NissanKicks2020Overview/nissan/kicks/2020/base/

2020 Nissan Kicks

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Kicks.

Transmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2020 Nissan Kicks pairs a 4.4-quart oil capacity using 0W-20 viscosity with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 31 mpg city, 36 highway, and 33 combined. Owner feedback for this model year totals 92 complaints, predominantly centered on the power train, yet it carries no recalls. This places the 2020 Kicks after the 2019 model year’s peak of 133 complaints in the 2018–2026 history, signaling a notable step toward the lower grievance counts seen in later iterations.

Model year20252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque83 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 a BCI Non BCI Group Size Battery · 510 CCA battery, 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 Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI Non BCI Group Size Battery · 510 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size205/60R16 92HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165465RB1A
Spark plug224015RL1B
Front wiper blades288905RL0B discontinued · alt 288905RL0A
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 length169.3 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height61.4 in
Wheelbase103.1 in
Curb weight2646 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.

10.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 2020 SR
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020SR 1.6L I-410.50 sec18.00 sec122 hpFWD
2021SR 1.6L I-410.00 sec17.90 sec122 hpFWD
2021SR 1.6L I-410.10 sec17.70 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.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 83 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan NS-3 CVT Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.3 qt
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantNissan Long Life Blue Antifreeze/Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity7.3 qt
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt
Windshield Washer Fluid Capacity4.50 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts80 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)±25 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeDILKAR6K11
Spark Plug Gap.043 in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing6 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity.88 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYR20
Oil Capacity4.40 oz
Standard BCI Group NumberNon BCI Group Size Battery
Standard BCI Cranking Performance510 cca

Service checks

RPM51.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20.0 ft-lbs; Rear: NS
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 62.0 ft-lbs; Rear: NS
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: .787
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0005
Maximum Rotor RunoutMeasure on vehicle. .0022

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 9-1117 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6014 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen all bolts., Step 3: 14.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 60-65°20 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-61°26 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60°, Step 3: In Reverse order loosen all bolts. Step 4: 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 5: 75°, Step 6: 75°30 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6024 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-65°24 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 at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 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 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
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 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (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 2020 Kicks sits at a transitional point in the model's federal record: complaints fell to 92 from the 2019 peak of 133, and it is the only model year in the 20182021 window with zero recalls, though technical service bulletins remained elevated at 123. Powertrain and forward collision avoidance each drew seven complaints, followed by electrical system and air bags at four apiece, with seven crash-related complaints and no fire reports recorded. The broader arc shows a sharp decline after 2020 — complaints drop to 22 by 2022 and recalls reappear sporadically in later years — suggesting 2020 captured the tail end of early-production teething issues without the recall actions that affected 2019 and 2021. TSB volume staying high through 2020 indicates dealers were actively addressing patterns the data doesn't specify. For a buyer, this makes the 2020 a reasonable choice if the vehicle has had the relevant bulletins applied, but it does not stand out as a clearly superior year compared to the quieter 2022–2024 models.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
123
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
92
Owner complaints
7 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 92 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train7
Forward Collision Avoidance7
Electrical System4
Air Bags4
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance4
Engine3
Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance3
Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 123 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…
NTB23-048A2026-04-08Electrical SystemDTC P17F4 STORED IN THE TCM IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports transmission vibration…
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…

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

How much oil does the 2020 Kicks take?

4.4 qt of Nissan 0W-20 SN is recommended but 0W-20 GF-5 SN may be used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Kicks have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 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.