NissanKicks Play2026Overview/nissan/kicks-play/2026/base/

2026 Nissan Kicks Play

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 Kicks Play.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2026 Nissan Kicks Play is a subcompact crossover equipped with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. With four total owner complaints logged to date and no single dominant issue identified—the top complaint area registering as "Unknown Or Other"—early ownership sentiment appears relatively stable. Three recalls have been issued for this model year, a figure that falls within typical range for a vehicle in its inaugural production year and suggests proactive regulatory attention rather than any indication of widespread mechanical failure. For researchers tracking the Kicks' reliability trajectory, this early data point positions the 2026 model as functioning within expected parameters for a new generation, with no emergent patterns suggesting systemic concerns.

Model year20262025

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy28/35/31 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height64.2 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3175 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 35 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18 ft-lbs

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6014 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6024 ft. lbs

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2026 Nissan Kicks Play dominate in one area — the unknown or other, 2 of 4 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the unknown or other, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the unknown or other pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Unknown Or Other2
Wheels1
Steering,Power Train,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

26V023000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 21/01/2026

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while… Remedy: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261…

26V145000SeatsReported 13/03/2026

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Kicks and Sentra vehicles. The hook bracket of the front seat frames may be insufficiently welded, which can cause the front seat frames to become loose. As… Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB26-006A2026-04-30Fuel/Propulsion SystemFUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM This bulletin…
NTB26-0192026-04-15EngineMIL ON WITH DTC P0181 STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states the MIL is ON…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB26-0062026-02-02Fuel/Propulsion SystemFUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Kicks Play. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 Kicks Play have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Kicks Play get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined mpg.