NissanKicks2023Overview/nissan/kicks/2023/base/

2023 Nissan Kicks

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Kicks.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2023 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact crossover equipped with an Xtronic automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 31 city, 36 highway, and 33 combined mpg. With just 30 owner complaints filed across its model history spanning 2018 to 2026, the 2023 model year sits well below the peak of 133 complaints recorded in 2019, representing a substantial improvement in reported issues—though one recall was issued for this model year, with service brakes and forward collision avoidance emerging as the primary concern areas among the reported complaints.

Model year20252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque83.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/36/33 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165465RB1A
Spark plug224015RL1B
Front wiper blades288905RL0A discontinued · alt 288905RL0B
Serpentine belt117205RB0B
Thermostat212005RF3A alt 210495RF3A
Cabin air filter278915RB0C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length169.7 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight2692 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 36 / 33 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Kicks of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.7–10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.70 sec — 2018 SR
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2021SR 1.6L I-410.00 sec17.90 sec122 hpFWD
2021SR 1.6L I-410.10 sec17.70 sec122 hpFWD
2020SR 1.6L I-410.50 sec18.00 sec122 hpFWD
2018SR 1.6L I-49.70 sec17.50 sec125 hpFWD
2018SR 1.6L I-49.70 sec17.50 sec125 hpFWD
2018SR 1.6L I-49.90 sec17.60 sec125 hpFWD
2018SR 1.6L I-49.90 sec17.60 sec125 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 90.0 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

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

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts98.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts90.0 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

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miKeyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

The 2023 Kicks sits in a clear improvement arc: complaints fell from a 2019 peak of 133 to a generation low of 22 in 2022 before ticking up slightly to 30 in 2023, while TSBs declined steadily from 138 (2019) to 55. Recalls have remained low and sporadic — one each in 2018, 2019, 2021 (two), 2023, and 2024 — with a notable jump to four in 2025 and three in 2026 that does not reflect on the 2023 model. The 2023 top complaint clusters involve forward collision avoidance and service brakes (three reports combined) plus electrical system (two), with two crash complaints and no fires; the data does not specify root causes. Compared to the high-volume early years, 2023 shows markedly lower regulatory activity and a maturing platform. The modest complaint rise from 2022's nadir is consistent with increased fleet age rather than a new defect pattern. This is a good year to buy — complaint and TSB volumes are low, recall exposure is minimal, and the trend points to a stable, well-sorted model.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
55
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
30
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 30 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance3
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Unknown Or Other2
Electrical System2
Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Structure2
Unknown Or Other,Lane Departure1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

24V154000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/02/2024

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the… Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 55 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
NTB19-042F2025-02-20Electrical SystemAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped…
NTB19-033G2025-02-20Forward Collision AvoidanceINTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION…
NTB24-050A2025-01-10Forward Collision AvoidanceFALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced…

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. 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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Kicks have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Kicks get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 36 highway / 33 combined mpg.