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Common problems by part

Nissan Note body and structure problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 60,800 MOT tests · Updated

At 10 years, 1.4 in 100 MOT tests of the Nissan Note failed on body and structure, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,800 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: fails less often than all class 4 vehicles the same age (0.5× (0.45–0.52×)) (all test years), 843 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 15 ages from 5 to 19 years, 620,623 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases, 0.6 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.4 fails per 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 10 (all test years). The Nissan Note fails less often here.

Why it matters

A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

Nissan Note body and structure fails by age

Nissan Note body and structure fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Nissan Note. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.055 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 5,265 MOT tests56 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 16,120 MOT tests7 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 31,170 MOT tests78 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 53,266 MOT tests9 years: 1.1 per 100 (all cars 2.3), 59,661 MOT tests910 years: 1.4 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 60,800 MOT tests11 years: 1.8 per 100 (all cars 3.5), 58,161 MOT tests1112 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 50,928 MOT tests13 years: 2.6 per 100 (all cars 5.0), 54,131 MOT tests1314 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 5.9), 58,216 MOT tests15 years: 3.9 per 100 (all cars 6.7), 58,251 MOT tests1516 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 7.6), 52,491 MOT tests17 years: 5.0 per 100 (all cars 8.3), 35,282 MOT tests1718 years: 5.4 per 100 (all cars 8.7), 19,194 MOT tests19 years: 5.7 per 100 (all cars 9.0), 7,687 MOT tests19
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Nissan Note All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
55,2650.70.5
616,1200.50.8
731,1700.61.3
853,2660.81.8
959,6611.12.3
1060,8001.42.9
1158,1611.83.5
1250,9282.14.3
1354,1312.65.0
1458,2163.35.9
1558,2513.96.7
1652,4914.67.6
1735,2825.08.3
1819,1945.48.7
19*7,6875.79.0

All first-use years of the Nissan Note pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the body and structure at 10 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Replace leaking exhaust section cost

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By engine and fuel

  • 1.2 petrol: 1.1 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.5×) (all test years; 33,393 MOT tests)
  • 1.4 petrol: 1.3 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (0.4–0.6×) (all test years; 9,799 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 1.2 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,597 MOT tests)
  • 1.5 diesel: 2.3 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.6–0.8×) (all test years; 10,939 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases.

Check one Nissan Note, not the average

The figures here describe Nissan Note cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Nissan Note problems

Body and structure on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Nissan Note have more body and structure problems than other cars?

0.45 to 0.52 times the body and structure fail rate of all class 4 vehicles the same age at 10 years (all test years), from 60,800 MOT tests. The interval is clear of 0.8 in the same direction at 12 of the 15 ages seen (ages up to 18 with at least 100 MOT tests with a fail).

How common are Nissan Note body and structure problems?

1.4 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years failed on body and structure, against 2.9 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,800 MOT tests).

What is the most common Nissan Note body and structure fail?

0.6 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years: Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (341 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 620,623 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare