CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Nissan Juke engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Nissan Juke have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Juke | 49 |
| 2012 Juke (this page) | 23 |
| 2013 Juke | 28 |
| 2014 Juke | 8 |
| 2015 Juke | 7 |
| 2016 Juke | 3 |
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 23 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Nissan Juke, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Nissan Juke in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Engine accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine. This bulletin has been amended. See Amendment History on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Juke timing chain is the dominant complaint across these 23 narratives. Starting around 50,000–75,000 miles, owners hear ticking, clacking, or clicking from the engine bay. Acceleration becomes sluggish or vanishes entirely at highway speeds. Some cars stall and won't restart. Dealers diagnose a stretched, fractured, or failed timing chain that damages the camshaft and cover.
The kicker: Nissan issued a voluntary recall in April 2014 (NTB14-030) to replace the chain, guides, and sprocket free. But owners report the replacement chains fail again within 50,000 miles, and Nissan limits warranty on replaced parts to just 12 months or 12,000 miles. When a second failure hits after the original warranty expires, Nissan refuses to cover it, even though the root cause is a design flaw.
Oil leaks accompany many failures—internal friction from a broken chain component ruptures the timing cover, spilling oil across the engine. Repair bills reach $2,900 or more. Several owners say dealers initially dismissed the ticking as normal, delaying diagnosis until severe damage occurred.
A secondary complaint: gasoline smell in the cabin, sometimes tied to a fuel pressure sensor issue. One owner's sensor replacement didn't stick. A few accounts also mention stalling at low speed and engine overheating, along with an uninsulated exhaust pipe that burns occupants' legs.
Nissan's response has been inconsistent—some customers received free recall work; others claim their VINs were excluded. Post-warranty, the company offers no support despite acknowledging the defect in service bulletins.
Same Nissan Juke engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Timing Chain Wear/Failure
The timing chain stretches, fractures, or fails prematurely, sometimes within 50,000 miles of a recall replacement. Failure causes loss of engine synchronization, inadequate oil pressure, camshaft damage, and potential catastrophic engine damage. Owners report the chain can break apart mid-drive and damage the timing chain cover from inside.
When: Varies: 50,000 miles after 2014 recall replacement; 58,000–146,000 miles on original chains; some within 3–4 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud ticking, clicking, or clacking noise from engine compartment; Loss of acceleration or motive power while driving; Engine stalling or failure to restart; Vehicle vibration and engine seizure; Popping or rattling sounds from front of vehicle; Oil leak from timing chain cover; Reduced engine response to throttle input
Codes mentioned: Check Engine indicator illuminated (some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of timing chain, chain guides, crank sprocket, and often camshaft seals required. Costs reported: $1,400–$3,000 for diagnosis and repair. One owner's replacement chain lasted only 50,779 miles despite 2014 recall repair. Nissan warranty on replaced parts limited to 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued voluntary service campaign NTB14-030 (April 25, 2014) for 2011–2013 Juke models to replace timing chain, guides, and crank sprocket at no charge. However, many owners report the recall did not fully address the defect. Replacement chains still fail prematurely. Some owners claim their vehicles were excluded from recall based on manufacturing plant. Nissan has denied coverage for post-warranty failures and offered limited or no assistance.
Fuel Odor in Cabin
Strong gasoline smell enters cabin, particularly when starting the engine or when AC is on. Smell may be intermittent but recurs weekly. One owner had fuel pressure sensor replaced under recall; smell recurred after independent repair ($782.56).
When: Intermittent, recurring weekly; one case noted smell after starting engine third time
Symptoms owners cite: Strong gasoline/fuel smell in cabin; Smell triggered by starting engine or running AC; Smell lasts a few minutes but repeats; No warning lights reported
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pressure sensor replacement ($782.56 at Cerritos Nissan on 1/25/19) did not permanently resolve issue. One case: sensor serviced free at Puente Hills Nissan on 12/2/15; smell returned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory recall existed for gasoline smell in 2012 Juke, but some owners claim their VINs were not included in recall coverage.
