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MOT results · tests in 2025 · Great Britain

Nissan Micra reliability: what the MOT shows

205,041 Micras had an MOT in 2025. 64.9% passed first time, against 70.9% for other cars of the same age and mileage. Most of the gap comes from cars registered from 2012 to 2020, which fail on suspension 2.1 times as often as comparable cars. Those registered from 2021 onwards pass as often as other cars their age.

64.9%passed first time
−5.9points against cars of the same age and mileage
1.5×as many suspension failures as comparable cars
Report card

Nissan Micra MOT results by registration year

Each dot compares how often Micras of that year failed on one area of the test with cars of the same age and mileage.

Much betterBetterAbout the sameWorseMuch worse
YearPassed first timeAgainst same age and mileageMOTsSuspensionSteeringBrakesTyresLights & electricsVisibilityBody & structureEmissions & leaks
200550.4%−9.112,718
200653.5%−5.515,258
200755.3%−4.711,873
200857.7%−2.313,214
200958.1%−3.514,670
201059.0%−3.914,895
201161.5%−4.412,292
201262.1%−6.311,290
201363.8%−7.211,379
201469.0%−5.113,997
201571.9%−5.012,925
201673.4%−6.910,656
201766.8%−14.312,635
201869.8%−13.09,972
201978.5%−7.28,541
202082.0%−5.96,183
202189.0%−0.36,634
202291.0%+0.85,909

Much worse: failed on that area at least 1.5 times as often. Worse: 1.15 to 1.5 times. Better: up to 0.87 times. Much better: two-thirds as often or less. Gaps under half a percentage point count as about the same. Registration year is the year the car was first used.

Nissan Micra years to avoid, going by the MOT

Well behind2005 to 2006−5.5 to −9.1 ptsMost common failures: headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) in 2005; registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) in 2006. 27,976 MOTs.
Behind2007 to 2011−2.3 to −4.7 ptsMost common failures: position lamp (not working) in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011; registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) in 2009. 66,944 MOTs.
Well behind2012 to 2020−5.0 to −14.3 ptsMost common failures: position lamp (not working) in 2012 and 2013; pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2014, 2015 and 2019; service brake performance (excessively binding) in 2016; coil spring (fractured or broken) in 2017 and 2018; wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2020. 97,578 MOTs.
Level2021 to 2022−0.3 to +0.8 ptsMost common failures: wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) in 2021; pins and bushes (pin or bush excessively worn) in 2022. 12,543 MOTs.

Well behind: 5 or more points below cars of the same age and mileage. Behind: 1.5 to 5 points below. Level: within 1.5 points. Ahead: 1.5 or more points above.

What fails

Nissan Micra common faults at the MOT

14.7% of Micra MOTs failed on suspension, against 9.9% for cars of the same age and mileage, and 6.8% on visibility, against 4.7%.

Most common failures

Position lamp: not working4.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.8%
Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.3%
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.0%
Coil spring: fractured or broken4.0%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.6%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 2.1%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.9%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.6%
Ball joint excessively worn2.7%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%Cars of the same age and mileage: 1.9%
MicraSame age and mileage

Fails more often than other cars

Individual direction indicators: adversely affected by the operation of another lamp6.6×0.22% of Micra MOTs (455) against 0.03% for cars of the same age and mileage
Position lamp: adversely affected by the operation of another lamp5.0×0.43% of Micra MOTs (879) against 0.09% for cars of the same age and mileage
Pins and bushes: pin or bush likely to become detached4.4×0.26% of Micra MOTs (541) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage
Side repeaters: incorrect colour3.9×0.23% of Micra MOTs (480) against 0.06% for cars of the same age and mileage
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps3.9×4.01% of Micra MOTs (8,214) against 1.02% for cars of the same age and mileage
Stop lamp: adversely affected by the operation of another lamp3.4×0.23% of Micra MOTs (464) against 0.07% for cars of the same age and mileage
Mileage

Behind at every mileage

Micras pass less often than cars of the same age and mileage at every mileage, by 3.1 to 10.7 points. The gap is widest at 120k+ miles.

