2009 Nissan Micra MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 58.1% of Nissan Micras first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. Across 46,327 Micra first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Nissan Micras first used in 2009 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
58.1%
of 14,670 first tests; all cars first used in 2009: 58.3%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
46,327
first tests, 2023–2025; 14,670 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
25.6%
of 14,670 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
74,000
middle half: 51,000–100,500 miles; all cars first used in 2009: 100,000

How the 2009 Nissan Micra MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Micras first used in 2009 against all cars first used in 2009 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Micra figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2009 MicraAll cars first used in 2009
50%60%70%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2009, test year 2021: 60.5%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2022: 60.1%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2023: 59%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2024: 58.4%All cars first used in 2009, test year 2025: 58.3%2009 Micra, test year 2021: 63.2%2009 Micra, test year 2022: 62%2009 Micra, test year 2023: 60.6%2009 Micra, test year 2024: 59.5%2009 Micra, test year 2025: 58.1%58.3%58.1%
View this chart as a table
Test year2009 MicraAll cars first used 2009Micra first tests
202163.2%60.5%16,877
202262.0%60.1%16,571
202360.6%59.0%16,159
202459.5%58.4%15,498
202558.1%58.3%14,670

Common 2009 Nissan Micra MOT failures

Share of the 18,785 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment56.3%
Suspension44.5%
Visibility19.5%
Tyres16.1%
Brakes11.5%
Body, chassis, structure7.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.9%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems4.8%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps17.5%3,292
Coil spring: fractured or broken16.4%3,083
Position lamp: not working16.2%3,038
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.5%1,966
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively9.8%1,850

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Micra in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2009 Nissan Micra before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2009 Nissan Micra MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2009 Micras, as a share of all 46,327 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.8%7,771
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement13.3%6,184
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing11.5%5,345
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.9%3,671
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive7.6%3,500

Questions about the 2009 Nissan Micra MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2009 Nissan Micra?

In 2025, 58.1% of Micras first used in 2009 passed their MOT first time, against 58.3% for all cars first used in 2009. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2009 Micra most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 56.3% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (44.5%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (19.5%). The single most common item was “Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps” (17.5%).

How often does a 2009 Nissan Micra fail its MOT?

In 2025, 41.9% of first tests on Micras first used in 2009 did not pass first time: 31.1% failed, and a further 10.8% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 18,785 of 46,327 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2009 Nissan Micra MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (13.3%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (11.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (7.9%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (7.6%).

Is a 2009 Nissan Micra reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 63.2% in 2021 to 58.1% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2009

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2009 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2009 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2009 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2009 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2009 Nissan Micra MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2009 Micra” means a Nissan Micra whose date of first use falls in 2009 (58, 09 and 59 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2009, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.