About the Nissan Kicks
Since entering the US market in 2018, the Kicks has become a rental fleet favorite due to its low acquisition cost. The result: used listings are now dominated by ex-rental units with mileage and wear patterns that exceed what their recent model years suggest. Fleet history verification isn't optional for this model—it's the most important data point in any VIN report.
A VIN number lookup on this Nissan Kicks includes real high-resolution auction photos sourced directly from Copart and IAAI, the largest salvage auction operators in the United States.
Nissan Kicks Model Generations
US-market timeline. The first-generation model was also sold alongside the new one as the 2025 Kicks Play.
What a Nissan Kicks VIN Check Reveals
A VIN number check on any Nissan Kicks pulls records from state DMV offices, NHTSA databases, insurance industry filings, and salvage auction records across all 50 states. The report covers the following data categories:
- Accident and collision history
- Full odometer timeline
- Open safety recalls from NHTSA
- Title brands (salvage, flood, lemon law, total loss)
- Theft and recovery records
- Lien and ownership history
- Structural and frame damage
- Airbag deployment records
- State inspection history
- Prior vehicle use (fleet, rental, taxi, auction)
Nissan Kicks VIN Number Location
Where to find the VIN on a Kicks
Locate the Kicks VIN on the plate at the lower driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and a B-pillar label between the front and rear passenger doors are the secondary locations. No frame stamp is present due to unibody construction. Kicks is manufactured in multiple plants for different markets, the VIN's plant character (position 11) will identify the assembly location.
The VIN also appears on the vehicle registration, insurance documents, and title. All locations should match. A mismatch between VIN plates is a potential indicator of a rebuilt or salvage vehicle.
Common Issues Found in VIN Reports for the Nissan Kicks
VIN history reports on used Nissan Kicks vehicles frequently show accident and collision claims, title discrepancies, and odometer irregularities. Any open NHTSA recall notices tied to the specific VIN will appear in the report, along with the recall completion status where that data is available.
Nissan vehicles carrying a VIN prefix of 1N4, 3N1, JN1, JN8, 5N1 are traceable through all 50 state DMV systems and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). Coverage for vehicles registered after 1990 is generally comprehensive.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
Nissan Kicks — last 3 model years
What Kicks owners report across recent generations
2018–2024 (1st generation)
Owner data is modest, and CarComplaints has only a few reports. The 2019 draws the most NHTSA complaints, with owners describing ABS, forward collision and slippery road warnings that come on without reason, often tied to a faulty mass airflow sensor, along with stalling or shuddering in wet weather. CarComplaints owners of the 2019 mention a throttle body replacement and weak A/C. Recalls cover rear camera settings on 2018–2019 models and power steering connections on some 2021 models that may cut assist. [1] [2] [3]
What to check before buying
Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the power steering recall on 2021 models. Ask whether the mass airflow sensor or throttle body has been replaced. On the drive, watch for ABS, collision or slippery road warnings, feel for hesitation or stalling, and check that the A/C blows cold.
- NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2019 Nissan Kicks
- CarComplaints.com, 2019 Nissan Kicks problems
- NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2021 Nissan Kicks
Updated September 25, 2026 · Summarized in our own words by VinNumber.net from public owner reports; individual experiences vary.