2008 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Nissan Micra passed 76.8% of its 93,420 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), the 2008 Micra comes out 3.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests against 13.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 5,959 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.4% versus 12.0%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 23.1% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 4.3-point gap across 93,415 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 15,685 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.6% | 12,731 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.0% | 5,583 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 4,501 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.8% | 3,586 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 2,259 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 5,959 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5,800 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 5,511 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 4,491 |
| 5 | Wipers | 4,260 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3,473 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 27.2% | 25,431 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.2% | 25,367 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.1% | 16,009 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 13,067 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.5% | 7,904 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 7,703 |
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 | 5,673 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 25,745 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 31,146 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 20,453 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,714 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 2,676 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 90,848 | 23.1% |
| Diesel | 2,567 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,919 | 22.1% |
| 2022 | 19,415 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 18,911 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 18,111 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 17,064 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Micra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
- Visibility (6.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2008 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 93,420 2008 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.6%).
Does the 2008 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 93,420 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.