2016 Nissan Note — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 59,378 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Nissan Note, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and suspension. Its pass rate of 90.4% was above the average for superminis of a similar age (84.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 24.6% in the 150k+ group versus 5.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 1,923 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,898 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.1% | 1,868 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 1,738 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 1,188 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 711 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,799 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,004 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 994 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 762 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 615 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 605 |
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 | 21.9% | 13,028 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.2% | 8,406 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 8,321 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 3,476 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 1,583 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 1,467 |
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 | 21,509 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 27,720 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,133 | 14.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,643 | 19.6% |
| 120-150k | 312 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 57 | 24.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 52,713 | 9.2% |
| Diesel | 6,633 | 12.3% |
| Hybrid | 32 | 6.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,698 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 11,749 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 11,844 | 9.2% |
| 2024 | 11,983 | 11.3% |
| 2025 | 12,104 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Note
Before buying a 2016 Nissan Note, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.2% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 (3.2% 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.
- Suspension (3.1% 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.
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 2016 Nissan Notes pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 59,378 2016 Nissan Note MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Note?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by visibility (3.2%).
Does the 2016 Note get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 59,378 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.