Nissan Note Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Nissan Note car check
Is the Nissan Note reliable? We analysed 2,716,974 real MOT tests across 180,658 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Nissan Note? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Nissan Note is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include coil spring broken, 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 Note.
Nissan Note Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Nissan Note. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Nissan Note MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Nissan Note to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Nissan Note Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Nissan Note fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Nissan Note Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Nissan Note models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Nissan Note Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Nissan Note owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Nissan Note MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Nissan Note year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 81.6% | 38,554 | 47,590 | 63,210 |
| 2019 | 62 | 82.3% | 35,467 | 61,428 | 91,724 |
| 2018 | 62 | 93.5% | 26,292 | 43,458 | 60,900 |
| 2017 | 40,043 | 87.8% | 19,490 | 30,338 | 45,850 |
| 2016 | 90,731 | 87.5% | 19,830 | 31,565 | 47,805 |
| 2015 | 147,497 | 85.6% | 24,194 | 37,590 | 55,537 |
| 2014 | 247,481 | 83.3% | 27,290 | 42,419 | 62,500 |
| 2013 | 157,566 | 78.2% | 29,995 | 47,146 | 69,411 |
| 2012 | 179,838 | 75.6% | 30,861 | 49,363 | 72,948 |
| 2011 | 206,811 | 75.0% | 33,623 | 53,723 | 78,793 |
| 2010 | 274,260 | 74.1% | 36,028 | 57,774 | 84,406 |
| 2009 | 319,558 | 73.5% | 36,852 | 59,175 | 86,355 |
| 2008 | 385,430 | 71.7% | 40,751 | 63,323 | 90,244 |
| 2007 | 354,899 | 70.7% | 41,079 | 64,879 | 92,412 |
| 2006 | 303,857 | 71.0% | 41,930 | 66,709 | 95,346 |
| 2005 | 503 | 71.8% | 46,448 | 74,834 | 112,565 |
How Long Does a Nissan Note Last?
Based on 180,658 Nissan Note vehicles on UK roads.
Nissan Note Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Nissan Note 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 Note
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.5% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
70.7% MOT pass rate from 354,899 tests
The best year to buy a used Nissan Note is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.5% across 62 tests. The 2007 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Nissan Note Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Note THIS CAR | 75.4% | 2,716,974 | 54,306 mi | 20 yrs |
| Nissan Micra | 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 |
| Volvo V70 | 71% | 1,930,508 | 113,181 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Nissan Micra (71.4% pass rate) and the Nissan Qashqai (77.3% pass rate), the Nissan Note sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Nissan Note 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 NoteShould you buy a used Nissan Note?
The Nissan Note has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.4% across 2,716,974 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Nissan Note are coil spring broken (38,645 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (30,534), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (28,389). 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.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Nissan Note with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Nissan Note owner drives around 5,170 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 Note models stay on UK roads for around 20 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.