Nissan Note MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Nissan Note passed 65.1% of its first MOT tests, from 157,335 tests in Great Britain. That is 6.3 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Nissan Note MOT failures
The area that failed most often was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 17.6% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 17.6% vs 11.3%
- Suspension 15.7% vs 8.9%
- Tyres 5.8% vs 6.3%
- Visibility 5.3% vs 4.8%
- Brakes 5.2% vs 6.8%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 2.6% vs 3.1%
- Body, chassis, structure 2.4% vs 3.4%
- Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 1.5% vs 1.0%
- Position lamp 5.8% vs 2.8%
- Headlamp aim 5.6% vs 3.3%
- Coil spring 5.5% vs 2.6%
- Stop lamp 5.2% vs 2.2%
- Pins and bushes 4.9% vs 1.4%
- Ball joint 4.7% vs 1.8%
- Wipers 3.3% vs 2.2%
- Headlamp 3.0% vs 2.2%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: Not working | 5.7% |
| Coil spring: Fractured or broken | 5.5% |
| Stop lamp: Not working | 4.8% |
| Ball joint excessively worn | 4.1% |
| Pins and bushes: Pin or bush excessively worn | 4.0% |
| Headlamp aim: Projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 3.6% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 3.3% |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 2.7% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 2.0% |
| Headlamp: Not working on dipped beam | 1.4% |
Nissan Note pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 81.3% for cars aged 6 to 9 years and 51.8% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 6 to 9 years 81.3% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 59.7% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 51.8% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 135,232 | 65.6% |
| Diesel | 22,068 | 61.9% |
Most common Nissan Note advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 17.7%
- Pins and bushes 15.0%
- Brake discs 12.0%
- Tyres: condition 11.0%
- Coil spring 6.3%
- Vehicle 5.5%
- Brake pads 5.3%
- Engine oil leaks 4.6%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Nissan models
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Nissan Note?
In 2023, 65.1% of Nissan Note MOT tests were passed first time, from 157,335 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Nissan Note?
The most common failure area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, which caused 17.6% of tests to fail. Next came suspension (15.7%) and tyres (5.8%).
Is the Nissan Note reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 65.1% is 6.3 points below the average and ranks 82 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Nissan Note's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.