Nissan Note: common problems, best years and what to check
Roomy, practical small MPV-hatch; cheap and reliable. Covers 2008–2017 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 Note a good used buy?
Best buy
2013–2017 E12 1.2 manual
Avoid
CVT without fluid changes
Who it suits: Small families wanting space on a budget.
What's good
- Roomy
- Sliding rear bench
- Cheap to buy
- Reliable petrols
What's not
- Dull to drive
- CVT can be weak
- Basic interior
- Discontinued in the UK
By the numbers
- #69 most common model on UK roads, with about 123k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2014: 21.1k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 54% better than comparable cars of that year.
- 1.5 dCi uses a belt (72k / 6 yrs): budget £350–£550 if there's no invoice.
- The most expensive common fault: Crank/big-end bearing wear on neglected engines (up to £3,500).
Nissan Note common problems by generation and engine
Nissan Note E11 (2006–2013) · mini MPV
How to spot it: 06 plate to 13 plate. Tall boxy MPV with boomerang tail-lights.
1.4 / 1.6 petrol (CR14 / HR16, petrol, 2006–2013)
Durable
1.5 dCi (K9K, diesel, 2006–2013)
Very frugal; bearings and belt need care
- Crank/big-end bearing wear on neglected engines£1,500–£3,50080k+ · Check: Oil-change history
- Timing belt£350–£55072k / 6 yrs
Nissan Note E12 (2013–2017) · hatch
How to spot it: 13 plate to 17 plate. Lower hatchback with a sliding rear bench.
1.2 DIG-S / 1.2 (HR12, petrol, 2013–2017)
Supercharged option
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Nissan Note years
How many Nissan Notes 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. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Nissan Note MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Nissan Notes pass their MOT first time about as often as the average UK car of the same age.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 52% | 57% | 98k miles |
| 2009 | 55% | 58% | 91k miles |
| 2010 | 55% | 59% | 89k miles |
| 2011 | 57% | 61% | 83k miles |
| 2012 | 59% | 63% | 75k miles |
| 2013 | 64% | 66% | 71k miles |
| 2014 | 72% | 69% | 63k miles |
| 2015 | 78% | 72% | 56k miles |
| 2016 | 82% | 75% | 47k miles |
| 2017 | 81% | 78% | 44k 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
- Position lamp: not working7.97 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.62 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn5.87 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken5.51 per 100
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect5.42 per 100
- Stop lamp: not working5.34 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.93 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.37 per 100
Most common advisories
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn24.45 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.74 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear16.77 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded14.26 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.61 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.33 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn4.78 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 Note have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR12/HR16 | chain | durable | £500–£900 |
| 1.5 dCi | belt | 72k / 6 yrs | £350–£550 |
Nissan Note 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 Note ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- 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 Note vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Note | 123k | 3–12 | 325 l | 2013–2017 E12 1.2 manual |
| Honda Jazz | 277k | 3–15 | 354 l | 2015–2020 Mk3 1.3 i-VTEC or 2020+ e:HEV |
| Skoda Fabia | 213k | 1–15 | 330 l | 2015–2021 Mk3 1.0 MPI/TSI |
| Vauxhall Meriva | 66k | 5–14 | 400 l | 1.4 Turbo manual |
| Hyundai ix20 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Kia Venga | 46k | 6–11 | 440 l | 1.4 petrol manual |
What to check when buying a used Nissan Note
- CVT servicing
Nissan Note FAQ
›Is the Nissan Note reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2013–2017 E12 1.2 manual. Avoid: CVT without fluid changes.
›What is the Nissan Note MOT pass rate?
65% of Nissan Notes passed their MOT first time in 2025 (114,906 tests), about average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: position lamp: not working.
›What are the most common Nissan Note problems?
The costliest known faults are Crank/big-end bearing wear on neglected engines; Timing belt. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Nissan Note have a timing belt or chain?
HR12/HR16: chain; 1.5 dCi: belt.
›What is the best year Nissan Note 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 Note cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.2/1.4 petrol 44–52 mpg; 1.5 dCi 60–68 mpg. Insurance groups 3–12. A minor service is about £130–£190 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Nissan Note?
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 Note ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
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.