2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Nissan Micra MOT pass rate and common faults

11,271 MOT tests in 2024. 63.0% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time63.0%
Failed or needed repairs37.0%
Typical mileage at test56,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,271 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working6.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.1%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.6%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.3%
  6. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.4%
  7. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn2.4%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.1%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.9%
    301 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics19.3%
  2. Suspension18.1%
  3. Brakes11.1%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.8%
  5. Tyres6.4%
  6. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  7. Body & chassis5.3%
  8. Steering0.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn19.3%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened17.1%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure14.5%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.5%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Nissan Micra?

In 2024, 63.0% of 2012 Nissan Micra cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,271 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Nissan Micra?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Nissan Micra reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).