EXCLUSIVE: Legendary A/C no more - Nissan Kicks e-POWER air con issue traced, free fix available in Thailand

Say Nissan in the Philippines, and you’ll almost always get compliments about the brand’s superb air-conditioning systems. 

Given the government’s recent announcement of an El Niño alert, which is expected to prolong the country’s sweltering dry spell, being in a Nissan might be a godsend – unless you have a Nissan Kicks e-POWER, that is.

Problems with the Kicks e-POWER’s air-conditioning system have been reported as early as January 2023, with owners claiming total air-con failure despite their units' low mileage.

AutoFun Philippines got exclusive insights into the exact nature of the electrified crossover’s issue.

“The problem is not the compressor, but the part inside it that controls the electricity going into the compressor,” said a source who is highly familiar with the issue, but asked to remain anonymous for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

“It works like an ECU for the compressor,” the source added. “There’s too much power going into the compressor’s integrated circuit, which can’t handle the electrical output of the second-generation e-POWER system. To be sure, the whole compressor is being replaced.”

Our source added that the air con issue does not affect all of the Nissan Kicks e-Power units sold in the Philippines.

Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) has yet to issue an official service bulletin or recall as of press time. However, some local Kicks e-POWER units in the Philippines have reportedly had compressors replaced under warranty.

Surprise hit

The Nissan Kicks e-POWER is the second electrified model offered by NPI, after the Nissan LEAF battery-electric vehicle. 

The Kicks e-POWER was launched in the Philippines on August 2022 and uses a series-hybrid system. The front wheels are driven solely by an electric motor run by the car's lithium-ion batteries. The battery pack is charged by a generator powered by a 1.2-liter, inline-3 gasoline engine for a combined output of 136 PS and 280 Nm of torque.

Prices start at ₱1,239,000, with NPI claiming a maximum range of 1,000 kilometers on one full tank or a fuel economy figure of over 22 km/l in combined city and highway driving.

Repairs officially underway in Thailand

Meanwhile, Nissan Thailand announced in a statement that it has undertaken repairs for 2022 model year Kicks e-POWER units sold there.

“We would like to assure you that, in the unlikely event that you may experience an air conditioning cooling problem with your vehicle, you can take your vehicle to an authorized Nissan dealer for a free repair,” the company said.

“We kindly request that you schedule an appointment in advance to ensure the availability of the parts and to provide you with a satisfactory service experience,” Nissan Thailand added.

The company also said it has implemented a “countermeasure” for Kicks e-POWER crossovers produced since February 2023.

Are you having trouble with your Kicks e-POWER’s aircon?

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