success and dealer unable to identify the problem. Owner claims to have heard of many others with the same issue on this model.
Symptoms owners cite: Burnt smell from engine; White smoke from muffler; Excessive oil consumption
Repairs/costs cited: Owner attempted multiple repairs and part installations; none resolved the issue.
Shifter Locking and Hard Shift from Park
Shifter becomes stuck or extremely difficult to move out of Park, accompanied by loud banging or clanging noise when shifter finally disengages. No warning lights or codes are present.
When: When parked, particularly on inclines
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter stuck or very difficult to move from Park; Loud bang or clang during shifter disengagement; No warning lights or diagnostic codes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership aware of issue from other owners; Nissan has not issued a fix or service bulletin.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The Motor/engine consumes excess oil creating a burnt smell and a lot of whitesmoke coming out of the muffler. The vehicle is stalling constantly and won’t accelerate properly while driving. Creating an unsafe environment for me and those driving near me. I have repair and install new piece but non of them would fix the problem. I took it to the dealer and they didn’t find the problem. I have…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2019 Nissan Kicks?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 19 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 80,784 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.