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New Problem!

69414 Views 93 Replies 57 Participants Last post by  jptbay
Hey all, I just learned of a new and irritating problem with the Kicks. I bought a 2018 Kicks SR a couple of months ago and enjoy the vehicle. As it has gotten cooler here in the Midwest I noticed a problem with the interior temperature. When the temp gauge is set at 60 or 61 degrees the system blows very cold air, as soon as the gauge is set to 62, the system starts blowing hot air, there is no way to get just warm air or to be comfortable. I took the vehicle for service yesterday and was told by the dealer (after two hours of trying to determine the problem) that it was just designed that way. They indicated that there were several other complaints in the system for the same issue and they found that the system was designed to fully open the heater blend door at 63 degrees. This effectively means that you can set it at 60-62 degrees and be cold or set it at 63 degrees which is the same thing as 90 degrees, full open blend door. The dealer stated that there is no way to make a fix to this, but rather, Nissan has to provide a fix and will only do so if they receive enough customer complaints.

I'm curious if anyone else is experiencing the same thing and noticing that they can not find a comfortable temperature? If you do, I ask that you log a complaint so Nissan will provide a fix to the dealers. My dealer admitted that it was a design flaw and should not be this way.
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Sorry, accidentally hit post.
Thank you for the information on arbitration in Canada. I have a 2019 SV that I purchased in September 2019 in Calgary that has the exact same problem. Going through a Canadian winter without a working heater in a brand new car is completely unacceptable. The dealer did get an engineer from Nissan in to thoroughly examine the heating system. It’s very frustrating because they’ve well documented the problem but don’t have a fix for it. I’m only being told that it is a software issue and they’ll get to it when they get to it. I’m wondering how we could go about banding together to make a bigger impact as to the seriousness of this problem? Nissan needs to be responsible for their products.
I live in Toronto, also bought my Kicks in Sep 2019, and just now in August the issue in AC started. After multiple visits to the dealer's maintenance dep nothing was done. I think we should try a class action act against Nissan Canada since they knew about the problem and continued to sale the defective car. So far am just getting the run around from Nissan. Extremely disappointed.
Add another Kicks to the list, just took it in for exact same problem, cold at 18C--hot at 18.5, with A/C still on. When I picked it up they told me they could not find anything wrong with it. So I took a service advisor outside with me and showed him exactly what was happening-- he agreed it should not be spiking like that --it should be gradual increase --He said he would check with the Nissan Tech Line .. waited 3 days, no call from the dealer, called them back, general discussion went, as far as we are concerned there is nothing wrong with the car, it was designed that way. Something to do with the " ambient temperature " and the car is working as it was designed to do. I told him that just because it is designed a certain way it did not mean it was correct. Was told to call the service manager on Monday, long story short-no help, Service manager told me it is out of the dealers hands, that now I must contact Nissan Canada. Then a file can be created.
Exactly the same tragedy that happened with me. Eventually nissan Canada called me to say that "vehicle is operating as designed " I told them that they just lost a customer. Extremely disappointed and surprised of the poor quality of product and service.
The crying shame is the customer service, if this many people are bringing it up, then there is a problem to be looked at. The proper response should be, We are aware of your concerns and we are looking into a a resolution. ( and actually look into it ) To be told, well, that's the way it is, is an unacceptable answer from Nissan.
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Everyone needs to know WHY Nissan keeps using the same line "it's DESIGNED that way".

This is what Nissan's legal team has advised them to say because if it was designed that way, they are not liable for anything. If they say it's a DEFECT then they are liable.
It's really just a play on words to avoid any legal ramifications.


Has anyone else gotten anything in writing from them regarding this issue? If yes, please contact me.
Everyone needs to know WHY Nissan keeps using the same line "it's DESIGNED that way".

This is what Nissan's legal team has advised them to say because if it was designed that way, they are not liable for anything. If they say it's a DEFECT then they are liable.
It's really just a play on words to avoid any legal ramifications.


Has anyone else gotten anything in writing from them regarding this issue? If yes, please contact me.
Took my 2019 Kicks to the dealer December 2020 with the same issue. All I received on the work order was the following: "Concern duplicated but found operating within acceptable parameters. No DTCs, no TSB. Compared with known good vehicle and confirmed both customer vehicle and KGV are similar. When the temperature setting is set to 18 degrees celsius (coldest) a/c is on (auto without turning on the button). a/c turns off when temperature is set to 18.5 degrees celsius. The following data was collected, again both customer and KGV with similar results: @18 degrees air output temperature from the vents is between -1 and 0 degrees, @ 18.5 air output is between 44 to 45 degrees. No further actions taken."

