Nissan 1.6 DIG-T (MR16DDT)Engine sensors
Lambda sensor and other engine sensor failures on the 1.6 DIG-T
Why this rating?
Low severity: A nuisance or wear. It does not immobilise the car or damage other parts.
Frequency occasional: In two compilations of owner reviews from the same French site (fiches-auto.fr), sensors and the lambda sensor appear among the most repeated issues for this engine (8 of 40 in the Qashqai 163 hp and 4 of 50 in the Juke 190 hp), although these are small, self-selected samples from a single publisher. We have not found this issue mentioned in a German buying guide focused on the Qashqai II, which describes the 1.6 DIG-T as reliable, nor in a five-year Spanish long-term test with no problems of a Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T 190 hp. Because it is absent from these independent press sources, we classify it as occasional rather than a widespread problem.[1][2][3][4]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on, sometimes with the car running apparently normally.[1][2]Engine warning light: other faults that cause it · Garage soon
- In some cases, loss of power or uneven running if the affected sensor takes part in calculating the mixture.[1]Less power: other faults that cause it · Monitor
Why it happens
Normal wear of the sensors (lambda sensor and other engine pick-ups) with the years and mileage; the reviews consulted do not describe a design defect or a pattern of premature failure.[1][2]
If it is not repaired: The car can usually keep being driven with the warning light on; the risk of ignoring it for a long time is that the ECU may permanently enrich the mixture and send consumption soaring, and an engine warning light on prevents the car passing the Spanish ITV inspection.[1]
Affected cars and years
The reviews consulted relate to the 163 hp (Qashqai) and 190 hp (Juke) versions; we have no equivalent data for the Nismo version or the Pulsar, but there is no documented technical reason to think the sensors differ between outputs.[1][2]
| Version | Years | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 DIG-T 163 (MR16DDT, Nissan Qashqai II) | 2014–2021 | MR16DDT |
| 1.6 DIG-T 190 (MR16DDT, Nissan Juke and Nissan Pulsar) | 2010–2019 | MR16DDT |
| 1.6 DIG-T Nismo / Nismo RS, 197-215 hp (MR16DDT, Nissan Juke only) | 2013–2019 | MR16DDT |
Models fitted with the affected versions
Nissan
- Nissan Qashqai II2014–2021
- Nissan Juke I2010–2019
- Nissan Pulsar2014–2018
- Nissan X-Trail III2014–2018
How much it costs to repair
Includes: Diagnosis with code reading and replacement of the affected sensor (normally the lambda sensor).
How we calculated it: We have not found a published price in Spain for this specific engine: the cost depends on which sensor fails and how accessible it is, so we do not give a figure.
In principle it is one of the cheapest repairs documented on this engine: it does not usually require major dismantling.
Prices in Spain, including VAT. A workshop hour costs on average €38–66 at independent garages and €77–134 at dealerships in Spain, depending on the region and the brand. How we calculate costs
How to check for it before buying a used car
- Ask for a code read with an OBD diagnosis before buying, even if the warning light is off: there may be stored codes from an intermittent fault.
Parts needed
The part or kit that fixes this fault, according to the sources.
- Buy part at Autodoc (affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Lambda sensor
Measures oxygen in the exhaust to adjust the mixture; replaced when it fails or gives erratic readings.
Affiliate links to Autodoc: if you buy, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility using the registration number or the VIN before ordering. More information
How to prevent it
- No specific preventive measure is documented beyond general engine maintenance.
Recalls, campaigns and claims
As of 27 September 2026, we have no record of recalls, campaigns or extended manufacturer warranties for this fault. Check with an official dealer using the chassis (VIN) number: they will tell you whether the car has any outstanding campaign.
What owners say
Frequently asked questions
Does an engine warning light mean a serious fault?
Not always: in the reviews consulted, the most repeated cause is a sensor (lambda sensor or another pick-up), a minor repair that does not usually damage the engine.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with the engine warning light on?
In the short term usually yes, but it is worth diagnosing soon: a faulty mixture sensor can send consumption soaring, and you will not pass the Spanish ITV inspection with the warning light on.[1]
What can you do now?
We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.
Other 1.6 DIG-T faults
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingTiming chain wear and noiseThe 1.6 DIG-T's timing chain (Qashqai, Juke, Pulsar) can become noisy with the years. It is the most repeated mechanical fault in the owner reviews consulted for this engine, although in a minority of cases and with no manufacturer recalls or studies describing it as a widespread failure.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationOil consumption from piston ring wearWith the years, the 1.6 DIG-T can use oil between changes through piston ring wear. The Spanish specialist press describes it as a known problem in the Qashqai's older petrol engines, which can end in engine wear if the level is not monitored.
More faults with the engine sensors on other engines and cars
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW B57AdBlue/SCR system fault (NOx sensors, heater and pump)A specialist garage considers the B57's AdBlue/SCR system the fault that most often leaves cars immobilised: a NOx sensor, the quality sensor, the heater or the pump usually fails, and topping up the tank rarely stops the countdown of remaining starts.
- Medium severityFrequency: Occasional1.2 8v FireSensor failures: lambda sensor and crankshaft position sensor (TDC)The 1.2 8v Fire can suffer sensor faults: the lambda sensor (warning light, rough running) and, in the Fiat Punto, the crankshaft position sensor (TDC sensor), linked to misfires. These are minority issues, but they recur across several models with this engine.
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Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Avis moteur Nissan Qashqai 2 1.6 163 chFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Avis moteur Nissan Juke 1.6 Turbo 190 chFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Nissan Qashqai: Bekannte Probleme & KaufberatungGebrauchtwagenberater · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
- Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T 190 CV CVT 4x4 (prueba de propietario)km77 · Motoring press · published 11 September 2018 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish