Jerking on Nissan: causes by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Nissan models it appears in.

- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.2 TCeExcessive oil consumption and engine failure1.2 TCe and 1.2 DIG-T engines built from 2012 to mid-2016 can burn more than 1 litre of oil per 1,000 km because the piston rings do not seal properly; carbon damages the valves and the engine can fail. There was no recall: the dealer network reprograms and replaces rings or the engine.Repair: €5,000–€10,000
In Juke I, Pulsar and Qashqai II
- High severityFrequency: Common2.2/2.5 dCiInjection pump or injector failureThe 2.2 dCi's common rail injectors fail fairly often on the X-Trail and Almera, with cases of seizing and leaks; on the Almera with the older YD22DDT, the documented fault is in the injection pump electronics, not the injectors.
In Almera II, Primera III and X-Trail I
- High severityFrequency: Common1.9 dCiFailures of the Delphi direct-injection injectorsThe Delphi injectors on the 1.9 dCi give trouble with some regularity, a weak point that gebrauchtwagenberater.de and planeterenault document as typical of direct-injection diesels of that era.
In Primastar and Primera III
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 dCiEGR valve blockageThe 2.0 dCi EGR valve gets dirty with carbon from the recirculated gases and can stick or stop sealing: it is the fault with the most reports in the Espace IV sheet (88 cases), with additional documented cases in the Laguna III and Qashqai.
In Qashqai I, X-Trail II and X-Trail III
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 dCiInjector failureThe 2.0 dCi injectors can fail in isolated cases, with documented cases in the Espace IV (81 reports), Laguna III (13) and Koleos (5); the most cited symptom is loss of power and, in the Laguna III, a case of fuel leakage with the engine fault risk warning light on.
In Qashqai I, X-Trail II and X-Trail III
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.6 dCiBlocked or failed EGR valveThe 1.6 dCi EGR valve gets dirty and can stick or stop sealing, especially in cars used around town. Fiches-auto flags it as one of the most repeated defects in the Renault Espace V and documents a case of double replacement in a Kadjar (at 85,000 km and again at 95,000 km).Repair (garage): €250–€1,000
In Qashqai I, Qashqai II and X-Trail III
- Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.5 dCiInjector and injector seal failuresThe 1.5 dCi injectors, or their seals, can fail early, especially on the 110 hp, causing rough running, jerking or hard starting. Replacing the affected injector is usually enough; Caradisiac still reports cases on the Kadjar and Duster II.
In Juke I, Micra III, Micra V, Note II, NV200 and Pulsar and 2 more models
- Medium severityFrequency: Occasional2.2/2.5 dCiClogged EGR valveThe 2.2 dCi's EGR valve gets dirty with carbon from the gas recirculation and can stick: it is the fault with the most accounts in the Almera report, with additional cases, though in lower proportion, on the X-Trail.
In Almera II, Primera III and X-Trail I
- Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 dCiInjector failuresThe 1.6 dCi injectors can fail individually or, in more serious cases, several at once: fiches-auto documents 6 cases in the Espace V and one failed injector with loss of power on the motorway in a Kadjar.Repair (garage): €250–€1,700
In Qashqai I, Qashqai II and X-Trail III
- Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.3 TCeUnstable idle, juddering and stalling caused by the injectorsOn 1.3 TCe/DIG-T engines built before April 2019, the injector seal may be missing or its housing incorrectly sized, which causes an unstable idle, juddering and stalling. Renault-Nissan corrected it at the factory in 2019; the repair involves replacing injectors or, in serious cases, the cylinder head.
In Qashqai II and X-Trail III
- Low severityFrequency: Rare0.9 TCeJerking due to an injection calibration that needs reprogrammingSome 0.9 TCe engines show slight jerking when accelerating because of an injection calibration that is corrected by reprogramming the ECU, without it being mechanical damage.
In Micra V

By Nissan model

Open yours to see only the faults that affect it, by engine and by year.

Engines and gearboxes involved

Frequently asked questions

Jerking in a Nissan: what could it be?

In 14 models from Nissan there are 11 documented faults that cause this symptom (jerking). The most important: excessive oil consumption and engine failure, injection pump or injector failure and failures of the Delphi direct-injection injectors. Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the cause and how to check for it.

Which Nissan models have the most faults with this symptom?

Nissan Qashqai I (5 faults), Nissan Qashqai II (5 faults), Nissan X-Trail III (5 faults) and Nissan Primera III (3 faults).

Which Nissan engines cause it?

1.6 dCi (2 faults), 2.0 dCi (2 faults), 2.2/2.5 dCi (2 faults), 0.9 TCe (1 fault) and 1.2 TCe (1 fault).