2008 Nissan Note: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2008 Nissan Note?

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

• Headlights2.1× usual
  Nissan Note

  19.1% All 2008 cars

  9.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.2%, against 4.1% of all 2008 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 joints1.7× usual
  Nissan Note

  18.6% All 2008 cars

  10.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.3% of all 2008 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.

• Brake lights2.1× usual
  Nissan Note

  11.5% All 2008 cars

  5.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 9.1%, against 4.5% of all 2008 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.

• Ball joint1.9× usual
  Nissan Note

  11.7% All 2008 cars

  6.3%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 3.2% of all 2008 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.

• Sub-frame bushes11.2× usual
  Nissan Note

  5.6% All 2008 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.1% of all 2008 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.

Common 2008 Nissan Note MOT failures and advisories

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.

• 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
  47% 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
  26% 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
  10% 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.

Known faults on the 2008 Nissan Note

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Fuel leak and steering recalls (2008)

  Built 2008

  Diesels built January to October 2008 were recalled for a possible fuel leak, and cars built June to September 2008 for a steering fault. Others covered ISOFIX mounts (early 2006) and brakes (Nov 2011).

  At the viewing: Ask a Nissan dealer to confirm the recalls were done.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Nissan Note buying guide (2006-2013)

• Worn steering rack

  All engines

  Some Notes have needed a new steering rack.

  At the viewing: Feel for resistance or notchiness as you turn the wheel.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Nissan Note buying guide (2006-2013)

• Damp footwells

  All engines

  Air con leaks can make the footwells damp.

  At the viewing: Feel the carpets for damp.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Nissan Note buying guide (2006-2013)

• Cambelt due (diesel)

  Diesel

  The diesel’s cambelt is due every five years or 90,000 miles, about £400.

  At the viewing: Ask for an invoice if it’s due.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Nissan Note buying guide (2006-2013)

• Windscreen cracks and squeaky suspension

  All engines

  Small cracks along the bottom of the windscreen spread quickly, and front squeaks usually mean worn anti-roll bar bushes.

  At the viewing: Look along the bottom of the screen, and listen over bumps.

  Source: Carbuyer: used Nissan Note buying guide (2006-2013)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2008 Nissan Note

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Have the fuel leak and steering recalls been done?
2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2008 Nissan Note as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2008 Nissan Note as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the brake lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2008 Nissan Note as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?