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Nissan Note: HR12DDR DIG-S Timing Chain Cold-Start Rattle and Failure

HR12DDR DIG-S Timing Chain Cold-Start Rattle and Failure is a common engine fault on the Nissan Note on the 2012–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 31 documented faults on the Nissan Note.

Vehicle
Nissan Note
Engine
HR12-DDR
Years
2012–2020
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Nissan Note as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Note faults31 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The HR12DDR 1.2-litre supercharged direct-injection engine (DIG-S) in the Note E12 is sensitive to oil specification. The engine originally required 5W-30 A2/B2 grade oil, subsequently superseded to A5/B5 specification. Use of incorrect oil accelerates timing chain tensioner degradation and chain stretch, producing a characteristic metallic rattle on cold start that diminishes as oil pressure builds. Documented cases of timing chain failure causing major engine damage are on record even at relatively low mileage. The supercharger adds complexity to any repair. Fault codes P0014 (camshaft timing over-advanced) are associated with advanced chain wear.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from top or front of engine on first start after standing overnight
  • Rattle reduces within 20–30 seconds as oil pressure builds
  • Engine management light with fault code P0014 (camshaft timing over-advanced)
  • Loss of power or rough running on acceleration

How to check it

Where to look. Front and top of engine — timing chain cover and cam phaser area

Cold-start from fully cold and listen immediately for chain rattle at the front or top of the engine for the first 30 seconds. Request full service history to confirm oil specification compliance (A5/B5 or original A2/B2). Scan for P0014 or P0300 fault codes. Any cold-start rattle is a warning of advanced chain wear and must be investigated before purchase.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “What oil specification has been used — has it always been A5/B5 or A2/B2 grade?”
  • “Has the car ever produced a rattle on first start?”
  • “Has the timing chain been inspected or replaced?”

Now check the Nissan Note you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Note buyer questions

Is hr12ddr dig-s timing chain cold-start rattle and failure serious on a Nissan Note?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Note. The HR12DDR 1.2-litre supercharged direct-injection engine (DIG-S) in the Note E12 is sensitive to oil specification. The engine originally required 5W-30 A2/B2 grade oil, subsequently superseded to A5/B5 specification. Use of incorrect oil accelerates timing chain tensioner degradation and chain stretch, producing a characteristic metallic rattle on cold start that diminishes as oil pressure builds. Documented cases of timing chain failure causing major engine damage are on record even at relatively low mileage. The supercharger adds complexity to any repair. Fault codes P0014 (camshaft timing over-advanced) are associated with advanced chain wear.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Note?

$900 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Note years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2020 Nissan Note. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start from fully cold and listen immediately for chain rattle at the front or top of the engine for the first 30 seconds. Request full service history to confirm oil specification compliance (A5/B5 or original A2/B2). Scan for P0014 or P0300 fault codes. Any cold-start rattle is a warning of advanced chain wear and must be investigated before purchase. Look here: Front and top of engine — timing chain cover and cam phaser area