Nissan Juke MOT Failures
An analysis of 3,162,191 real DVSA MOT tests on the Nissan Juke — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: F15 (2010–2019).
Where the Nissan Juke fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Nissan Juke is emissions failure — this model is 17 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 3,162,191 MOT tests, 0.77% of all Nissan Juke tests recorded this as a failure.
Exhaust and emissions failures often point to catalytic converter degradation, lambda sensor faults, or — in diesel models — DPF problems. These can be expensive to fix and will cause an immediate MOT failure.
Other notable weak points include track rod ends worn (14x the fleet average), body panel damage (56x the fleet average), suspension pin, bush or joint (10x the fleet average), and seat mounting fault (9.0x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Nissan Juke's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 6 categories: Exhaust & Emissions, Steering, Bodywork, Suspension, Seatbelts & Airbags and others. If you're inspecting a Nissan Juke before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Nissan Juke's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Nissan Juke specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fluid leak (66x the average) and body panel damage (56x). towbar fault (29x) and track rod ends worn (12x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Nissan Juke specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are towbar fault (42x the average) and body panel damage (34x). suspension pin, bush or joint (10x) and suspension pin, bush or joint worn (10x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Nissan Juke specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are body panel damage (33x the average) and wheel with more than one loose or missing wheel... (8.3x). suspension pin, bush or joint (7.9x) and seat mounting fault (7.8x) also appear frequently.
The shift from fluid leak at lower mileages to body panel damage at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Nissan Juke specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
CVT gearbox failure (F15) Dangerous
The CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic gearbox is fundamentally unreliable on the F15 Juke. Affects F15; typical independent garage repair cost is £3,500–£5,500.
Brake line corrosion (F15) Dangerous
The brake lines are inadequately protected from road salt and moisture, causing premature corrosion that leads to brake fluid leaks and potential brake failure. Affects F15; typical independent garage repair cost is £250–£600.
Timing chain stretch (F15) Major
The 1.2 DIG-T turbocharged engine uses a timing chain system prone to premature stretching due to inadequate tensioner design and oil quality sensitivity. Affects F15; typical independent garage repair cost is £500–£1,000.
Turbocharger oil feed blockage (F15) Major
The 1.6 DIG-T turbocharger suffers from oil feed line blockages caused by carbon deposits and oil degradation. Affects F15; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,800.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Nissan Juke common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Nissan Juke
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Nissan Juke:
Exhaust & Emissions — check for emissions failure. Steering — check for track rod ends worn. Bodywork — check for body panel damage, towbar fault. Suspension — check for suspension pin, bush or joint, suspension pin, bush or joint worn.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about cvt gearbox failure and brake line corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £3,500. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Nissan Juke?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Nissan Juke MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Nissan Juke?
Based on 3,162,191 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is emissions failure — at 17x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include track rod ends worn and body panel damage.
Is the Nissan Juke reliable based on MOT data?
The Nissan Juke has 15 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag cvt gearbox failure as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Nissan Juke most commonly fails on body panel damage and wheel with more than one loose or missing wheel.... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are fluid leak and body panel damage.
How do I check a Nissan Juke's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.