Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Nissan Kicks owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am the owner of the vehicle but my daughter was the driver and I am making the complaint on her behalf but she can provide additional details. The vehicle began making a grinding sound at times that sounds similar to the anti-lock braking. Then on Oct 29 the vehicle locked down the brakes as she was pulling into the parking lot at work when there was not a collision imminent. She skidded into the curb damaging her front driver side wheel. We took the vehicle to the Dick Smith Nissan dealer in Lexington SC but they told us they couldn't reproduce the failure and recommended we bring it back if it happened again. We went to pick up the vehicle but before leaving with the car I drove the car around the parking lot and the forward collision light came on in under a minute. They immediately took the car back to service to read the code and asked if we could leave the vehicle with them. …
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that the ABS, Forward Facing Camera, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), Lane Variation, and other safety feature lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the ABS and Forward-Facing Camera. The dealer diagnosed that the ADAS needed to be replaced; however, the part was on back order. While awaiting parts for the repair, the battery started to lose power and needed to be jump-started several times. The manufacturer was informed of the issue. The manufacturer opened a case for the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
Over a period of 3 days leading up to the braking incident the Collison warning came on periodically when there was no need, the sensor on the dash on the left,right and front of the vehicle image went yellow, the Malfunction light came on and the Collison warning with no cars around. On the November 9th, 2023 I got the collison warning (looks like 2 cars)and it went away. However that day I was pulling forward from a green light and as I was through the intersection the car suddenly braked stopping the car and a red square appeared on the dash with a letter in it - not sure what it was as I was trying to ensure I was not going to be rear-ended. I was the first car from the light so there was no car ahead of me and no reason for the car to brake and stop. The car behind reacted and went around me avoiding a rear-end collison- Lucky for us. …
While traveling in heavy traffic my kicks went into limp mode and all front crash sensors were illuminated. I was stuck on a busy interstate. Took car to dealer they stated it was the ECM, they replace it under warranty. I had the car back 5 days and it did it again in heavy traffic. The first thing it does is cuts out then 30 sec later back in limo mode All the same sensors everything. Took the car back now they say the alternator is starting to fail. And this part is not covered under warranty. Now I'm paying for something I truly don't believe is a problem especially when the computer readout they showed me continues to point to the front sensors. …
I purchased the used vehicle in March and I have had an intermittent check engine light (p0101 code), my forward collision warning lights and traction control lights come on and my car brakes like I was in an emergency braking situation. Since the second day of owning the car. I've had it in the shop more than 5 times. They have not found the issue. I've been told there is nothing wrong so even with my extended warranty I'm unable to have this issue repaired. All these lights come on together and leave together. This is dangerous because stopping suddenly on the highway could result in me getting killed. I haven't found a tsb or recall but according to multiple nissan forums this is happening to hundreds of 2019 -2021 Kicks owners. This happened again yesterday and scared me. I can't afford another car right now. I just want this one to be repaired properly before it's too late. …
The car gives me warning signals. All the warnings display on my screen and then the car doesn't advance. It has happened several times and I've been put in danger since I live in San Antonio TX and there's always traffic. I've called the dealer and they just tell that there's no recalls for that vehicle. A lady that works at the same company I do has had the save issue. I searched online and many others are having the same issue. Also I purchased a code scanner which tells me it's the mass air flow sensor and I replaced it but the issue persists. I put yesterday's date's for the incident but it has also happened to me at least 4 times before Please assist. My email is [redacted] . My name is [redacted] and my vin number is: [redacted]
They have replaced the transmission two times and this transmission is going bad, it's slipping, shuddering, and hesitating when you hit the gas. This car is a death trap waiting to happen. Nissan knows they put junk transmissions in these cars but still sells them. Nissan is going to end up hurting/killing a lot of innocent lives. It's not safe to be driving this car around, half the time the car doesn't want to go when you hit the gas. My daughter turns 16 and will not be driving this death trap. Nissan needs to recall the 2020 Nissan Kicks SV transmissions too. I do have all the paperwork from the transmissions being put it. I get the run around with the dealer. The vibration issue and they say it'll do that at 90. The collision light is ALWAYS coming on (I have pictures of that too)
For over a year now the forward collision warning light just flashes at random times as I am going down the road (I've taken numerous photos). I've taken it to Downtown Nashville Nissan to have it fixed (under warranty) and they say it has to be flashing when I bring it in. But they have shown me computer read-outs on when it has activated (gone off). They refuse to change the sensor. NOW - twice (04/21/22 and 04/23/22) as I'm driving 70mph down the center lane of the interstate - the sensor activates, this big red triangle flashes up, an alarm goes of and it slams on the brakes. Thank goodness no one has been behind me either time and it only last for a moment (it thinks a pedestrian is crossing in front of me). Cannot get a reply from Nissan.
I bought my New 2020 in February and I have already had to have it serviced 7 or more times, due to electrical issues. The Automatic Electrical Braking system comes on, even though nothing is in front of me when I am driving, also, the Collision alert comes on as well during the same time, even though no cars are in front me to warrant a possible collision. I am very nervous driving my car. I dont know what else to do. Nissan has ran diagnostics and found the issues with sonar and other possibilities, they replaced the system and while it ran ok for a while, it is currently experiencing the same electrical issues. I have not been able to take it in again because I have a bad knee. I need help, I truly believe I was sold a Lemon!
I have 2 issues. 1. The forward collision light has come on for no apparent reason. This has happened 4 times in the last 2-3 months. The car doesn't do anything with this issue other then the warning indicator. 2. The automatic braking system has activated for no apparent reason. This has happened 3 times. In two cases, it was just a quick short braking event then the car went back to normal driving. I don't recall speeds for these, but they were not interstate speeds. The third event was at highway speeds, about 65-70. The car broke very hard for 2-3 seconds. Scared me to death because no one was around me. I'm concerned about this happening again when someone is behind me.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other Kicks years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2020 Nissan Kicks?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2020 Nissan Kicks, 36% of the model year's 97 complaints. The component named most often is warnings (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Nissan Kicks collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA lists no driver assistance recall for the 2020 Nissan Kicks. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Nissan Kicks collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 0 miles, and 75% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to driver assistance problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.