IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2011 Nissan Pixo

We've identified 2 known issues that can affect the 2011 Nissan Pixo. 1 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

2
Known Issues
1
Serious
0
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

Heater fan motor overheating and fire risk (recall R/2013/082)

SeriousCooling System

DVSA recall R/2013/082 covers Pixos built between 3 November 2008 and 22 June 2012 - 14,548 in the UK. The heater fan motor can seize at slow fan speed, the internal temperature of the fan circuit rises, and if the thermal fuse does not cut out the fan and its surroundings overheat. Nissan's own defect wording warns the driver will find smoke coming out of the heater vents and that in extreme circumstances there could be a vehicle fire. The fix is an upgraded thermal fuse, but cars that have changed hands several times are often untreated because the campaign was never re-registered.

Est. Repair Cost: £0 under recall; £120–£300 to replace the blower motor and fuse out of warranty
Warning Signs:

Burning or electrical smell from the dashboard vents, worst with the fan on low speed, Smoke or haze blown into the cabin from the heater when first switched on, Fan that only works on some speeds, or noisy and laboured airflow, Blower motor that stops completely, often after heavy use in winter

What to Inspect:
  • Run the fan through every speed on a warm engine, smell the vents and stop the test if anything smells hot
  • Check the GOV.UK recall service for R/2013/082 and get written confirmation of the upgraded fuse
  • Look under the nearside of the dash for disturbed clips or fresh wiring, which suggests the motor has been at
  • Ask the owner to describe any previous fan or heater repairs, not just that it works now
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated
Official Recalls & Reference Documents:

Cheap build quality showing as worn trim, noises and rusted exhausts

MinorInterior & Trim

The RAC's Pixo buying guide is blunt that the car was built to a price in India: the interior is hard-wearing but plainly cheap, and the practical ownership issues are worn trim, scruffed door cards and dash surfaces, a small boot and a noisy, unrefined three-cylinder engine on the motorway. For a UK buyer that translates into a car that is only a bargain if it has been garaged and driven gently - otherwise expect rusted exhaust systems, tired clutch feel and rattles that no one will fix because the car is worth very little. Parkers rates the Pixo for cost-cutting value, not longevity.

Est. Repair Cost: £80–£350 for exhaust, trim clips and rattles; clutch £300–£550
Warning Signs:

Rattles from the dash and door cards that change with road surface, Scuffed or shiny driver's seat edge, door cards and parcel shelf, Drone or rasp from a corroded exhaust, worst from cold, Clutch that grabs very high or judders when pulling away

What to Inspect:
  • Drive over a rough road with nothing in the car to hear trim rattles and suspension knocks
  • Inspect the exhaust system and silencer for rust holes before the vendor fixes them cheaply
  • Feel for the biting point and judder as you pull away on a roundabout, which is how a cheap clutch shows up
  • Check that the boot floor is dry and unblemished, and that the rear seats fold and latch properly
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2011 Nissan Pixo

  • Check the recall position on GOV.UK for the three Pixo campaigns - the heater fan motor recall alone covered 14,548 UK cars built between November 2008 and June 2012, and it is a fire risk.
  • Only consider the automatic if you have driven one cold: the three-cylinder engine and four-speed box are smooth enough when warm but slow off the mark, and the RAC's own verdict is that the car is best used in town.
  • Treat low mileage with suspicion. Many Pixos were second or third car garage queens, which is terrible for rubber seals, brakes and exhaust, so look for a car that has been driven every week.
  • Expect a below-average MOT record. CarPeep's analysis of 2025 tests shows Pixos passing 63.7% of initial MOTs against the 72.3% UK average, with lighting and suspension the biggest failure areas.
  • Buy from a private vendor with a service history rather than the cheapest car online, because body and trim parts for this India-built model are now scarce and improvised repairs are common.
  • Look in the boot and under the mats for water: the door seals and the tailgate are where these little cars start to rot the floor pan.
20102012
Check a 2011 Nissan Pixo by Registration