Used car guide

2008 Nissan Note: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Nissan Notes, from 13,780 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,780MOT tests in 2025
52%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for headlamp

What stands out

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

  • Headlamp2.1× usual
    Nissan Note
    22.7% All 2008 cars
    10.7%
    Rough price £40–£400

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

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.7× usual
    Nissan Note
    18.9% All 2008 cars
    11.3%
    Rough price £100–£300

    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 springs1.5× usual
    Nissan Note
    18.8% All 2008 cars
    12.2%
    Rough price £120–£300

    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.

  • Stop lamp2.1× usual
    Nissan Note
    12.1% All 2008 cars
    5.8%
    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.

  • Sub-frame bushes11× usual
    Nissan Note
    6.6% 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.8% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Sub-frame: 3% here, against 7.8% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 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
    51% 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
    49% 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
    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
    27% 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
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    11% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Nissan Note?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20175,199Tyres 26%
201610,763Tyres 27%
201514,972Tyres 29%
201421,792Suspension 36%
201311,795Suspension 44%
201211,525Suspension 47%
201111,625Suspension 48%
201013,498Suspension 47%
200914,016Suspension 48%

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