First-time MOT pass rate by mileage: Nissan Micra against cars of the same age and mileage0%25%50%75%100%8386UNDER 30K−3.1 pts697530–60K−6.2 pts586460–90K−5.9 pts505790–120K−7.2 pts4555120K+−10.7 pts
Micra, first-time pass rateCars of the same age and mileage

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Micra

Diesels passed 56.5% first time, 12.2 points below comparable cars; petrols passed 65.2%, 5.8 points below comparable cars. Diesels had a median of 75,166 miles at the test, against 54,465 for petrols.

FuelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)Median miles
Petrol199,65665.2%70.9%−5.854,465
Diesel5,37856.5%68.7%−12.275,166
Against rivals

Micra against other small hatchbacks

Cars registered 2014 to 2021, each against cars of the same age and mileage. The Micra ranks 14 of 17.

ModelMOTsPassed first timeSame age and mileageGap (pts)
1. Honda Jazz136,22787.4%82.0%+5.4
2. MINI Cooper339,52785.3%80.8%+4.5
3. Toyota Yaris215,96482.4%80.7%+1.6
4. Hyundai i2077,31979.6%78.7%+0.9
5. Mazda 260,28480.6%79.8%+0.9
6. Suzuki Swift77,43880.6%80.1%+0.5
7. Audi A1162,41178.5%78.7%−0.2
8. Skoda Fabia118,92477.9%79.3%−1.3
9. VW Polo329,62176.0%79.1%−3.1
10. Ford Fiesta693,78873.2%78.2%−4.9
11. Citroen C395,14373.8%80.1%−6.2
12. Seat Ibiza113,18571.2%77.6%−6.4
13. Peugeot 208157,34971.7%78.8%−7.1
14. Nissan Micra81,54373.4%81.0%−7.6
15. Vauxhall Corsa477,34870.1%78.7%−8.6
16. Dacia Sandero97,35567.1%79.5%−12.4
17. Renault Clio148,25663.9%78.1%−14.2

Check these before you buy a used Micra

What testers most often noted as advisories on Micras in 2025: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for cars of the same age and mileage.

Questions about Micra reliability

Is the Nissan Micra reliable?

At the MOT, 64.9% of 205,041 Micra MOTs in 2025 passed first time, against 70.9% for cars of the same age and mileage. 2005 to 2006: well behind (−5.5 to −9.1 points). 2007 to 2011: behind (−2.3 to −4.7 points). 2012 to 2020: well behind (−5.0 to −14.3 points). 2021 to 2022: level (−0.3 to +0.8 points).

Which Nissan Micra years should I avoid?

Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011 and 2012 to 2020. Those cars passed first time −5.5 to −9.1 and −2.3 to −4.7 and −5.0 to −14.3 points against comparable cars.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Micra?

Position lamp: not working: 4.7% of Micra MOTs, against 2.8% for cars of the same age and mileage.

Is a diesel or petrol Micra more reliable?

Petrol Micras passed 65.2% first time and diesels 56.5%. Against cars of the same age and mileage, petrols were 5.8 points below and diesels 12.2 points below.

Is the Micra more reliable than the Ford Fiesta?

For cars registered 2014 to 2021, the Ford Fiesta passed 73.2% first time, −4.9 points against comparable cars. The Micra passed 73.4%, −7.6 points.

How we measure

Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025 (31,475,521 first tests on cars first used 2005 to 2022), from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data. Retests are left out.

Passed first time. A car passed if its first test that year ended in a pass. Cars that failed and were fixed within the hour count as fails, as DVSA counts them.

Same age and mileage. We group every car by the year it was first used and its mileage (under 30k, 30–60k, 60–90k, 90–120k, over 120k). The comparison figure is what those groups scored, weighted to match the Micra's mix of ages and mileages.

Model. Every car DVSA records as a Nissan Micra: 15 recorded model names, from "MICRA" to trims such as "MICRA N-TEC IG-T".

The full method, including how each report-card dot and year group is decided.