Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Kicks vs Toyota Camry
How the Nissan Kicks and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Kicks averages 67.9 complaints per year, while the Camry averages 214.3. Kicks owners report forward collision and electrical glitches, while Camry owners face transmission and brake failures. Choose based on your tolerance for electronic issues versus mechanical ones. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Kicks or Toyota Camry 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 its complaint record suggests 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 failures that can disable the backup camera and rear cross-traffic alerts. Engine and powertrain complaints, such as sudden power loss and stalling, add to the concern, making the Kicks a vehicle that may require more frequent dealer visits than expected.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan known for its reliability, but the complaint data reveals a higher volume of issues, largely due to its longer sales history and higher sales volume. Owners report significant problems with the powertrain, including transmission grinding and replacement needs, as well as engine issues like sudden acceleration and coolant valve failures. Brake complaints, including a total loss of braking response, are particularly alarming, suggesting that even a trusted nameplate can have serious defects that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Kicks | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 475 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 67.9 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 163 |
| 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 cause, which can be startling and potentially dangerous if it brakes unexpectedly in traffic.
The infotainment screen can black out completely, taking the backup camera and rear cross-traffic alerts with it, creating a safety hazard when reversing. Also, the rear hatch glass has shattered spontaneously, possibly linked to the rear defroster.
Some owners experience a sudden loss of power while driving, and the car may stall and refuse to shift into drive, leaving the driver stranded. This can occur even on a nearly new vehicle with very low mileage.
A loud popping sound, like a gunshot, has been reported, possibly from glass breakage or structural issues. Also, the car can be difficult to control in crosswinds, which may be unsettling on the highway.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are common, with grinding noises on acceleration and dealers recommending full transmission replacement. This is a costly repair that may not be covered if the car is out of warranty.
Reports of sudden, uncontrollable acceleration are extremely serious, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, a coolant valve bypass code (P268115) indicates a known issue that may not be covered by recall for all VINs.
Some owners report a complete loss of brake response when pressing the pedal, which is a critical safety failure. In one case, the driver had to use the parking brake to stop on a hill.
The air conditioning condenser can be easily damaged by rocks, leading to expensive AC repairs. Also, a recurring vinegar/mildew smell from the vents is unpleasant and may require frequent cleaning.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Kicks or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan Kicks has far fewer complaints per year (67.9) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Kicks' issues are more concentrated in safety-critical systems like collision avoidance and electrical failures. The Camry's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but the nature of its problems—especially sudden acceleration and brake failure—are more alarming. In practice, the Kicks may have fewer overall issues, but the Camry's problems, when they occur, can be more severe.
Key differences
- The Kicks has a higher rate of forward collision avoidance and electrical system complaints, while the Camry has more powertrain and brake complaints.
- The Kicks' rear hatch glass has shattered spontaneously in several reports, a unique and safety-relevant issue not seen in the Camry data.
- The Camry has reports of sudden unintended acceleration, which is a critical safety concern, whereas the Kicks' engine issues are more about stalling and power loss.
- The Camry's transmission failures often require full replacement, a costly repair, while the Kicks' powertrain complaints are less frequent but still include loss of drive.
- Test the forward collision warning and automatic braking in a safe area to ensure they don't activate randomly.
- Inspect the rear hatch glass for any cracks or stress marks, and check the rear defroster operation, as several owners reported spontaneous shattering.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and have the transmission inspected by a trusted mechanic, as failures are common.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including a hard stop from speed, and check for any warning lights or unusual pedal feel, given reports of brake failure.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- For the Kicks, test all electronic features, including the infotainment screen, backup camera, and forward collision system.
- For the Camry, test drive at highway speeds and listen for transmission noises, and perform a brake test from 40 mph.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the Camry's transmission fluid changes and any engine or brake work.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 48 |
| 2023 | 31 | 62 |
| 2022 | 22 | 59 |
| 2021 | 75 | 155 |
| 2020 | 93 | 270 |
| 2019 | 134 | 393 |
| 2018 | 84 | 736 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Kicks vs Toyota Camry
- Nissan Kicks total complaints
- 475
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Nissan Kicks total recalls
- 6
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan Kicks avg complaints/year
- 67.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Kicks
- Nissan Kicks top complaint area
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN