If you are using kotlin version 1.4.21 or newer, kotlin-android-extension is deprecated.
So if you removing the plugin you also have to remove the android experimental extension block.
In my case, I had to remove these pieces of code.
apply plugin: 'kotlin-android-extensions'
androidExtensions {
experimental = true
}
But if above did not fix it
This a kind of general and/or wrapping error which hides the real cause and/or problem, hence to see actual error message, try something like:
./gradlew :app:assembleDebug --stacktrace
And search for resulting real error-message instead.