1993 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
1,338 MOT tests on the 1993 Nissan Micra are in this dataset, and 70.7% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the 1993 Micra comes out 3.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 204 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 14.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 41.0% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 29.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.8% | 198 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 175 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 149 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.9% | 146 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.6% | 102 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 78 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 204 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 95 |
| 3 | Joints | 86 |
| 4 | Prescribed areas | 73 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 72 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 72 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.6% | 450 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.2% | 270 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.7% | 264 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 242 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.1% | 189 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 128 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 81 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 407 | 29.7% |
| 60-90k | 403 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 312 | 30.4% |
| 120-150k | 94 | 35.1% |
| 150k+ | 39 | 41.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 423 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 317 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 250 | 24.8% |
| 2024 | 179 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 169 | 31.4% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Micra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (11.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1993 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 1,338 1993 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (13.1%).
Does the 1993 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 41.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,338 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.