2020 Nissan Micra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,797 MOT tests, the 2020 Nissan Micra recorded a 90.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as superminis of a similar age (8.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (3.7%) and tyres (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 750 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.3% once past 90-120k — 3.4× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.2% of tests failed in 2022 against 13.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3.7% | 765 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.3% | 695 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 635 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 383 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 284 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 48 |
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 | 750 |
| 2 | Wipers | 664 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 336 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 214 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 211 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 149 |
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 | 26.8% | 5,577 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.5% | 3,637 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 1,655 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 894 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 577 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.9% | 401 |
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 | 15,685 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 4,698 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 24.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,707 | 9.2% |
| Diesel | 90 | 15.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 373 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 6,728 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 6,647 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 7,022 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Micra
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (3.7% 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.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 (3.0% 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 2020 Nissan Micras pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 20,797 2020 Nissan Micra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Nissan Micra?
Suspension, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by tyres (3.3%).
Does the 2020 Micra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 24.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,797 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.