Is the Nissan Micra reliable?

On MOT evidence the Nissan Micra is well below average. It passes 63.8% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 233 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Nissan Micra?

The item recorded most often is "A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn", which appears in 19.5% of failed Nissan Micra tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Nissan Micra?

The most common advisory is "A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn", noted on 22.5% of all Nissan Micra tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Nissan Micra usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 63,035 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Does a Nissan Micra get harder to pass as it ages?

Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 87.3% of Nissan Micra tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 55.0%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.

Are most Nissan Micra models petrol or diesel?

Of the Nissan Micra cars tested, 98% are petrol, 2% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

Model reliability file

Nissan Micra MOT pass rate & common failures

From 237,356 recorded MOT tests of the Nissan Micra, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

The Nissan Micra passes 63.8% of MOT tests once results are adjusted for the age and mileage of the cars tested, against a national average of 72.3%. That is well below average, ranking it 233 of 262 models with enough data to compare fairly. Based on 237,356 tests. Its most commonly recorded failure is suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which appears in 19.5% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 63,035 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Pass rate, adjusted for age and mileage

63.8%national average72.3%unadjusted63.4%range covered100%rank233 of 262

The Micra is 8.5 percentage points below the national pass rate once age and mileage are accounted for, which is well below average. The unadjusted figure is 63.4%; the difference is what the age and mileage of this model’s fleet was hiding.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Nissan Micra tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn19.5%
13,162 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
2.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened15.0%
10,094 occurrencesRoad spring broken or fractured explained
3.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning12.9%
8,705 occurrencesLamp not working explained
4.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements12.4%
8,361 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
5.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen12.1%
8,156 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
6.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.2%
6,872 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
7.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements9.8%
6,642 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
8.A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps9.7%
6,525 occurrencesLamp not working explained
9.A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc6.3%
4,230 occurrencesDriveshaft CV joint gaiter split or missing explained
10.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 repaired6.3%
4,221 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Nissan Micra tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn22.5%
53,291 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
2.A tyre seriously damaged22.1%
52,438 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
3.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.0%
45,110 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
4.A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened17.0%
40,407 testsRoad spring broken or fractured explained
5.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured8.6%
20,499 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
6.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users6.8%
16,134 tests
7.A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm5.7%
13,413 testsBrake drum or shoe worn or contaminated explained
8.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded5.5%
13,042 testsBrake pipe corroded explained

How wear changes the picture

Pass rate by vehicle age

3–5 yrs87%

6–8 yrs71%

9–11 yrs71%

12–14 yrs62%

15+ yrs55%

Bands holding too few tests to be meaningful are omitted rather than shown as a rate.

What gets tested

The Micra fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 63,035
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol97.6%
Diesel2.4%

Trim names grouped into this model (14)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

MICRA ACENTA
MICRA ACENTA CVT
MICRA ACTIVE
MICRA E
MICRA KIIRO IG-T
MICRA KIIRO IG-T CVT
MICRA N-TEC DIG-T
MICRA N-TEC IG-T
MICRA N-TEC IG-T CVT
MICRA S
MICRA SE
MICRA VISIA
MICRA VISIA + IG-T CVT
MICRA VISIA IG-T

Check a specific Nissan Micra

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Nissan models

Nissan Qashqai — 67.4% adjusted
Nissan Juke — 66.5% adjusted
Nissan Note — 65.9% adjusted
Nissan X-Trail — 70.5% adjusted
Nissan Navara — 68.6% adjusted
Nissan Leaf — 72.0% adjusted
All Nissan models

Similar test volumes

Compare against other makes

Audi A1 — 73.7% adjusted, ranked 126
Audi A4 — 77.8% adjusted, ranked 76
Mercedes-Benz E-Class — 78.5% adjusted, ranked 69
Skoda Fabia — 70.5% adjusted, ranked 165

Common questions

Is the Nissan Micra reliable?: On MOT evidence the Nissan Micra is well below average. It passes 63.8% of tests once age and mileage are accounted for, against a national average of 72.3%, which ranks it 233 of 262 models with enough data for a fair comparison. This measures how often the car meets the MOT standard, not how often it breaks down or what a repair costs.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Nissan Micra?: The item recorded most often is "A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn", which appears in 19.5% of failed Nissan Micra tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Nissan Micra?: The most common advisory is "A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn", noted on 22.5% of all Nissan Micra tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Nissan Micra usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 63,035 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.
Does a Nissan Micra get harder to pass as it ages?: Yes. At 3 to 5 years old, 87.3% of Nissan Micra tests pass. By fifteen years or more, that falls to 55.0%. Nearly every model follows this pattern, which is why comparing raw pass rates between models is misleading unless age is accounted for.
Are most Nissan Micra models petrol or diesel?: Of the Nissan Micra cars tested, 98% are petrol, 2% are diesel. Fuel type affects which items tend to fail, particularly emissions and exhaust components.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. The adjusted rate is directly standardised across twenty-five age and mileage bands and reweighted onto the national distribution, so this model is compared against cars that have lived a similar life rather than against a younger or lighter-used fleet.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.