The Nissan Juke Mk1 was one of those cars that confounded critics when new.
It's quite small and impractical, and it isn’t that comfortable, but Nissan still sold them like hot cakes.
Why? Well, it looks cool, both outside and in, and it makes people feel youthful and funky all over again.
And, of course, it’s a Nissan, so it’s the sort of car you can depend upon. Well, yes and no, because it is reliable on the whole, but it does suffer from common problems.
But that’s where Haynes can help, because we’ve stripped down a Juke and rebuilt it, so all you need to do is buy the Haynes Juke manual and we’ll be able to guide you through the diagnosis and repair of any niggling issues your Juke might have.
And best of all, you’ll save hundreds of pounds on labour costs by carrying out the jobs yourself. That has to be a win.
What recalls has the Nissan Juke been subject to in Australia?
A fuel pressure sensor that was too loosely tightened to the fuel rail caused a recall for it to be tightened in December 2014, and if necessary, have a new gasket installed.
After that, in June 2015, some cars were recalled because the engine start-stop button could remain pressed down when operated, causing the engine to stop suddenly.
In August 2016, a recall was issued because the ECU needed to be reprogrammed to operate an oxygen sensor.
And in October 2018, a faulty driver’s airbag was recalled and replaced.
What common problems does the Nissan Juke Mk1 have?
It doesn’t matter whether your Nissan Juke F15 has the 1.5 dCi diesel engine or the 1.2- and 1.6-litre DiG-T engines, there’s a problem that rears its ugly head when you depress the clutch pedal – because it doesn’t come back. At least not all the way.
The fuel return pipe is also known to leak on some dCi models.
Some owners have listed an issue that causes the ESP warning light to illuminate, and the fault can lie in the exhaust manifold pressure pipe.
Nissan Juke models fitted with the 1.2-litre petrol engine have been reported as suffering a loose timing chain, which needs to be sorted as quickly as possible.
And if your Nissan Juke has a turbocharged engine, and you notice that it feels a little less punchy than usual, then check this out quickly, because it could be a blocked oil feed to the turbo.
Does the Nissan Juke have a clutch issue?
There you are, going about your daily business in your Nissan Juke, and snicking up and down through the gears, when all of a sudden, the clutch pedal doesn’t come all the way back up after a gearshift.
That’s not good. It can also impact your ability to actually change gear, bringing an unexpected end to your journey.
Is it a problem with the transmission? No, thankfully. The issue is an internal leak in the clutch master cylinder.
However, worry not, because the Haynes Juke manual covers how to remove and replace the clutch master cylinder in depth, with both images and explanations.
So, all you need to do is invest in a new master cylinder, and we’ll guide you through how to fit it. Easy.
Why is your Nissan Juke Mk1 leaking fuel?
What’s that smell? It has the distinctive odour of… diesel. This is known as A Bad Thing, because any fuel that’s getting where it shouldn’t be is a fire risk.
The problem is that increased fuel pressure has loosened the return pipe, which then starts to leak.
The increased pressure tends to happen when the pipes become partially blocked, so the solution is to disconnect the fuel line from the fuel filter and try to clear it out using an air hose.
However, before refitting the pipe, it’s also wise to renew the fuel filter.
We’ve covered this whole procedure in your Haynes Juke manual, so just study what to do and away you go.
And if you want to know how to replace your fuel filter, just watch our FREE video above.
What’s wrong with the Nissan Juke ESP system?
Driving along to suddenly hear a warning ‘bing’ from somewhere in your Nissan Juke Mk1’s innards, followed by an ESP warning light appearing on the dashboard, is going to take the shine off anyone’s day.
Your first task is to plug in a fault-code reader, which will allow you to narrow down the issue. If this reads C1130 or C1132, then you’ll know the fault lies with the exhaust manifold pressure pipe, which is likely clogged up.
In order to sort the issue you’ll need to remove the manifold pipe, and then clean it out before refitting it. You shouldn’t need to replace the pipe.
This task is covered in your Haynes Juke manual, so just read up and away you go.
Does the Nissan Juke have timing chain problems?
A number of Nissan Juke owners who run models fitted with the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine have reported that the timing chain appears to become loose over time.
If your car’s timing chain is becoming loose, you’ll hear a rattle when you start the engine, or a rattling/lashing noise when the cold engine is at idle. This is an issue you need to sort sooner rather than later, because if a timing chain fails, then lots of expensive bits inside the engine are going to have an unplanned meeting.
However, the Haynes Juke manual is here to guide you through how to swap the timing chain. It’s not going to be the work of a moment, but if you do the job yourself you’ll save potentially thousands of pounds in labour charges. And you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve saved your engine from a potentially catastrophic failure.
Why your Nissan Juke could have turbo problems
Most Nissan Juke models have a turbocharged engine under the bonnet. The only one without a turbo is the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol model. Everything else – the 1.2- and 1.6-litre petrols, and the 1.5-litre diesel – has a turbo.
And that’s why, if your Juke Mk1 start to feel a bit sluggish, you should check it out right away, because it could be a blocked oil feed pipe to the turbo. If the oil feed to the turbo is at a reduced level for a longer period of time, then the turbo can overheat and fail.
Regular oil changes can prevent this issue, but if your car is already suffering, then you need to look up the relevant chapter in your Haynes Juke manual and get the oil feed pipe off and cleaned out. Hopefully you’ll get this done before the turbo fails, but if you’re unlucky, we can help you to replace the turbocharger, too. And sorting it yourself will save you a vast sum of money.