2009 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
101,341 MOT tests on the 2009 Nissan Micra are in this dataset, and 77.4% of them passed. Against superminis of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), the 2009 Micra comes out 3.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, position lamp and registration plate lamp(s) — coil spring alone was recorded 6,104 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.3% once past 150k — 2.6× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (26.6% vs 22.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.2% 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% | 17,025 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.7% | 13,846 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.0% | 6,076 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.0% | 5,085 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.5% | 3,529 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 2,118 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 6,104 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5,977 |
| 3 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,961 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 5,791 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 4,635 |
| 6 | Wipers | 4,563 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.4% | 27,744 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.8% | 25,145 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.4% | 16,627 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 11,706 |
| 5 | Other defects | 8.3% | 8,381 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 7,773 |
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 | 9,269 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 30,688 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 31,937 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 19,150 | 27.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,218 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 3,063 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 91,854 | 22.2% |
| Diesel | 9,482 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,161 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 20,903 | 21.7% |
| 2023 | 20,573 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 19,804 | 23.4% |
| 2025 | 18,900 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Micra
On a 2009 Micra, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (13.7% 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 2009 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 101,341 2009 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (13.7%).
Does the 2009 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 101,341 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.