2015 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 75,084 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Nissan Micra, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 85.7% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (82.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 23.5% in the 150k+ group versus 9.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 5,023 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.4% | 4,057 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 3,935 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.8% | 3,597 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.7% | 2,803 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 598 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 3,378 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,091 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 2,865 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,738 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,454 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 1,359 |
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 | 28.8% | 21,611 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.4% | 18,324 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.2% | 14,408 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.2% | 3,888 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,610 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 1,655 |
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 | 28,764 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 33,146 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,451 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,199 | 24.5% |
| 120-150k | 402 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 119 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,607 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 14,691 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 15,099 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 15,243 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 15,444 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Micra
Before buying a 2015 Nissan Micra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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 (5.2% 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 2015 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 75,084 2015 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Micra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by suspension (5.4%).
Does the 2015 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.9% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,084 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.