Used car guide

2008 Nissan Micra: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Nissan Micras, from 13,246 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,246MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
4,600typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for individual direction indicators

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Nissan Micras than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Individual direction indicators3.5× usual
    Nissan Micra
    10.8% All 2008 cars
    3.1%
    Rough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Wipers1.7× usual
    Nissan Micra
    6.6% All 2008 cars
    3.8%
    Rough price £15–£60

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

  • Wheels2× usual
    Nissan Micra
    4.4% All 2008 cars
    2.2%
    Rough price £70–£150

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

  • Sub-frame bushes4.2× usual
    Nissan Micra
    2.5% All 2008 cars
    0.6%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Front struts2.4× usual
    Nissan Micra
    2.2% All 2008 cars
    0.9%
    Rough price £120–£400

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.9% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Sub-frame: 1.5% here, against 7.8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Nissan Micra MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    43% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    42% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    33% 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.

  • Brakes
    22% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    10% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Nissan Micra?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20225,583Tyres 23%
20216,501Tyres 31%
20205,230Tyres 35%
20198,543Tyres 31%
20189,980Suspension 38%
201712,651Suspension 40%
201610,681Suspension 37%
201512,941Suspension 39%
201414,031Suspension 46%
201311,401Suspension 49%
201211,309Suspension 48%
201112,317Suspension 48%
201014,920Suspension 39%
200914,692Suspension 41%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Nissan Micras registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score