Selling a broken or wrecked Nissan Kicks

Two generations

P15, 2018-2024. The Kicks reached North America in June 2018 as a 2018 model, in S, SV and SR trims. Every one had a 1.6-liter four with a CVT and front-wheel drive; the 2018 rated 125 horsepower and the 2021 refresh 122. Nissan assembled the 2018 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The old body stayed on sale in the US in early 2025 as the Kicks Play, which was dropped after that model year.

P16, 2025 on. Nissan announced the redesigned Kicks on September 9, 2024. All trims use a 2.0-liter four (141 horsepower) with the latest version of Nissan's Xtronic CVT, and all-wheel drive is offered for the first time. The 2026 keeps the same engine.

What owners report

Electrical complaints lead on the first three model years: 17 of 86 on the 2018, 24 of 134 on the 2019 and 20 of 97 on the 2020. Across all years, 48 complaints name forward collision avoidance, and 17 of those are on the 2020. NHTSA's component labels don't say what failed inside those systems, and we haven't read the complaint narratives, so we only report the counts.

The 2021 is different. Its top category is structure, 23 of 77 complaints. It also has two recalls for the same fault: an intermittent connection in the electric power steering torque sensor that can turn off steering assist (22V693, then 23V496). Both also cover the 2021 Versa.

Other recalls on the first generation:

• 19V654: a back-up camera display that can show no image, on 2018-2019 Kicks and a long list of other Nissans.
• 24V154: on 2023-2024 cars, moisture can get into the driver's air bag inflator, which may then deploy the wrong way.

The 2025 and 2026 model years already have six recall campaigns, against 47 complaints. On 2025 cars, the shift-to-park warning may not come on when the car is shut off in gear, so it could roll away (24V969). The rear camera picture can go blank in reverse (25V324), and a certification label may list the wrong weight ratings (25V188). On 2025-2026 cars a software error can blank the instrument cluster (26V331). On 2026 cars, door strikers may be badly welded and let a door open while moving (26V023), and front seat brackets may be under-welded (26V145).

Complaints and recalls by model year

Counted from NHTSA's complaint and recall files. Median miles is the middle odometer reading among that year's complaints that gave one. A campaign covering two years is counted in both.

"Part named most" skips NHTSA's catch-all "unknown or other".

Fix it or sell it?

A Kicks is new enough that some repairs may still be covered, so rule that out before you spend anything.

• Recalls first. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Two of the 2025-2026 campaigns are software faults in the screens, and recall work is done by Nissan dealers.
• Warranty next. Ask a Nissan dealer what factory coverage is left on your VIN. We found no CVT extension that covers the Kicks.
• Crash damage. If the insurer totaled it or the frame took the hit, start with selling a wrecked or totaled car.
• Out of coverage. Weigh the written repair quote against what a running Kicks of the same year brings. What a junk car is worth explains what moves an offer on one that doesn't run.

How the sale goes

Request an offer online, or phone (877) 421-6008. Share the model year, the miles and what's wrong, plus whether air bags deployed if it was in a crash. Note where it sits, a tow yard, a body shop, your driveway, and whether it will roll onto a truck. Don't strip it first; tell us about anything that's missing. At pickup, the title goes with the car. If a lender still holds it, sort that out with the lender before the sale.