Loss of Acceleration/Motive Power
Vehicle unexpectedly loses power while driving at highway or city speeds. Occurs with or without accompanying noises. Some cases intermittent; others complete loss followed by stalling. Often linked to timing chain failure but some cases undiagnosed.
When: Various speeds and mileages: 30 MPH at ~75,000 miles; 40 MPH at 130,000 miles; 50–60 MPH at 58,000–146,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration response when pedal depressed; Vehicle deceleration without brake input; Failure to restart after stalling; Intermittent loss of power at various speeds; No warning indicator in some cases
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light (in at least one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Repair depends on root cause. Timing chain failures require full chain/sprocket replacement and possible engine rebuild ($1,400–$3,000+). Some cases remain undiagnosed at both dealer and independent mechanics.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in several cases but no assistance offered. No recalls issued for loss-of-power complaints outside the timing chain campaign.
Engine Oil Leaks
Significant oil leaks from timing chain cover, sometimes caused by internal timing chain fractures creating a gash or hole that ruptures the cover from inside. Leaks can be severe enough to cover the entire engine.
When: Various mileages: 88,000 miles (post-recall failure); 146,000 miles (original chain); cases noted with no clear mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil covering entire engine; 2-inch gash or hole in timing chain cover; Oil leak after routine oil changes; Leak caused by internal friction from broken timing chain component
Repairs/costs cited: Repair involves replacement of timing chain, camshaft seals, and top engine seals. One owner cited $2,900 repair cost (plus rental car). Dealers report friction from broken internal component caused the cover damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued for oil leaks. One owner reported Nissan customer service failed to follow up on call-back within promised timeframe.
Engine Heat Exposure (Uninsulated Pipe)
Uninsulated exhaust or coolant pipe behind center console radiates excessive heat into cabin, causing leg discomfort and burn risk. Pipe has no protective wrapping.
When: During normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Intense heat radiating from floor area behind center console; Legs sweat from sustained heat exposure; Pipe hot enough to cause finger burns upon contact; Discomfort during driving, especially with window down
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented. Owner requested insulation or wrapping of pipe.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer contacted Nissan; no response within 3 weeks per owner report.
Stalling at Low Speed / Startup Issues
Engine stalls or fails to restart immediately after coming to a stop or during low-speed driving. One newly purchased vehicle stalled at 540 miles; gears malfunctioned.
When: Low speed: 20–30 MPH; one case at 540 miles (new purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at low speed or after highway exit; Failure to restart immediately (5-minute delay in one case); Clicking/horrible sound on restart; Transmission malfunction reported in one case; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported cases. One case involved independent transmission replacement (September 2018).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or recalls limited to V8 models per owner claims. Manufacturer not contacted in some cases.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
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 that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was towed to kelly Nissan of woburn (95 cedar st, woburn, ma…
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 contacted Nissan, they said my vehicle was manufactured at a different plant and was not covered under recall. Mechanic fixed…
2012 Nissan juke. Consumer writes in regard to loss of motive power while driving. The consumer is requesting Nissan to review the case and be reimbursed or compensated for the damages of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Juke. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated to approximately 5 MPH. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but recurred at various speeds. The vehicle was towed to…
TL-
My daughter purchased a used 2012 Nissan juke from a Nissan dealer in 2014. Recently, she had a very large oil leak. We had the car towed to the dealer who told us there was a hole in the timing chain cover and something inside is rattling, but they can't tell what it is until they open the case which takes 6 hours. They also said they need to rebuild the cams and all top seals in the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Nissan juke. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH the vehicle stalled and the gears malfunctioned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle remained off for five minutes before it would restart. The contact purchased the vehicle a week ago. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was…
Timing Chain: National Consumers reported my vehicle replaced the timing chain in 2018 prior to my ownership. Now it has failed again to the tune of $3K at 88K miles. The Nissan Dealership will only guarantee warranty for 1yr or 12k miles which seems sub par. How can a voluntary recall on the timing chain only be effective up to 2014 when obviously it seems to be a problem with the whole engine…
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Nissan Juke?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Nissan Juke?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 60,000 and 104,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 104,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Nissan/Juke.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.