Small car · 2005–2021 cars

Nissan Note reliability

The Nissan Note fails 34.9% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 510,047 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Below averageReliability score 41/100#22 of 63 small cars

Checking a Nissan Note before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 34.9%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 10% more; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 510,047; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 6,300; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Nissan Note fails its first MOT more often than the average car. Its first-time fail rate is 34.9%, against 28.4% for all cars. Against cars of the same age and mileage, it has 10% more fails, ranking 22 of 63 small car models. Seat belts and airbags are its weakest area, with 47% more fails. Year matters too. Against cars of the same age and mileage, 2016 models had 16% fewer fails, while 2012 models had 25% more.

A higher fail rate is no reason to walk away. A careful check shows whether a particular Note is sound. Read the MOT history for repeat faults. Then check the most common failures: position lamps (5.13% of tests), coil springs (4.58%), stop lamps (4.35%) and suspension ball joints (3.76%). Test the seat belts and airbag warning light too.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Nissan Note ages

Each point is the share of Nissan Notes of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Nissan NoteAll cars

Nissan Note first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Nissan Note	All cars
4	11.5%	14.1%
5	12.4%	16.4%
6	14%	19.1%
7	17.3%	22.1%
8	21.6%	25.5%
9	27.4%	28.8%
10	33.4%	31.8%
11	39%	34.6%
12	41.4%	37.3%
13	42.9%	39.5%
14	45.7%	41.1%
15	47.2%	42.3%
16	49%	42.9%
17	51.1%	43.4%
18	50%	43.5%

By year

The best and worst Nissan Note years

2016 cars come out best and 2012 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Nissan Note MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2017 Note	16,978	14%	11% fewer fails	32,948
2016 Note	35,351	14.8%	16% fewer fails	36,756
2015 Note	48,826	18.2%	13% fewer fails	45,628
2014 Note	70,790	23.1%	5% fewer fails	53,281
2013 Note	38,630	32.7%	18% more fails	60,163
2012 Note	38,592	38%	25% more fails	65,508
2011 Note	39,124	40.8%	20% more fails	73,383
2010 Note	46,594	42.4%	15% more fails	80,076
2009 Note	49,707	43.6%	12% more fails	83,977
2008 Note	52,356	46.4%	13% more fails	91,144
2007 Note	41,595	48.4%	15% more fails	94,929
2006 Note	31,320	50.5%	17% more fails	99,263

Common problems

What fails most on a Nissan Note

Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 47% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics17.7%37% above avg
Suspension15.5%42% above avg
Tyres5.8%9% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.6%11% above avg
Brakes5.3%29% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks2.7%24% below avg
Body, chassis and structure2.4%40% below avg
Seat belts and airbags1.5%47% above avg
Wheels0.6%49% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Position lamp not working 5.13% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.58% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
3
Stop lamp not working 4.35% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 3.76% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
5
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 3.58% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 3.27% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
7
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.21% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
8
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.46% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan Note's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit14.26%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear12.28%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.22%
Brake disc pitted or scored8.11%
Coil spring showing some corrosion5.63%
Brake pads wearing thin4.86%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Nissan Note

1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
2
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
3
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
4
Suspension ball joint excessively worn
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Nissan Note covers about 6,300 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol86.8%
Diesel13.2%
Hybrid0%
LPG0%
Other0%

Most common colours

Blue, Red, Silver, Black, Grey

Average engine size: 1.4 litres.

Compare

How the Nissan Note compares with its rivals

Nissan Note against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Hyundai i20	27%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Nissan Note	34.9%	10% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Mazda 2	30.8%	11% more MOT fails than the average car its age
SEAT Ibiza	33.6%	21% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 208	27.5%	27% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C3	35.6%	28% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 207	49%	31% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Nissan models.

Questions

Nissan Note questions, answered

Is the Nissan Note reliable?

On MOT results, the Nissan Note is below average: it fails 34.9% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 22 of 63 small car models in our index.

What fails most on a Nissan Note MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Nissan Note are position lamp not working (5.13% of tests), coil spring fractured or broken (4.58% of tests), stop lamp not working (4.35% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 17.7% of its tests.

Which Nissan Note year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2016 cars do best (16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2012 cars do worst (25% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Nissan Note do a year?

A typical Nissan Note covers about 6,300 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Nissan Note before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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