2017 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 75,528 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Nissan Micra, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, visibility and tyres. Its pass rate of 82.9% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (86.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.5% in the 150k+ group versus 11.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.7% | 8,042 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.2% | 3,188 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 3,042 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.1% | 2,350 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 2,317 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 687 |
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 | 5,987 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 4,807 |
| 3 | Wipers | 3,230 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,473 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,330 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 1,147 |
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 | 24.3% | 18,313 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.1% | 15,905 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.1% | 9,897 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 4,274 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 2,339 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 1,882 |
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 | 33,817 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 32,992 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 7,385 | 25.4% |
| 90-120k | 1,081 | 26.4% |
| 120-150k | 179 | 27.9% |
| 150k+ | 71 | 22.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 68,439 | 16.5% |
| Diesel | 7,089 | 22.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,981 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 14,594 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 15,391 | 18.4% |
| 2024 | 15,422 | 19.9% |
| 2025 | 16,140 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Micra
Before buying a 2017 Nissan Micra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 10.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (4.2% 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.
- Tyres (4.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2017 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 75,528 2017 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Micra?
Suspension, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by visibility (4.2%).
Does the 2017 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,528 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.