2013 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 70,466 MOT tests, the 2013 Nissan Micra recorded an 80.5% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 1.7pp 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 (9.4%) and suspension (9.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, service brake performance and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,911 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.7% once past 150k — 2.4× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 6,628 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.1% | 6,419 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 4,859 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.5% | 3,876 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,746 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 1,556 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 3,911 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 3,847 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,064 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3,003 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,450 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 2,311 |
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 | 38.2% | 26,887 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.2% | 18,446 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.2% | 15,664 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.8% | 4,065 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 2,831 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,520 |
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 | 15,357 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 32,874 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 16,254 | 23.9% |
| 90-120k | 4,640 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,028 | 29.2% |
| 150k+ | 300 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,789 | 16.8% |
| 2022 | 13,912 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 14,138 | 19.5% |
| 2024 | 14,251 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 14,376 | 22.0% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Micra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 2013 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
80.5% of the 70,466 2013 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by suspension (9.1%).
Does the 2013 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,466 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.