2011 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Nissan Micra passed 78.8% of its 79,435 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail 24.0% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.0%) and suspension (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 4,313 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.5% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 9,555 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.3% | 7,357 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.8% | 5,378 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.6% | 5,210 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.6% | 3,629 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 3,293 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 4,313 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,163 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,682 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 3,581 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,518 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,816 |
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 | 36.0% | 28,562 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.6% | 21,156 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 17,341 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 6,560 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.9% | 5,450 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 3,457 |
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 | 9,786 | 13.1% |
| 30-60k | 31,977 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 24,967 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 9,762 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,408 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 531 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 79,355 | 21.2% |
| Diesel | 80 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,833 | 19.1% |
| 2022 | 16,011 | 20.4% |
| 2023 | 15,971 | 21.0% |
| 2024 | 15,982 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 15,638 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Micra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2011 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 79,435 2011 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, followed by suspension (9.3%).
Does the 2011 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.1% in the 0-30k band to 27.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,435 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.