Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Kicks vs FORD F 150
How the Nissan Kicks and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Kicks vs FORD F 150: The Kicks has 475 complaints over 7 years (68/yr) and 6 recalls, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years (1,131/yr) and 145 recalls. Kicks owners report false collision warnings and rear glass shattering; F-150 owners report transmission hard shifts and power loss. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Kicks or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks is a subcompact crossover that, in ownership terms, is relatively affordable and efficient, but the complaint data reveals a pattern of electronic and safety-system glitches that can undermine confidence. Owners frequently report issues with the forward collision avoidance system, including false alerts and unexpected braking, as well as electrical problems like infotainment screens blacking out and rear glass shattering spontaneously. Engine and powertrain complaints, while less frequent, include sudden power loss and stalling, which are serious safety concerns. Overall, the Kicks shows a moderate complaint rate but with a concentration of issues that could affect daily usability and safety.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for capability and towing, but the complaint data paints a picture of a vehicle with a high volume of issues, especially in the powertrain and electrical systems. Owners report hard shifting, jerking, and even complete power loss from the 10-speed automatic transmission, as well as electrical gremlins like camera malfunctions and warning lights. With over 1,100 complaints per year and 145 recalls, the F-150 demands careful inspection and a willingness to deal with potential repairs. Despite its popularity, the data suggests that reliability can be a significant concern for used buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Kicks | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 475 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 67.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Nissan Kicks
- 01FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE131
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER103
- 04ENGINE93
- 05POWER TRAIN60
Owners report the automatic emergency braking warning light flashing randomly and the system activating without reason, which can cause sudden stops and increase the risk of rear-end collisions. This is the most common complaint area, affecting driver confidence in the vehicle's safety systems.
The infotainment screen can black out completely, disabling the backup camera and rear cross-traffic alerts, which is a safety hazard when reversing. Additionally, the rear hatchback glass has shattered spontaneously, sometimes when using the rear defroster, posing a risk of injury from flying glass.
Some owners report sudden loss of power while driving, with the vehicle unable to shift into drive after restarting. Others describe stalling at low speeds, such as at a red light, with warning lights illuminating, which can leave drivers stranded or in dangerous situations.
“I bought the car used and had no issues within the first three months. I have only had the car for four months now. The automatic emergency braking warning light started to randomly flash while driving and would come on and off. I took the car into the dealer…”
“The rear windshield shattered ~ while driving for no reason. I did have the rear defrost on, but it was 60 degrees out, so that should not have happened. I've used it in the winter when it was below zero and nothing happened then. Now I'm afraid to use it at…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners describing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even complete power loss while driving. These issues can be unpredictable and may require costly repairs or replacements.
Electrical problems include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These issues can disable safety features and may indicate underlying wiring or sensor problems.
Headlight issues are common, with many complaints about poor visibility or complete failure, which is a direct safety concern for night driving. This is a frequent reason for recalls and repairs.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Nissan Kicks — 6 recalls
The defect: 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 driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: 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 driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
The risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's cus…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Kicks or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Nissan Kicks has significantly fewer complaints per year (about 68) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), indicating a lower rate of reported problems. However, the Kicks' issues are concentrated in safety-critical systems like collision avoidance and electrical components, while the F-150's problems are more widespread but also include serious transmission failures. In practice, the Kicks may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but both vehicles have notable reliability concerns that should be addressed through thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The Kicks has far fewer complaints per year (68 vs 1,131), but its issues often involve safety systems like forward collision avoidance and backup cameras, which can be disconcerting.
- The F-150's most common complaints are about the 10-speed transmission, with hard shifts and power loss, which can be expensive to fix and affect drivability.
- Electrical problems are prominent in both, but the Kicks' rear glass shattering is a unique and potentially dangerous issue, while the F-150's camera malfunctions disable driver-assist features.
- The F-150 has a much higher number of recalls (145 vs 6), indicating more widespread manufacturing or design issues over its production years.
- Test the forward collision warning and automatic braking systems on a safe road to ensure they don't activate unexpectedly.
- Inspect the rear hatch glass for any cracks or signs of stress, and check if the rear defroster has been used frequently, as some owners report shattering.
- Take the truck for a test drive and pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears, for any hard jerks or delays.
- Check for any warning lights on the dash, such as 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available', which may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models; ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission (F-150) and electrical systems (both).
- Test all safety features, including forward collision warning, backup camera, and blind spot monitoring, to ensure they work properly.
- Ask for service records, especially for transmission repairs or replacements on the F-150 and any electrical or glass replacements on the Kicks.
- Consider an extended warranty or service contract to cover potential costly repairs, given the reported issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Nissan Kicks | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 617 |
| 2023 | 31 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 22 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 75 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 93 | 33 |
| 2019 | 134 | 36 |
| 2018 | 84 | 56 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Nissan Kicks or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Kicks vs FORD F 150
- Nissan Kicks total complaints
- 475
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Nissan Kicks total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Nissan Kicks avg complaints/year
- 67.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Kicks top complaint area
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN