Nissan Note (E12)

The 1.2 DIG-S could be ordered with Nissan's Xtronic CVT from spring 2014. Auto Express's used Note guide summed it up as best avoided because of poor economy and a clunky action, especially on hills, and RAC owner feedback includes the engine dying on uphill ascents with D selected. Wear usually shows as shudder from a standstill, revs flaring without drive and a droning whine, most often between 50,000 and 90,000 miles on cars that never had the 'sealed for life' fluid changed. A replacement CVT costs more than the car is worth, so this is a walk-away fault rather than a negotiation.

Auto Express records three recalls against the E12: a starter button that could stay engaged once the engine was running (cars built up to March 2014, campaign August 2015), out-of-specification ignition coils whose internals short-circuit, causing misfire and, in the worst case, a blown fuse in the powertrain control unit so the car stalls and will not restart (campaign R/2016/008, cars built August 2015 to January 2016, 2,010 in the UK), and an ABS fault on some April 2016-built cars. Out of warranty the coil repair is a modest bill, but a half-completed campaign leaves you with a car that can leave you stranded.

Recall R/2020/220 covers Notes built between 28 September 2015 and 13 August 2016 - 299,631 UK vehicles - because the rear door child-lock switch can lose its retention force and no longer reliably hold the selected position. The lock looks engaged but the door can still be opened with the inner handle, which is both a child-safety issue and a potential MOT advisory on door operation. Because these cars have changed hands several times since, a large share of the used population is untreated.