2012 Nissan Note — MOT failures & pass rate
75,433 MOT tests on the 2012 Nissan Note are in this dataset, and 76.7% of them passed. Superminis of a similar age fail at 22.6%, so the 2012 Note sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (16.1%) and lighting & signalling (13.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, pins and bushes and stop lamp — coil spring alone was recorded 5,344 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.4% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 5.0pp more often than petrol ones (27.4% vs 22.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.1% | 12,123 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 9,971 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.5% | 3,430 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 3,223 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 3,136 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 1,048 |
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 | 5,344 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 5,014 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 4,405 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 4,183 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 3,812 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,202 |
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 | 29.7% | 22,407 |
| 2 | Tyres | 26.1% | 19,664 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.6% | 13,290 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.7% | 6,539 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 6,179 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.7% | 3,505 |
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 | 5,121 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 25,713 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 26,341 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 12,787 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 4,140 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,313 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 62,269 | 22.4% |
| Diesel | 13,164 | 27.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,801 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 15,124 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 15,366 | 23.5% |
| 2024 | 15,186 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 14,956 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Note
On a 2012 Note, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 2012 Nissan Notes pass their MOT?
76.7% of the 75,433 2012 Nissan Note MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Note?
Suspension, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.2%).
Does the 2012 Note get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 31.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 75,433 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.