CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION 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 powertrain problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT OIL LEAK DIAGNOSIS USING FLUORESCENT DYE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2011 - 2013 JUKE TIMING CHAIN Service Campaign ID # P4213 is No Longer Active. - Nissan Service Campaign Bulletin NTB14-030 for Service Campaign P4213 was originally issued on April 24, 2014. - Service Campaign ID # P4213 is no longer active. - Repair orders opened after September 28, 2017 are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # P4213. - Please discard previous versions of NTB14-030.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2012 Nissan Juke report repeated, expensive powertrain failures starting in the 40,000–80,000 mile range. The most serious is timing chain failure: chains break or stretch without warning, sometimes creating loss of power and oil leaks. One owner's chain failed after Nissan's 2014 recall repair (campaign NTB14-030c) was supposed to fix the problem—it failed again at 54,000 miles. Nissan claims owners were not notified of the original campaign and denies warranty coverage once the vehicle exceeds the powertrain warranty window.
CVT transmission failures are equally troubling. Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, RPM spikes (to 8,000+) without corresponding vehicle speed, and hesitation during normal driving. Multiple dealership visits yielded inconclusive diagnoses (transmission fluid level issues) before transmission replacement was ordered. In one case, an owner received four different CVT units in about one year—two replacements were themselves defective. Nissan initially covered 20,000 miles of warranty on the first replacement, then denied coverage.
Owners also report premature wear on brakes and catalytic converters, plus one unexplained stalling issue. At 58,000 miles, one owner faced over $6,000 in out-of-warranty repairs. Nissan's service centers have refused warranty claims when check-engine lights are not illuminated, even when independent mechanics confirm corrosion or defects.
Same Nissan Juke powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain stretched/broken
Timing chain fails prematurely, stretches, or breaks while driving, sometimes after previous recall replacement. Owners report loss of power, rattling noises, and oil leaks. One vehicle had the chain replaced under recall NTB14-030c in 2014 but failed again by 54,000 miles. Another vehicle's chain broke with no compression in the valves; a third had the chain stretched against the engine creating a hole.
When: Variable mileage: one failure at unknown mileage with broken chain and no compression; one at 54,000 miles (second failure after 2014 recall repair); one at highway driving with oil leak and rattling; timing failures reported as occurring during normal driving and highway operation
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power or speed while driving; Engine will not start or fails to run; Rattling noise from engine; Oil leaking from engine; No compression in valves
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement quoted at $5,000–$9,000+. One owner had timing chain replaced under 2014 recall NTB14-030c but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued voluntary service campaign 6+ months before one failure (owners claim they were not notified). Recall NTB14-030c (2014) addressed defective timing chains in 2010–2013 Jukes; however, one post-recall vehicle failed again at 54,000 miles. Nissan refuses warranty assistance on vehicles outside powertrain warranty.
CVT transmission loss of power / hesitation
CVT transmission loses power or hesitates during acceleration, causing RPMs to spike (sometimes to 8,000+) without corresponding vehicle acceleration. Occurs both on flat ground and uphill. Owners report repeated visits to dealerships with inconclusive diagnoses (transmission fluid too high/low). Multiple owners had transmissions replaced; some received second and third replacement units that were also defective.
When: Failures reported at 40,000 miles; 64,000 miles (hesitation on acceleration); 80,000+ miles (loss of power, RPM spikes); 97,000 miles (4th transmission failure within ~1 year); occurs during highway driving, uphill, and in windy conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while accelerating; RPM gauge spikes (up to 8,000) without vehicle acceleration; Hesitation on acceleration from stop; Unable to maintain speed going uphill or in wind; Check engine light illuminated; Transmission becomes inoperable
Codes mentioned: P0744 (TCC fault), P0826 (Manual mode switch), Transmission sensor codes (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had transmission fluid rebalanced but issue persisted. Multiple owners required full transmission replacement. One owner had four different CVT units installed within approximately one year—two replacements were themselves defective and could not maintain highway speeds. Repair costs include transmission replacement (amount not specified in narratives) plus towing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refused reimbursement for transmission replacement on out-of-warranty vehicle. Dealers initially misdiagnosed as fluid level issues before identifying internal transmission defect. One owner reports Nissan is aware of CVT issues but did not initiate recall or proactive repairs. Nissan initially covered 20,000 miles of powertrain warranty on first replacement transmission.
Engine sludge accumulation and timing chain failure
Heavy sludge found in oil pan coincident with timing chain failure. Owner claims regular oil changes but dealer used sludge presence to void warranty on $5,000+ engine replacement. Sludge may indicate underlying cooling or ventilation issue or poor oil circulation leading to timing chain wear.
When: February 2015 (3 years into ownership), no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Timing chain broke while engine running; Engine would not run; Sludge in oil/oil pan
Repairs/costs cited: New engine quote: $5,000.00. Owner performed regular oil changes prior to failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan had issued a service campaign 6+ months before the failure; owner was not notified. Dealership threatened warranty void if sludge was present and ultimately denied coverage based on sludge, claiming it voids warranty. Dealership promised to 'fight for' the customer but ultimately sided with manufacturer warranty denial.
Unexplained stalling at low speed
Vehicle stalled without warning while driving at approximately 20 MPH. Repeated after battery replacement. Dealership stated vehicle was operating as designed but provided no diagnosis or repair.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning at low speed; Stalling recurs multiple times (5+ instances)
Repairs/costs cited: Battery was replaced but stalling recurred five times. No permanent repair identified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified. Dealership determined vehicle was 'operating as designed' and did not pursue further diagnosis.
Accelerated brake rotor wear
Rotors wear out prematurely and repeatedly require replacement. Owner replaced rotors twice within 8–12 months of installing brake pads, and again required rotor service 6 months after installing ceramic pads.
When: 58,000 miles on vehicle; rotors failed 8–12 months apart, then again 6 months later
Symptoms owners cite: Premature rotor wear and damage
Repairs/costs cited: Rotor replacement performed multiple times (exact cost not specified). Ceramic brake pads installed but did not resolve premature wear.
Catalytic converter corrosion and premature failure
Catalytic converter failed with severe corrosion at the flange. Nissan dealer estimated 50/50 chance of failure. Owner's independent mechanic confirmed corrosion and bad condition. Nissan refused warranty replacement because check engine light was not illuminated and their computer did not flag the problem.
When: 58,000 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Rear exhaust disintegrated; Corrosion at catalytic converter flange; Whistling noise from front of car near windshield (concurrent issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced exhaust system for substantially less than Nissan quote. Catalytic converter replacement not performed; dealer refused warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealer refused warranty replacement because check engine light was not on and their computer did not flag a problem, despite owner presenting visual evidence of corrosion.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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 part to need replacing again after so few miles unless the Nissan part was bad, there is an underlying manufacturing…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Nissan Juke?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 51,400 and 90,206 miles, with the median around 80,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,400; a quarter make it past 90,206. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.