The service manager explained this is how it works. I'm going back in tomorrow to have them look again but am sure I will get the same response. It's winter in Canada and I should not have to either freeze or sweat while driving. This is not fun. I'll keep you posted.
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Took my 2019 Kicks to the dealer December 2020 with the same issue. All I received on the work order was the following: "Concern duplicated but found operating within acceptable parameters. No DTCs, no TSB. Compared with known good vehicle and confirmed both customer vehicle and KGV are similar. When the temperature setting is set to 18 degrees celsius (coldest) a/c is on (auto without turning on the button). a/c turns off when temperature is set to 18.5 degrees celsius. The following data was collected, again both customer and KGV with similar results: @18 degrees air output temperature from the vents is between -1 and 0 degrees, @ 18.5 air output is between 44 to 45 degrees. No further actions taken."

The service manager explained this is how it works. I'm going back in tomorrow to have them look again but am sure I will get the same response. It's winter in Canada and I should not have to either freeze or sweat while driving. This is not fun. I'll keep you posted.

Please, I need a copy of this... Are you able to email me? [email protected]
I sent you an email the other day.
I've checked and got got nothing. What was the subject line? Can you resend?
Having the same issue in my kicks SV 61 cold 62 and up is 90 degrees. took it back to the dealership (Michael Jordan Nissan) three times they replaced a sensor on one occasion then replaced a sensor board the second time after that didn't work the third time i left the car there to wait for a Nissan tech to come inspect it. in hope that they would bye back the car so i can have a vehicle that works 100%. simple right!!! the car was sitting at the dealership for almost 2 months waiting for the Nissan tech to come and inspect it only for them to tell me it is operating as it is designed. they offered me $1500 dollars as a settlement for the inconvenience and for the repairs made on the car already that weren't needed. in turn i would have to agree not to sue them at any point in the future. and i'm still stuck with a car that doesn't work. has this happen to any one else?
I've had exactly the same issue with the climate control (among myriad other problems). I f*****g hate this car.
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I’m taking a really deep breath. I control the temperature in my car. Period. I’m extremely angry that someone thinks they know how comfortable I should or should not be in the car I BOUGHT. I spent 45 minutes of a 1.5 hour drive sweating in 95F heat. Nissan! Is that clear? I control my air. Fix this. I'm menopausal and I’m going to hire an attorney if y’all don’t figure this out.
Just bought a 2021 Nissan Kicks SV. I sure hope they fixed this issue with the 2021 year model. As far as I know right now I'm not having any issues.
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I am experiencing this DESIGN DEFECT right now on a new Kicks. Great car otherwise, but they must not have done any cold weather testing.
I am experiencing this DESIGN DEFECT right now on a new Kicks. Great car otherwise, but they must not have done any cold weather testing.
Same problem. Trying a new tack by complaining to NHTSA that this is a safety issue since the driver is focusing on toggling the temperature control back and forth between 62 and 63 degrees to maintain cabin temperature and not paying attention to driving the vehicle.
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Is yours a 2021 model? What is the exact problem.

I am experiencing this DESIGN DEFECT right now on a new Kicks. Great car otherwise, but they must not have done any cold weather testing.
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Is yours a 2021 model? What is the exact problem.
2021. 62 degrees set on temperature control = full cold. 63 degrees set on temperature control = full hot, even after cabin has Heated up fully to 90 degrees.
So basically anything higher than 63 degrees - 70ish degrees are all the same temperature and very hot?

2021. 62 degrees set on temperature control = full cold. 63 degrees set on temperature control = full hot, even after cabin has Heated up fully to 90 degrees.
My 2021 sr works beter than any auto climate control, I have owned, it moderates the temp very well. Hard to believe if it 95 degrees out and you set it to 70 it would blow hot air? If it's 20 out and you set it to 65 I would expect hot air once the engine warms up.

I hope you get it sorted.
Just got a 21 kicks sv for my daughter. She loves the car and doesn't care about the air temp issue but it is definitely still an issue. Temp set to 60-61 it gets cold. 62 & up it burns hot as ****. Definitely sucks
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