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ProblemsByVin File / 2012-NISSAN-JUKE NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
Nissan

2012 Nissan Juke problems

The 2012 Nissan Juke has 87 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2012 Nissan Juke has 87 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 23 complaints, typically surfacing around 78,455 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Nissan Juke owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2011 Juke 153 1
2012 Juke (this page) 87 3
2013 Juke 102 0
2014 Juke 57 0
2015 Juke 34 0
2012 Nissan Juke
Photo: Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Nissan Juke
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2012 Juke?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 4 / 5 overall

Overall 4/5
Frontal crash 3/5
Side crash 5/5
Rollover 4/5

Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Nissan Juke SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.

Buying a used 2012 Nissan Juke? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 57,205 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2012 Nissan Juke

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2012-nissan-juke/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2012 Nissan Juke reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2012-nissan-juke/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2012 Nissan Juke reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 6 categories with 3+ complaints

engine
23 reports · fails ~78,455 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
electrical
12 reports · fails ~33,100 mi · avg $850
moderate
powertrain
10 reports · fails ~69,138 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
6 reports · fails ~57,205 mi · avg $1,100
severe
cruise control
6 reports · fails ~72,626 mi · avg $600
moderate
fuel system
5 reports · fails ~78,000 mi · avg $1,200
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2012 Juke's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2012 Juke?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2012 Juke · engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan juke. While driving, the timing chain fractured off into the engine and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. An independent mechanic stated that the failure was due to a design flaw. The manufacturer stated…
12/27/2018 · at 65,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11163655.0 · see engine pattern →
2012 Juke · electrical
The battery dies a lot! Cannot figure out why, I have been left stranded numerous times, not fun, sometimes I only left my car for half hour or so, I come back and it is dead, have to wait for aaa or a friend, this has been going for several years and just happened again…
12/15/2015 · at 1,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10810609.0 · see electrical pattern →
2012 Juke · powertrain
Timing chain needs replacement however the timing chain was already replaced in 2014 under Nissan recall NTB14-030c campaign P4213. This car has 54,000 miles on it and has been serviced at Nissan dealerships according to the Nissan service schedule. There is no reason for this…
2012 Juke · engine
I arrived at an out of town destination to find I had oil covering the motor. Mechanic stated there was a 2" gash in the front cover of the timing chain, which was coming from the inside out. Google search revealed there was a previous recall for the same issue but when I…
12/03/2018 · at 63,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11155752.0 · see engine pattern →
View all 87 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2012 Nissan Juke? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 18V156000 March 7, 2018

Nissan North America, Inc

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel pressure sensor to the proper torque, free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
severe NHTSA 12V328000 July 12, 2012

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 juke vehicles manufactured from february 3, 2012, through may 26, 2012

In the event of a crash, the rear seat back may not be secured, increasing the risk of injury to the rear seat occupants.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected seat back strikers, free of charge. The safety recall began on july 20, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
severe NHTSA 12V069000 February 24, 2012

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 juke, Infiniti qx and Infiniti m vehicles

Fuel may leak from the pressure sensor, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pressure sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 2, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Juke reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Nissan Juke is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2012 Nissan Juke?

The 2012 Nissan Juke is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2012 Nissan Juke?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 23 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,455 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2012 Nissan Juke a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 87 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 78,455 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Nissan Juke?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 23 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,455 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 78,455 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Nissan Juke has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Nissan Juke?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 87 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Nissan/Juke. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Nissan. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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