Reliability report
Nissan Micra reliability and common faults
Based on 246,422 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
28.5%
fail rate · average 27.0%
worse than average
234,635 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
64.4%
with defects · average 68.4%
better than average
567 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
44.2%
first-time pass · average 49.1%
worse than average
11,220 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Nissan Micra
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Body and structure
Visibilityconfirmed in 2 countries
Brakes
Plates and identification
Suspension
Lights and electrics
Seat belts and airbags
Tyres
Steering
Wheels
Exhaust and emissions
Driving controls
Most common test failures
- 1Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 2Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 3Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less
- 4Brake difference on 1 axle too large
- 5Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 6Rust damage of 1.5 to 2.0E or more than 15% thickness loss
- 7Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 8Tyre insufficient tread
- 9Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 10Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 11Sidelight not working (properly)
- 12Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 9.7% avg 9.9% | — |
| 6–8 years | 25.8% avg 15.3% | — |
| 9–11 years | 21.9% avg 22.9% | — |
| 12–15 years | 29.1% avg 30.3% | — |
| 16–20 years | 33.5% avg 34.6% | — |
| 21+ years | 37.5% avg 31.4% | 64.4% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Micra | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 69.8% | 83.2% | 86 |
| 2018 | 82.1% | 79.5% | 117 |
| 2017 | 76.8% | 76.6% | 164 |
| 2016 | 77.7% | 72.8% | 130 |
| 2015 | 83.0% | 71.1% | 165 |
| 2014 | 70.3% | 68.0% | 293 |
| 2013 | 64.6% | 65.9% | 277 |
| 2012 | 61.6% | 63.7% | 320 |
| 2011 | 61.8% | 61.2% | 490 |
| 2010 | 51.1% | 57.3% | 225 |
| 2009 | 47.2% | 54.5% | 470 |
| 2008 | 48.0% | 52.4% | 585 |
| 2007 | 44.3% | 50.6% | 361 |
| 2006 | 40.4% | 48.7% | 906 |
| 2005 | 35.8% | 46.6% | 1,210 |
Nissan Micra – FAQs
How reliable is the Nissan Micra?+
In the UK the Nissan Micra fails 28.5% of MOT tests, against an average of 27.0% for cars of the same age – worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 64.4% of APK inspections (average there 68.4%) – better than average. In Lithuania 44.2% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 49.1%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Nissan Micra?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: body and structure, visibility, brakes, plates and identification.
What should I check when buying a used Nissan Micra?+
The most common inspection failures: Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Steering or steering knuckle ball joint with wear of 1.0 mm or less; Brake difference on 1 axle too large; Low beam incorrectly adjusted. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Nissan models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).