Used car guide

2012 Nissan Note: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Nissan Notes, from 11,525 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,525MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,800typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Nissan Notes than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Nissan Note
    19.2% All 2012 cars
    10.1%
    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 springs1.7× usual
    Nissan Note
    16.3% All 2012 cars
    9.6%
    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.

  • Ball joint2.1× usual
    Nissan Note
    11.6% All 2012 cars
    5.6%
    Rough price £80–£200

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

  • Stop lamp2.5× usual
    Nissan Note
    9.5% All 2012 cars
    3.8%
    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.

  • Headlamp2× usual
    Nissan Note
    9.3% All 2012 cars
    4.7%
    Rough price £40–£400

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.5% here, against 5.5% of all 2012 cars. Shock absorbers: 2.6% here, against 6.5% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Nissan Note MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% 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
    33% 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
    32% 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
    23% 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
    10% 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
    6% 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%
201610,763Tyres 27%
201514,972Tyres 29%
201421,792Suspension 36%
201311,795Suspension 44%
201111,625Suspension 48%
201013,498Suspension 47%
200914,016Suspension 48%
200813,780Lights and electrics 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Nissan Notes registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score