2014 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 84,081 MOT tests, the 2014 Nissan Micra recorded an 83.0% pass rate. Superminis of a similar age fail 19.5% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and lighting & signalling (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, pins and bushes and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 4,264 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.8% in the 0-30k band and 20.9% in the 150k+ band, a 9.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 35.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 6,295 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 5,826 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 5,460 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.1% | 4,289 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.8% | 3,223 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 980 |
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 | 4,264 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 4,260 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,823 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,188 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 2,080 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,985 |
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 | 35.1% | 29,493 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.7% | 21,603 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.8% | 18,290 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 4,537 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 3,047 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 2,134 |
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 | 25,860 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 38,360 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 15,016 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,937 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 728 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 172 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,333 | 13.8% |
| 2022 | 16,699 | 15.8% |
| 2023 | 16,824 | 16.6% |
| 2024 | 17,026 | 19.1% |
| 2025 | 17,199 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Micra
On a 2014 Micra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.5% 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 2014 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
83.0% of the 84,081 2014 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Nissan Micra?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2014 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 20.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,081 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.