MOT failure data · 2025

Nissan Note MOT problems

Across every Nissan Note that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn, on 8.3% of failure items. The broadest problem area was suspension at 32.53%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Nissan Note MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	8.3%
2	Ball joint ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	7.31%
3	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	6.96%
4	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	6.41%
5	Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	5.67%
6	Stop lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	4.35%
7	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	4.09%
8	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	3.51%
9	Linkage ball joints ball joint excessively worn	Suspension	2.67%
10	Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.28%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Nissan Note, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Nissan Note buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Nissan Note?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Nissan models

Nissan Note MOT FAQs

What does a Nissan Note most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Nissan Note cars failing their 2025 MOT was "pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn", appearing on 8.3% of failure items.

Does this mean my Nissan Note will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Nissan Note that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Nissan Note passed 71.95% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Nissan Note's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.