2011 Nissan Juke Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Nissan Juke most often describe two recurring problems: a timing chain that stretches or breaks and can stall the engine, and a fuel smell inside the cabin traced to the fuel pressure sensor. Reports of both appear at a wide range of mileages, from under 30,000 to well past 100,000, and many describe symptoms that came on gradually before the vehicle lost power.

1. 1
   Engine

   Timing chain noise and failure

   • 36 complaints (24%)
   • median 68,354 mi at 4.8 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $9,025 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe a rattling, ticking or knocking noise from the engine area that grows louder over time, sometimes followed by the engine stalling without warning or refusing to restart. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed a stretched, loose or broken timing chain and quoted a new engine, in some cases after metal debris reached the block. Some had the chain replaced and report the noise or failure returning later. Reports range from roughly 28,000 to 130,000 miles, with many between 40,000 and 70,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the timing chain or front cover was serviced under the earlier service campaign, and listen for a rattle or tick at cold start. A pre-purchase inspection that listens to the engine and checks for the campaign repair record is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drive at 30-35 MPH when my 2011 Nissan JUKE stalled in the middle of the road. Had to pull over and immediately had to have car towed to dealership. Was told by the dealer the next day that the engine needed to be replaced due to the timing belt. My car has been in the shop for nearly 3 weeks and my car still is not fixed even with the engine being replaced in my car. My car only has 40,000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10543161, filed 2013-09, 40,000 miles

   “On friday, october 18th my daughter was driving my 2011 Nissan JUKE started declining in speed, which left her stranded on the side of the road. My car was towed to a collision repair shop thinking the issue had to do with a previous accident. Collision repair shop puts it on a diagnostic machine and let me know that there were two recalls currently on my car, which could possibly be the reason for my car stalling. Had my car towed to a Nissan dealership to find out that the timing chain broke. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10549371, filed 2013-10, 71,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell in the cabin

   • 30 complaints (20%)
   • median 59,339 mi at 5.8 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2023

   Owners describe a strong raw gasoline smell inside the vehicle, often strongest through the vents at startup or when the heater or air conditioning is on, and sometimes noticeable outside the car. Complaints say a dealer traced it to a leaking or improperly tightened fuel pressure sensor and that some vehicles were repaired under a recall while others were told their VIN was outside the covered range. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 98,000 miles, at varied ages and in varied weather.

   Recall 12V069000Recall 18V156000

   What to check: Check whether recalls 12V069 and 18V156 were completed for this VIN, and ask for the repair paperwork. With the engine running, smell around the engine bay and vents for raw fuel before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 2/1/12 my daughter noticed a strong odor of fuel coming from the interior of the vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to the dealership for safety reasons. The service manager found a severe leak that was pouring fuel into the engine compartment whenever the vehicle was running. The leak was at the fuel pressure regulator. I did some research on the internet and realized that this is a very common problem and has happened to many JUKE owners. My 18 year old daughter could have died in a vehicle fire! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10447355, filed 2012-02, 15,600 miles

   “Extend the fuel pressure sensor recall.... I have a strong gasoline smell in cabin. While car is [parked or driving] and engine is running, the air conditioning and/or heat is on a extremely strong gasoline smell fills the cabin and can suffocate you and your passengers. Worst when air is coming in from outside and not reusing the cabins air. Mechanic couldn't find any leaks and told me about a recall on jukes. My JUKE is not apart of the recall and is having the same problems as the fuel pressure sensor recall because of improper tightening. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10836994, filed 2016-02, 71,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power or stalling

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing power while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with the accelerator unresponsive and the engine stalling; a few mention the check engine light coming on. Some owners say a dealer linked the loss of power to turbocharger or throttle faults, and others were told the cause was the timing chain or a sensor. Scattered from about 40,000 to 168,000 miles, often at highway speeds or on inclines.

   Recall 11V583000

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or limp mode and whether the turbocharger boost sensor bracket recall 11V583 was performed. A test drive that includes highway speeds is a reasonable check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recently my 2011 Nissan JUKE after running on interstate or going above 55 for short period of time loses all power. I almost was in wreck on oct 5 2019. I went from 70mph to 5. Once car rested I rerouted onto side rosds home. Now I'm unable to drive my car on interstate or highway . What I have read is safety issue with cooling of the transmission. Now I'm writing you to please help me with my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #11269300, filed 2019-10, 157,000 miles

   “My wife has a Nissan JUKE 2011 which has a recall on it for turbo. She was driving suddenly lost power. We took it to the repair shop they told us its a turbo that went bad and there is a recall on it. We took the car to the dealer and they refused to work on it I told them there is a recall for Nissan JUKE 2011. The dealer told us yes but not our VIN number when he entered into the system. What concerns me is that she completely lost power while driving and yes thats a very serious concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10806688, filed 2015-11, 108,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Turbocharger wear and boost sensor bracket

   • 18 complaints (12%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report turbocharger problems including a worn bearing and damaged internal parts, which complaints say a mechanic linked to oil entering the intake. Several say they were told by a dealer that their vehicle was outside the boost sensor bracket recall by VIN, even though the symptom matched the recalled condition. Usually reported between about 56,000 and 96,000 miles.

   Recall 11V583000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 11V583 was completed and have the turbo inspected for play, noise or oil residue in the intake piping.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall 11v583000 does not include my VIN. All 2011 Nissan JUKE should be included in the recall. My turbo currently needs replaced due to a worn bearing. Several people online have to replace their turbos in their 2011 jukes at a cost of $2800.”

   NHTSA complaint #10903388, filed 2016-09, 96,000 miles

   “Experienced sudden loss of propulsion and control of acceleration while traveling on 70 MPH on freeway. Diagnostic suggestion is an issue identical to the recall affecting Nissan jukes of this year in recall campaign #11v583000, in which a faulty valve casing weld breaks loose inside of the engine. However my vehicle was not manufactured in the time period specified in that recall, as it was manufactured 8 weeks after the final recall window date of 5/12/11. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10898491, filed 2016-08, 61,255 miles

Buying note. The 2011 Juke has two well-documented patterns: timing chain noise or failure and a fuel smell from the pressure sensor area, so service records for the chain campaign and the fuel recalls matter when evaluating one. A careful inspection for engine rattle, fuel odor and turbo condition is worth the cost given the repair bills owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.