IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2012 Nissan Pixo

Summer 2012 revisions brought fresh exterior colours, an improved interior and crucially a CO2 cut to 99g/km for cheaper tax and congestion charge treatment, right at the end of the Pixo's short UK life before it was quietly deleted in 2013.

What changed for 2012

  • •Revised interior trim materials and dashboard finishes
  • •CO2 emissions reduced to 99g/km, saving on tax and London ULEZ-style charges
  • •Additional exterior colours to lift the appeal against the Kia Picanto

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Stop lamp switch failure, which was the subject of a recall on cars built from March 2009
  • !Corroded brake pipes and flexible hose failures on the rear circuit
  • !Tyres below the tread limit or cut sidewalls from kerb damage on narrow wheels
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 2012 Nissan Pixo

  • Late 99g/km cars are worth the premium for cheaper tax, but only if they have been driven regularly
  • Have the brake light operation checked with a helper, or on the wall of a garage, to test the stop lamp switch
  • Compare with a Suzuki Alto of the same year - identical mechanically and often cheaper to keep running
20112013
Check a 2012 Nissan Pixo by Registration