Nissan Micra common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Nissan Micra at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 255,212 UK MOT tests of the Nissan Micra in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement): recorded on 8.4% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km), 28× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (29×); service brake performance (excessively binding) (17×); service brake performance (binding but not excessively) (12×). The most common reasons a Nissan Micra fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Nissan Micra
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Nissan Micra than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | Advisory | 2019–2021 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 8.4% | 0.3% | 28× | 8,846 |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.8% | 0.2% | 29× | 2,549 |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | MOT fail | 2014–2016 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 3.4% | 0.2% | 17× | 7,324 |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 3.6% | 0.3% | 12× | 8,094 |
| Coil spring: corroded | Advisory | 2015–2017 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 6.2% | 0.6% | 10× | 15,846 |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 8.8% | 0.8% | 11× | 5,406 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | MOT fail | 2004–2006 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.3% | 0.9% | 5.9× | 8,404 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2011–2013 | 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 8.3% | 1% | 8.3× | 587 |
Nissan Micra by mileage (2015–2017 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 8,094 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (16%) | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (16%, 12×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 15,846 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (20%) | Coil spring: corroded (6.2%, 10×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 8,537 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (20%) | Coil spring: corroded (7.4%, 9.3×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 2,841 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (21%) | Coil spring: corroded (8.6%, 9.6×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 796 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | Coil spring: corroded (10%, 11×) |
Nissan Micra by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 385 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.3×) |
| 1996 | 600 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.4×) |
| 1997 | 838 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6.2×) |
| 1998 | 1,677 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (6×) |
| 1999 | 2,762 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (5.5×) |
| 2000 | 3,484 | Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (5.8×) |
| 2001 | 4,948 | Prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (6.1×) |
| 2002 | 8,197 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.7×) |
| 2003 | 11,240 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (4.7×) |
| 2004 | 12,002 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.1×) |
| 2005 | 16,821 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.9×) |
| 2006 | 18,785 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (5.4×) |
| 2007 | 13,853 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (4.7×) |
| 2008 | 14,820 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (4.3×) |
| 2009 | 16,153 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (4.6×) |
| 2010 | 16,112 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (5.2×) |
| 2011 | 12,748 | Service brake performance: excessively binding at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (6×) |
| 2012 | 11,592 | Service brake performance: excessively binding at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (11×) |
| 2013 | 11,477 | Service brake performance: excessively binding at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (12×) |
| 2014 | 14,107 | Service brake performance: excessively binding at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (18×) |
| 2015 | 12,970 | Service brake performance: excessively binding at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (17×) |
| 2016 | 10,756 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (12×) |
| 2017 | 12,730 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (18×) |
| 2018 | 10,041 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (24×) |
| 2019 | 8,624 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (31×) |
| 2020 | 6,361 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (28×) |
| 2021 | 232 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (29×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Nissan Micra?
In 255,212 UK MOT tests of the Nissan Micra in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement): recorded on 8.4% of tests of 2019–2021 cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km), 28× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) (29×); service brake performance (excessively binding) (17×); service brake performance (binding but not excessively) (12×). The most common reasons a Nissan Micra fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Why do Nissan Micras fail the MOT?
Across 255,212 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Nissan Micra were position lamp (not working) (8.4% of tests); registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) (8.3% of tests); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (8.6% of tests).
At what mileage do Nissan Micra problems start?
The clearest Nissan Micra-specific issue, pins and bushes (pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement), peaks against other cars at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) on 2019–2021 cars (8.4% of tests vs 0.3% for all cars that age).
Where does this Nissan Micra data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 255,212 tests of the Nissan Micra. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.