2006 Nissan Note — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 63,582 MOT tests analysed for the 2006 Nissan Note, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.6% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (71.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.6% in the 150k+ group versus 17.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.7% | 15,704 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.9% | 10,721 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 4,227 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 3,898 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 3,469 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.9% | 2,461 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 9,724 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 7,389 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 4,929 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 4,898 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 4,288 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 4,267 |
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 | 35.8% | 22,764 |
| 2 | Tyres | 28.7% | 18,283 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 25.4% | 16,167 |
| 4 | Brakes | 25.3% | 16,060 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.6% | 7,366 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 6,225 |
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 | 538 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,741 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 17,801 | 25.9% |
| 90-120k | 21,065 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 11,920 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 5,458 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 60,691 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 2,891 | 31.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,017 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 13,988 | 28.3% |
| 2023 | 12,903 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 11,543 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 10,131 | 28.3% |
What to check before buying a 2006 Note
Before buying a 2006 Nissan Note, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 24.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (24.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.9% 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 (6.7% 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 2006 Nissan Notes pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 63,582 2006 Nissan Note MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Nissan Note?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.7% of tests, followed by suspension (16.9%).
Does the 2006 Note get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.3% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 63,582 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.