2018 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 57,720 MOT tests, the 2018 Nissan Micra recorded an 86.4% pass rate. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 11.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, coil spring and wipers — pins and bushes alone was recorded 3,407 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.3% in the 0-30k band and 23.2% in the 120-150k band, a 14.8-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.4pp more often than petrol ones (17.5% vs 13.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.1% | 4,700 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 2,232 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,004 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 1,044 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 1,039 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 461 |
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 | 3,407 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 2,849 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,982 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 995 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 889 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 783 |
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 | 25.8% | 14,892 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.1% | 9,889 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.1% | 5,829 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.5% | 3,775 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,690 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 833 |
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 | 31,255 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 22,065 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,740 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 517 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 108 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 50,720 | 13.1% |
| Diesel | 7,000 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,914 | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 11,143 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 11,498 | 13.3% |
| 2024 | 11,672 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 12,493 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Micra
On a 2018 Micra, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (8.1% 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.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.5% 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.
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 2018 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
86.4% of the 57,720 2018 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Micra?
Suspension, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.9%).
Does the 2018 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,720 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.