Nissan Micra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Micra car check
Is the Nissan Micra reliable? We analysed 10,566,512 real MOT tests across 827,110 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Micra? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Micra is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Nissan Micra.
Nissan Micra Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Micra. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Micra MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Micra to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Micra Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Micra fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Micra Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Micra owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Micra MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Micra year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 489 | 90.2% | 10,219 | 16,604 | 26,230 |
| 2022 | 8,057 | 91.4% | 10,763 | 16,866 | 25,117 |
| 2021 | 16,652 | 90.5% | 12,075 | 18,756 | 27,432 |
| 2020 | 20,068 | 88.0% | 13,060 | 20,889 | 31,334 |
| 2019 | 43,217 | 86.8% | 14,724 | 23,674 | 35,381 |
| 2018 | 64,559 | 83.5% | 18,568 | 28,938 | 42,592 |
| 2017 | 100,333 | 81.6% | 19,090 | 30,124 | 44,938 |
| 2016 | 94,147 | 82.8% | 15,242 | 24,860 | 39,095 |
| 2015 | 131,085 | 82.2% | 18,086 | 29,322 | 45,668 |
| 2014 | 162,528 | 81.3% | 19,527 | 31,860 | 49,664 |
| 2013 | 151,183 | 79.1% | 22,122 | 35,837 | 54,643 |
| 2012 | 171,959 | 76.7% | 24,167 | 39,320 | 59,868 |
| 2011 | 207,620 | 77.2% | 25,109 | 41,330 | 62,958 |
| 2010 | 293,480 | 76.5% | 28,014 | 47,390 | 72,836 |
| 2009 | 322,818 | 76.3% | 28,226 | 48,236 | 74,664 |
| 2008 | 328,494 | 76.5% | 30,319 | 50,698 | 77,145 |
| 2007 | 356,144 | 75.0% | 30,836 | 51,845 | 77,957 |
| 2006 | 572,587 | 74.2% | 33,370 | 55,273 | 81,803 |
| 2005 | 711,983 | 71.8% | 34,110 | 55,422 | 80,958 |
| 2004 | 718,309 | 72.2% | 33,329 | 54,294 | 78,903 |
How Long Does a Nissan Micra Last?
Based on 827,110 Nissan Micra vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Micra Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Micra MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Nissan Micra
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.4% MOT pass rate from 8,057 tests
61.0% MOT pass rate from 331 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Micra is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.4% across 8,057 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Micra Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Micra THIS CAR | 71.4% | 10,566,512 | 55,214 mi | 37 yrs |
| Nissan Qashqai | 77.3% | 6,506,323 | 59,398 mi | 19 yrs |
| Nissan Juke | 79.3% | 3,002,435 | 49,593 mi | 16 yrs |
| Nissan Almera | 71.1% | 2,976,239 | 67,265 mi | 30 yrs |
| Citroen C3 | 72.7% | 4,435,918 | 53,913 mi | 24 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate) and the Nissan Juke (79.3% pass rate), the Nissan Micra trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Micra you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Nissan MicraShould you buy a used Nissan Micra?
The Nissan Micra has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.4% across 10,566,512 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Nissan Micra are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (413,594 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (319,427), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (245,244). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Nissan Micra owner drives around 4,021 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Nissan Micra models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.