Nissan Micra
From 387,844 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Micras fare better: 2022 models pass at 92.3% vs 67.8% for 1994.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 25,549 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 25,549 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 12,466 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 8,628 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 8,620 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 8,332 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 7,478 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 7,032 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 6,868 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 6,517 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 6,298 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.7% of failures are serious: 33.2% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 8.5% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £94.
The warranty question
A 3-year-old Micra passes its MOT 89.4% of the time. By 7 years old that drops to 79.3%, a 10.1 percentage point fall, right as the manufacturer warranty runs out. At 10 years it's down to 73.9%. With an average repair bill of £94 when things go wrong, an extended warranty can make sense on a Micra that's past its third birthday.
Nissan Micra on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 15,781 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 248 newly registered, a net loss of 15,533. At this rate, roughly 16.9 years until none remain. Now at 44.2% of its peak (594,214 in 2004 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 224,872 | 37,608 | +59 | -3,503 | -3,444 |
| 2025 Q2 | 228,644 | 37,280 | +65 | -3,300 | -3,235 |
| 2025 Q1 | 232,008 | 37,151 | +50 | -4,378 | -4,328 |
| 2024 Q4 | 236,279 | 37,208 | +74 | -4,600 | -4,526 |
| 2024 Q3 | 240,242 | 37,771 | +78 | -4,031 | -3,953 |
| 2024 Q2 | 244,082 | 37,884 | +62 | -3,481 | -3,419 |
| 2024 Q1 | 247,467 | 37,918 | +78 | -3,469 | -3,391 |
| 2023 Q4 | 251,473 | 37,303 | +54 | -2,882 | -2,828 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micra Acenta | Petrol | 36,218 | 22% |
| Micra Visia | Petrol | 29,461 | 18% |
| Micra Acenta Cvt | Petrol | 12,141 | 7% |
| Micra S | Petrol | 11,944 | 7% |
| Micra Acenta Ig-T | Petrol | 10,345 | 6% |
| Micra N-Tec | Petrol | 9,141 | 5% |
| Micra S Auto | Petrol | 6,125 | 4% |
| Micra Tekna Ig-T | Petrol | 5,358 | 3% |
| Micra Tekna | Petrol | 5,210 | 3% |
| Micra Se Auto | Petrol | 4,954 | 3% |
| Micra N-Connecta Ig-T | Petrol | 4,891 | 3% |
| Micra N-Sport Ig-T | Petrol | 3,937 | 2% |
| Micra Se | Petrol | 3,866 | 2% |
| Micra Spirita Auto | Petrol | 3,832 | 2% |
| Micra Spirita | Petrol | 3,607 | 2% |
| Micra Initia | Petrol | 3,600 | 2% |
| Micra Acenta Ig-T Cvt | Petrol | 3,225 | 2% |
| Micra Vibe | Petrol | 3,011 | 2% |
| Micra Acenta Limited Ed Ig-T | Petrol | 2,793 | 2% |
| Micra Acenta A | Petrol | 2,762 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 92.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2021 | 92.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 89.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 85.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre seriously damaged |
32 earlier years
| 2018 | 81.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2017 | 77.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2016 | 79.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2015 | 77.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2014 | 75.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2013 | 73.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2012 | 71.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2011 | 70.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2010 | 69.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 67.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 68% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2007 | 65.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2006 | 64.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2005 | 63.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 63.3% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 62.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2002 | 64.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2001 | 64.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2000 | 63.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1999 | 63.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1998 | 64.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1997 | 63.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1996 | 62.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1995 | 64.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1994 | 67.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 1993 | 66.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1992 | 76.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1991 | 69.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1990 | 67.9% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1989 | 69.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. |
| 1988 | 74.7% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1987 | 69% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all Micras tested had between 49,131 and 82,881 miles on the clock.
At 65,406 median miles, the Micra has 0.044 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Nissan models
| Nissan Qashqai | 76.1% |
| Nissan Juke | 75.3% |
| Nissan Note | 70.9% |
| Nissan Navara | 77% |
| Nissan X-Trail | 77.4% |
Common questions
What is the Nissan Micra MOT pass rate?
The Nissan Micra has a 71.2% MOT pass rate based on 387,844 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Nissan Micra?
The most common MOT failure on the Nissan Micra is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 25,549 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Nissan Micras are on UK roads?
There are 224,872 Nissan Micras currently licensed on UK roads, with 37,608 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Nissan Micra at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Nissan Micra is 65,406 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 49,131 and 82,881 miles.
Buying a used Micra?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 71.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £94 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.