2015 Nissan Note — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 84,434 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Nissan Note, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 88.4% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (82.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.7% in the 150k+ group versus 6.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 3,991 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.1% | 3,470 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 3,233 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,835 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.5% | 2,083 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 1,544 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 2,374 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,218 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,726 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,656 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 1,188 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 1,166 |
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 | 23.8% | 20,136 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.1% | 14,429 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.8% | 13,323 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.6% | 5,599 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 2,490 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.8% | 2,318 |
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 | 18,303 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 41,868 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 18,390 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 4,684 | 20.7% |
| 120-150k | 931 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 255 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 72,709 | 11.0% |
| Diesel | 11,724 | 14.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,629 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 16,649 | 9.9% |
| 2023 | 16,922 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 17,034 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 17,200 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Note
Before buying a 2015 Nissan Note, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.1% 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 (3.8% 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 2015 Nissan Notes pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 84,434 2015 Nissan Note MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Nissan Note?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by suspension (4.1%).
Does the 2015 Note get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 84,434 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.