In 2025, 235,935 Nissan Micra cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 63% passed first time, compared with 66% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the Micra about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 171 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 91% of Micras passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 20 years, that figure is 50% (all cars: 58%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 8 years (11 points behind).
Nissan Micra All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | Micra passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 5,576 | 91% | 88% | 17,968 |
| 4 years | 6,521 | 89% | 87% | 22,668 |
| 5 years | 5,231 | 82% | 86% | 27,974 |
| 6 years | 8,541 | 78% | 84% | 34,365 |
| 7 years | 9,971 | 70% | 81% | 43,127 |
| 8 years | 12,635 | 67% | 78% | 45,794 |
| 9 years | 10,656 | 73% | 75% | 40,997 |
| 10 years | 12,924 | 72% | 72% | 48,223 |
| 11 years | 13,996 | 69% | 69% | 52,452 |
| 12 years | 11,379 | 64% | 66% | 58,294 |
| 13 years | 11,287 | 62% | 63% | 64,016 |
| 14 years | 12,292 | 62% | 61% | 68,340 |
| 15 years | 14,894 | 59% | 59% | 76,023 |
| 16 years | 14,670 | 58% | 58% | 78,112 |
| 17 years | 13,211 | 58% | 57% | 82,286 |
| 18 years | 11,871 | 55% | 57% | 83,214 |
| 19 years | 15,254 | 54% | 57% | 87,389 |
| 20 years | 12,716 | 50% | 58% | 86,215 |
What fails most on a Nissan Micra
The area that lets the Micra down most, relative to other cars, is seat belts and airbags: 1.9% of tests failed on it, 5.8 times the rate for the average car.
Share of Micra tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 10.6% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 7.4% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 5.7% |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | Visibility | 5.0% |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | Suspension | 4.4% |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | Lights and electrics | 4.2% |
What to check when buying a used Micra
Based on where the Micra fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Seat belts and airbags: Pull every belt out fully and let it retract, check the buckles latch, and make sure the airbag light goes out after starting. More
- Lights and electrics: Walk round with the lights on: headlights (dipped and main), indicators, brake lights, number-plate and fog lights. Bulbs are cheap, but a seller who hasn’t noticed one out may have missed more. Repair guide
- Visibility: Check the windscreen for chips in the driver’s view, the wipers for smearing and the washers for working jets. Repair guide
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific Micra
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a MicraFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Nissan Micra?
In 2025, 63% of Nissan Micra cars passed their MOT first time, across 235,935 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 66%.
What do Nissan Micra cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (10.6% of tests); the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (7.4% of tests); a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning (5.7% of tests).
Other Nissan models
Nissan Qashqai (67%), Nissan Juke (66%), Nissan Note (63%), Nissan X-Trail (69%), Nissan Navara (67%), Nissan Leaf (80%). All Nissan models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.