Used car guide

2006 Nissan Note: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Nissan Notes, from 7,652 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

7,652MOT tests in 2025
50%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)
5,500typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Nissan Notes than on all cars registered in 2006.

  • Headlights1.9× usual
    Nissan Note
    27% All 2006 cars
    14.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.8%, against 5.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Nissan Note
    20.5% All 2006 cars
    11.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2.3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs1.8× usual
    Nissan Note
    20.4% All 2006 cars
    11.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 3% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Sub-frame bushes10.1× usual
    Nissan Note
    7.1% All 2006 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Brake lights2.1× usual
    Nissan Note
    12.4% All 2006 cars
    5.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.3%, against 4.6% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.9% here, against 7.6% of all 2006 cars. Track rod ends: 1.5% here, against 5.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 Nissan Note MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    54% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    53% 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.

  • Tyres
    35% 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
    31% 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
    14% 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
    12% 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 Note?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20175,199Tyres 26%
201610,765Tyres 27%
201514,974Tyres 29%
201421,793Suspension 36%
201311,797Suspension 44%
201211,526Suspension 47%
201111,626Suspension 48%
201013,498Suspension 47%
200914,016Suspension 48%
200813,782Lights and electrics 51%
200710,491Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2006 Nissan Notes registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score