2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Nissan Note MOT pass rate and common faults

11,561 MOT tests in 2024. 60.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

94Below average
Passed first time60.2%
Failed or needed repairs39.8%
Typical mileage at test70,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,561 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working7.0%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.7%
  4. Position lamp: not working6.4%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn5.5%
  6. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn3.2%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.7%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    428 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension29.7%
  2. Lights & electrics25.7%
  3. Brakes7.6%
  4. Tyres6.8%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.0%
  6. Body & chassis2.2%
  7. Seat belts & airbags2.1%
  8. Emissions & leaks2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn15.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.2%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened7.6%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: stop 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 Note?

In 2024, 60.2% of 2012 Nissan Note cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,561 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

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

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Nissan Note reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 94, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).