2012 Nissan Juke — MOT failures & pass rate
177,365 MOT tests on the 2012 Nissan Juke are in this dataset, and 73.4% of them passed. Against small SUVs of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 2012 Juke comes out 4.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and steering.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 8.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint, track rod end and tread depth — ball joint alone was recorded 19,342 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.4% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.2% fail against 29.3% for diesel, a 4.1-point gap across 177,365 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.6% | 25,990 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.9% | 15,873 |
| 3 | Steering | 7.6% | 13,463 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.5% | 13,398 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 10,128 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 9,077 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 19,342 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 15,354 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7,336 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7,105 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 7,082 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 6,651 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 32.9% | 58,348 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.4% | 53,920 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.0% | 42,583 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 22,096 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 15,216 |
| 6 | Steering | 8.6% | 15,174 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 3,474 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 35,551 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 73,689 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 46,877 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 14,116 | 31.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,577 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 116,002 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 61,363 | 29.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,815 | 23.2% |
| 2022 | 35,750 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 36,073 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 35,963 | 28.7% |
| 2025 | 34,764 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Juke
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (14.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (8.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (7.6% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2012 Nissan Jukes pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 177,365 2012 Nissan Juke MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Juke?
Suspension, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.9%).
Does the 2012 Juke get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 177,365 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.