Key facts
- NHTSA campaign: 26V331. Nissan internal code: PMA66 (used for owner inquiries; not the NHTSA number).
- Vehicles recalled: 51,598.
- Model and years: 2025-2026 Nissan Kicks (the redesigned current generation with the digital driver display). The older first-generation Kicks (2018-2024) and the Kicks Play are not included.
- Build window affected: June 24, 2024 - January 9, 2026. A production fix was implemented January 16, 2026, so units built after that date are excluded.
- Defect: A software logic error in the combination meter can set an internal error flag during cold start-up, sending the software into a continuous loop with no recovery and causing a communication failure between the graphic controller IC and the automotive controller IC.
- What the driver loses: The cluster can show a partial or fully blank screen, go dark, or turn blue at startup with no prior warning — potentially hiding vehicle speed and safety-related warning indicators.
- Remedy: Free software update (reprogram the combination meter). No hardware/cluster replacement. Repair takes about 30 minutes at a Nissan dealer.
- Owner notification: Letters scheduled to mail on or about July 1, 2026; dealer notifications began around May 22, 2026.
- Field data: 7 technical reports and 205 warranty claims. Nissan expects fewer than 1% of the recall population to experience the issue.
- Crashes/injuries: None reported. Nissan is not aware of any crashes or injuries tied to the defect.
What is the Nissan Kicks driver-display recall (26V331)?
Recall 26V331 covers 51,598 model-year 2025-2026 Nissan Kicks crossovers whose digital instrument cluster can fail to display properly. The cause is a software logic error in the combination meter: during a cold start-up the software can set an internal error flag and enter a continuous loop with no recovery mechanism, breaking communication between the graphic controller IC and the automotive controller IC. The result is a driver display that can be partially or fully blank, go dark, or turn blue at startup. Nissan's internal reference for this campaign is PMA66.
This is the redesigned, current-generation Kicks with the digital driver display — not the first-generation Kicks (2018-2024) or the Kicks Play, neither of which is part of this action.
Which model years, trims, and build dates are affected?
The recall covers 2025 and 2026 Nissan Kicks built between June 24, 2024 and January 9, 2026. Scope is defined by manufacturing date, not by trim, so all US trims produced in that window are included, and Nissan implemented a production fix on January 16, 2026 that excludes later-built vehicles. Because the recall is build-date-based, a used Kicks from this generation should be screened by VIN rather than judged by trim badge alone.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | Nissan Kicks (redesigned generation) |
| Model years | 2025-2026 |
| Trims | All US trims in the build window (S, SV, SR) — scoped by build date, not trim |
| Build window | June 24, 2024 - January 9, 2026 |
| Component | Combination meter / digital instrument cluster (software) |
| Units | 51,598 |
| NHTSA campaign | 26V331 |
| Nissan code | PMA66 |
| Production fix date | January 16, 2026 (later builds excluded) |
| Not affected | First-generation Kicks (2018-2024) and Kicks Play |
Note: No source enumerates the affected trims individually, and whether the base S trim's smaller-screen configuration behaves identically for this defect is not separately confirmed. The recall is scoped by build date, so VIN screening is the reliable check. No recall has been announced in Canada as of early June 2026.
What exactly does the driver lose when the display goes blank or blue?
When the combination meter cannot render, the driver can lose the on-screen display of vehicle speed plus safety-related telltales and warning indicators. The screen may appear partially blank, fully dark, or blue, and it can happen at startup with no prior warning. Nissan's filing frames the safety consequence plainly: if the cluster cannot display speed and warning information, a driver may unknowingly operate the vehicle in an unsafe condition, which increases crash risk. (The recall is documented as a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101, "Controls and Displays.")
Has the blank/blue display caused any crashes or injuries?
No. Nissan reports it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this defect. The decision was supported by field data of 7 technical reports and 205 warranty claims, and Nissan expects fewer than 1% of the recall population to actually experience the failure. That low expected rate does not make the defect cosmetic — losing the speedometer and warning indicators is a recognized safety issue — but it is context for how often the fault has appeared in the field.
Is the fix a software update or a cluster replacement, and is it free?
The remedy is a free software update only — Nissan reprograms the combination meter software, and no hardware or cluster replacement is involved. The repair takes about 30 minutes at a Nissan dealer and is performed at no charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to mail on or about July 1, 2026; dealers were notified around May 22, 2026, so the update can generally be performed once a dealer has the procedure.
Should I avoid buying a used Kicks built before the January 2026 production fix?
A used 2025-2026 Kicks built before the January 16, 2026 production fix is not a car to avoid outright — the defect has a free, roughly 30-minute software remedy and fewer than 1% of affected vehicles are expected to show the fault. The practical move is to confirm by VIN whether the specific car falls under 26V331, then confirm the update was completed (or have a dealer complete it) before or shortly after purchase. Second and third owners are covered: safety recalls follow the vehicle, so a later owner can have the recall performed for free at a Nissan dealer.
How do I check if a specific used Kicks VIN is in the recall?
Enter the VIN into a recall lookup to see whether that exact vehicle is covered by campaign 26V331. The authoritative, free source is NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov (search VIN or campaign 26V331); you can also call NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236, or contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261 referencing code PMA66. As a convenient option alongside these, a Zilocar VIN check also surfaces recall presence for a VIN as part of a fuller history report. To verify the software update was actually performed, use NHTSA's lookup or a Nissan dealer — a recall-presence flag alone does not prove the remedy is closed.
What a VIN check can and can't tell you here
A VIN history check is most useful for two things on a used Kicks: screening whether the car is named in recall 26V331, and vetting the broader history that matters to a budget buyer — accident and damage records (including airbag-deployment status), an odometer/rollback check, theft records, salvage and junk auction records, ownership history, and sales-listing history such as past prices, mileage, and days-on-market. What it cannot do is prove the recall was remedied: it does not show open-versus-closed or "flashed" status, the firmware/software version applied, or per-VIN dealer remedy detail. For that, rely on NHTSA's recall lookup or a Nissan dealer.
| Question | A VIN history check | NHTSA recall lookup / Nissan dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Is this VIN named in recall 26V331? | Yes — surfaces recall presence/count | Yes (authoritative) |
| Was the software update actually performed (closed/flashed)? | No | Yes |
| Which firmware/software version is installed? | No | Dealer only |
| Prior accidents, damage, airbag deployment | Yes | No |
| Odometer rollback / mileage check | Yes | No |
| Salvage or junk auction records, theft (NICB) | Yes (auction records, not legal title brand) | No |
| Ownership history and past sales listings (prices, mileage, days-on-market) | Yes | No |
| NHTSA investigations (PE/EA) | No | NHTSA |
There are no NHTSA investigations associated with this recall to track, and a VIN check shows salvage/junk auction records rather than the legally assigned title brand — confirm a title brand with the state DMV. For remedy confirmation on a specific car, use NHTSA's recall lookup or a Nissan dealer.
