Nissan Micra: common problems, best years and what to check
Simple, durable supermini with excellent survival. Covers 2008–2023 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Nissan Micra a good used buy?
Best buy
2010–2017 K13 1.2 manual
Avoid
CVT autos without service
Who it suits: Town drivers wanting a cheap, easy small car.
What's good
- Cheap to buy
- Easy to drive and park
- Simple engines
- K14 is modern and safe
What's not
- CVT automatics without service history
- K13 feels cheap inside
- Slow
- Small boot on older versions
By the numbers
- #47 most common model on UK roads, with about 160k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2010: 14.3k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 67% better than comparable cars of that year.
- The most expensive common fault: CVT on autos (up to £2,500).
Nissan Micra common problems by generation and engine
Nissan Micra K12 (2003–2010) · hatch
How to spot it: 03 plate to 10 plate. Bubble-shaped with frog-eye headlights.
1.2 / 1.4 (CR12 / CR14, petrol, 2008–2010)
Durable
- Timing chain rattle£400–£80070k+
Nissan Micra K13 (2010–2017) · hatch
How to spot it: 10 plate to 17 plate. Rounded body with a small grille.
1.2 / 1.2 DIG-S (HR12, petrol, 2010–2017)
Reliable
Faults on any K13 (2010–2017) engine
- CVT on autos£1,000–£2,500any
Nissan Micra K14 (2017–2023) · hatch
How to spot it: 17 plate to 23 plate. Sharp, sporty body with a V-shaped grille.
0.9 IG-T / 1.0 IG-T (H4Bt / HR10, petrol, 2017–2023)
Fine
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Nissan Micra years
How many Nissan Micras from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Nissan Micra MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Nissan Micras pass their MOT first time 2 points less often than the average UK car of the same age (68% vs 70%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 58% | 57% | 79k miles |
| 2009 | 58% | 58% | 74k miles |
| 2010 | 59% | 59% | 72k miles |
| 2011 | 61% | 61% | 65k miles |
| 2012 | 62% | 63% | 60k miles |
| 2013 | 64% | 66% | 54k miles |
| 2014 | 69% | 69% | 48k miles |
| 2015 | 72% | 72% | 44k miles |
| 2016 | 73% | 75% | 37k miles |
| 2017 | 67% | 78% | 43k miles |
| 2018 | 70% | 81% | 40k miles |
| 2019 | 78% | 84% | 32k miles |
| 2020 | 82% | 86% | 25k miles |
| 2021 | 89% | 87% | 21k miles |
| 2022 | 91% | 89% | 16k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Petrol
Diesel
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn5.89 per 100
- Position lamp: not working5.67 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively5.03 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken4.29 per 100
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.25 per 100
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps4.1 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn3.45 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.93 per 100
Most common advisories
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn23.68 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear22.06 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.98 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded17.05 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.67 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.8 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick5.66 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded5.52 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Nissan Micra have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 HR12 | chain | durable | £400–£700 |
Nissan Micra running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Nissan Micra ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Nissan Micra vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Micra | 160k | 2–14 | 300 l | 2010–2017 K13 1.2 manual |
| Toyota Yaris | 469k | 4–14 | 286 l | 2012–2020 1.5 Hybrid or 2020+ 1.5 Hybrid |
| Honda Jazz | 277k | 3–15 | 354 l | 2015–2020 Mk3 1.3 i-VTEC or 2020+ e:HEV |
| Hyundai i20 | 147k | 3–15 | 352 l | 2015+ GB 1.2 or 1.0 T-GDi |
| Kia Rio | 97k | 3–14 | 325 l | 2017+ YB 1.0 T-GDi |
| Ford Fiesta | 1159k | 2–20 | 292 l | 2017–2023 Mk8 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125 manual |
What to check when buying a used Nissan Micra
- Very high survival: older cars are tough
- Avoid CVT unless serviced
Nissan Micra FAQ
›Is the Nissan Micra reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2010–2017 K13 1.2 manual. Avoid: CVT autos without service.
›What is the Nissan Micra MOT pass rate?
68% of Nissan Micras passed their MOT first time in 2025 (146,947 tests), below the 70% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn.
›What are the most common Nissan Micra problems?
The costliest known faults are Timing chain rattle. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Nissan Micra have a timing belt or chain?
1.2 HR12: chain.
›What is the best year Nissan Micra to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2010 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Nissan Micra cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.2 45–52 mpg; 0.9/1.0 IG-T 45–52 mpg. Insurance groups 2–14. A minor service is about £130–£190 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Nissan Micra?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Nissan Micra ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.