(2021 registrations)
(both generations)
worn suspension
after a failure
The Juke was Britain’s eighth best-selling new car in 2023 with 31,745 registrations. It is also the model on this site where published statistics are most misleading: a 2021 car is the second-generation F16, but the MOT dataset is dominated by the 2010–2019 F15, which is a materially worse car. Separating the two changes the answer completely.
Figures are derived from the DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results dataset, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Every MOT records the test outcome plus each defect as a coded “reason for rejection” or advisory.
Percentages are share of tests, not share of failures — so “2.6% tyre tread” means 2.6 in every 100 tests failed for that item. A single test can record several defects, so the columns do not sum to 100%.
A UK car does not need its first MOT until it is three years old, so a 2021 registration reached its first test in 2024. Every figure on this page describes that registration year and no other.
The 2021 cohort covers only 337 tests at an average of 20,005 miles, so read the figure as encouraging rather than settled.
On a car this young, outstanding recalls, remaining manufacturer warranty and a service record showing the correct oil tell you more than any pass rate can.
Top MOT failure items
These are the defects that actually caused a Nissan Juke (2021) to fail its MOT, ranked by how often they appear across all tests.
Most common MOT advisories
Advisories are the early-warning layer. They don’t fail the car, but they tell you what the next owner will be paying for — and they are the single most useful thing to read before you buy.
| Advisory item | Share of tests | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension bush deteriorated | 15.3% | Ties straight to the No.1 failure item — the model’s signature weakness. |
| Steering ball joint slight play | 9.7% | The precursor to the No.2 failure item. |
| Tyre worn close to legal limit | 9.1% | Ordinary wear; check all four for even wear. |
| Brake pads wearing thin | 7.8% | Budget £150–£280 per axle. |
| Anti-roll bar link worn | 5.4% | Reported on F16 cars from around 60,000 km. |
| Brake disc lipped or scored | 4.2% | Usually replaced with pads. |
| Wiper blade deteriorated | 3.6% | Matches the No.5 failure item. |
| Shock absorber light misting | 2.4% | Rear units usually go first. |
| Exhaust minor corrosion | 1.8% | Surface only at this age. |
| Coil spring corroded | 1.1% | Worth a look underneath on any UK car. |
Which system fails most
Grouping every recorded defect by vehicle system shows where the money goes on a three-year-old Juke.
The 2021 registration year passes at 91.7%, at an average of 20,005 miles — but across only 337 tests, because these cars were only just reaching their first MOT. Across both generations the Juke passes at 75.3% over 396,977 tests, at a median 72,221 miles, with an average repair bill after a failure of £139. Petrol cars pass at 76.6% and diesel at 71.7%.
That model average describes the old car. A 2021 Juke passes at 91.7%; a 2010 Juke passes at 67.4%. That is not a trend, it is a different vehicle. The suspension pattern still deserves respect, though: it is the model’s signature weakness, and on the F16 the anti-roll bar links and front control arms are reported wearing from around 60,000 km, roughly 37,000 miles.
Model averages describe the model. Enter the registration to see this car’s real MOT history, every recorded advisory, its mileage timeline and any finance, theft or write-off markers.
Suspension is the Juke’s signature — read it properly
No other car on this site has a single failure item as dominant as the Juke’s worn suspension joints. Understanding who that figure actually describes, and what carries over to the current car, is the whole job on this page.
- Worn pins, bushes and joints fail 8.5% of all Juke tests — the highest single failure item of any model on this site.
- Worn steering ball joints add another 3.9%. Together, suspension and steering dominate the defect mix.
- Most of that comes from the older F15, but the weakness carries over: on the F16, anti-roll bar links and front control arms are reported wearing from around 60,000 km.
- Symptoms are easy to spot: knocking or thudding over bumps, and steering that feels vague off-centre.
- A 2021 Juke passes at 91.7%. A 2010 Juke passes at 67.4%. That is not a trend, it is a different vehicle.
- The generational jump happens exactly where the F16 replaced the F15, which is why the 75.3% model average is the wrong number to judge a 2021 car by.
- Sample sizes for 2020 and 2021 are small — 362 and 337 tests — so treat them as encouraging rather than settled.
- If a listing quotes “the Nissan Juke MOT pass rate” without a year, it is almost certainly quoting the old car.
Known faults the MOT won’t catch
The MOT tests roadworthiness, not mechanical health. These are the expensive items owners actually report — costs are indicative UK independent-specialist ranges, not quotes.
Pre-purchase checklist
Work through this in order. The first few cost nothing and rule out most bad cars.
- Drive it over broken road and a speed bump with the windows down. A knock from the front is the single most likely fault on this model.
- Check the MOT advisory history for repeated suspension entries. The same advisory across consecutive tests means it was never fixed.
- Ignore any “Nissan Juke” pass rate quoted without a year. It almost certainly describes the 2010–2019 car.
- If it is a dual clutch, test it in traffic and in reverse, from cold.
- Ask for oil change records on the 1.0 DIG-T. Turbo failures on this engine trace back to oil supply.
- Check outstanding recalls by registration on the DVSA service. No Juke campaign on record brackets a 2021 build, but records change and the work is free.
- Test every door lock, the tailgate and the infotainment, including phone mirroring.
- Verify finance and write-off status before you commit to anything.
FAQs
Is the Nissan Juke reliable?
It depends entirely which Juke. On MOT data the current F16 is strong — 2021 registrations pass at 91.7% against 67.4% for a 2010 car — but What Car?’s most recent reliability survey placed this generation last in the small SUV class, 38th of 38, on 55.2%. The two are not contradictory: the MOT measures roadworthiness, a reliability survey measures how often things go wrong and what they cost to put right.
What fails a Nissan Juke MOT most often?
Worn suspension pins, bushes and joints, at 8.5% of all tests — the highest single failure item of any model on this site — followed by worn steering ball joints at 3.9%. Most of that comes from the older F15 generation, but suspension wear carries over to the F16.
Why is the Juke's headline pass rate so low?
Because the dataset is dominated by the 2010–2019 F15. The 75.3% model average is essentially a measurement of the previous Juke. The current F16 arrived at the end of 2019 and its own registration years pass in the high 80s and low 90s.
Does the Nissan Juke have gearbox problems?
The 7-speed dual-clutch can hesitate when you press the accelerator and then lurch forward, most noticeably at low speed and in reverse. A software update and clutch adaptation improves most cars but does not always eliminate it, so test drive the actual car from cold before you commit.
How much MOT data exists for a 2021 Juke?
Less than you would like. A UK car does not need its first MOT until it is three years old, so the 2021 cohort covers only 337 tests, at an average of 20,005 miles. It is the most recent year with a usable F16 sample, which is why this page covers 2021 — but read the 91.7% as encouraging rather than settled.
A CarCheckReport covers MOT and advisory history, mileage anomalies, outstanding finance, insurance write-off records, stolen markers, import and scrapped status — using DVLA, DVSA and Experian data.