IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2013 Nissan Pixo

We've identified 1 known issue that can affect the 2013 Nissan Pixo. None are considered critical, but they're worth knowing about before you buy.

1
Known Issues
0
Serious
0
Moderate
1
Minor

All Known Issues

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 2013 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.
2012
Check a 2013 Nissan Pixo by Registration