2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Nissan Micra MOT pass rate and common faults

13,733 MOT tests in 2024. 58.9% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

104Above average
Passed first time58.9%
Failed or needed repairs41.1%
Typical mileage at test76,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 13,733 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.8%
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.6%
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.4%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.2%
  6. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.2%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.8%
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.6%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
    462 marked dangerous
  10. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour2.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics34.6%
  2. Suspension23.5%
  3. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.6%
  4. Brakes7.2%
  5. Tyres7.0%
  6. Body & chassis3.7%
  7. Emissions & leaks3.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.0%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.4%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened9.5%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 MicraAll Micra years2009 Micra →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Nissan Micra?

In 2024, 58.9% of 2008 Nissan Micra cars passed their MOT first time, across 13,733 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Nissan Micra?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2008 Nissan Micra reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 104, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).