Used car guide

1996 Nissan Micra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1996 Nissan Micras, from 411 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 411 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

411MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 67%)
2,300typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1996 Nissan Micras than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.6× usual
    Nissan Micra
    14.6% All 1996 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 1.6% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.2× usual
    Nissan Micra
    15.8% All 1996 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10%, against 4.1% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Tread depth1.9× usual
    Nissan Micra
    16.5% All 1996 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.9% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints6× usual
    Nissan Micra
    7.8% All 1996 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.4% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 5.4% here, against 18.7% of all 1996 cars.

By area

The share of 1996 Nissan Micra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    41% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    37% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Rust and bodywork
    25% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    15% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20225,911Tyres 23%
20216,614Tyres 31%
20206,184Tyres 35%
20198,543Tyres 31%
20189,981Suspension 38%
201712,651Suspension 40%
201610,681Suspension 37%
201512,942Suspension 39%
201414,032Suspension 46%
201311,401Suspension 49%
201211,313Suspension 48%
201112,317Suspension 48%
201014,921Suspension 39%
200914,692Suspension 41%
200813,249Suspension 43%
200711,930Suspension 46%
200615,302Lights and electrics 47%
200512,779Lights and electrics 53%
20048,521Lights and electrics 52%
20037,615Lights and electrics 49%
20025,966Brakes 40%
20013,341Suspension 41%
20002,183Suspension 42%
19991,697Suspension 42%
19981,079Suspension 44%
1997537Suspension 46%
1995254Brakes 38%
1994204Brakes 40%
1993134Brakes 37%
1992116Suspension 41%
1991101Brakes 40%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1996 Nissan Micras registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score