2012 Nissan Note 1.4L Petrol · PE62 AAU

The most recent MOT test on 6 March 2026 resulted in a pass, but it was accompanied by four advisories that warrant close scrutiny from any prospective buyer. Looking at the broader pattern, the vehicle passed in 2024 and 2025 with only minor advisories, but the 2026 cycle shows a clear deterioration, including a failed test on 27 February 2026 due to a fractured offside front coil spring. The same advisories recorded at the failed test reappeared at the subsequent pass, indicating that some of these issues were not rectified prior to the latest test. This trend suggests a front suspension and steering assembly that is progressively wearing and in need of substantive attention rather than continued deferral. With 88,581 miles recorded over approximately 14 years, the vehicle averages around 6,327 miles annually, which is broadly typical for its age and indicates reasonably consistent use rather than long periods of standing. This usage profile is broadly positive from a corrosion and fluid degradation standpoint, as regular running tends to keep seals, brakes, and the exhaust system in better condition than a low-mileage or stored example. There are no significant gaps in the MOT history that would imply long periods off the road, and the recorded mileages between tests appear consistent with steady, moderate use. However, the age alone brings calendar-based wear concerns that should be evaluated alongside the mileage. The most pressing mechanical concern is the condition of the front suspension and steering. The fractured offside front coil spring noted at the February 2026 failure is a serious safety-critical defect that would have caused a noticeable drop in ride height on that corner and audible clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces; this should be confirmed as replaced, as should the advisories relating to the offside front anti-roll bar ball joint and the steering rack inner joint play on both sides. The 2024 failures for both nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes excessively worn indicate the front suspension has been undergoing a pattern of accelerated wear, and on a test drive the buyer should listen for clonks or knocking over speed humps and uneven roads, feel for vagueness or play in the steering, and watch for uneven front tyre wear which would confirm misalignment or worn suspension components. The nearside front tyre advisory in 2024 for edge wear aligns with this picture and suggests tracking or suspension geometry should be checked after any repair work. Beyond the suspension, attention should be paid to the braking system, as the 2024 advisories noted pitted or scored front brake discs and wearing-thin front pads, both of which are likely to have progressed given the intervening mileage. The buyer should inspect the front discs for lipping, check pad material thickness, and feel for brake shudder or vibration under firm deceleration on the test drive. The headlamp lens product advisory is cosmetic and unlikely to affect light output significantly, but a wiper blade defect was noted at the recent failed test and should be confirmed as replaced. Given the vehicle's age, the buyer should also verify the timing chain or cam belt service interval has been observed, inspect all coolant and brake fluid for age-related degradation, check the 12V battery for hold-charge capability, examine tyre sidewalls for perishing or cracking from age, and confirm the underbody and exhaust system are solid, particularly given the salted winter road use typical of UK motoring. A pre-purchase inspection by a specialist with the vehicle on a ramp would be strongly advisable to confirm the full extent of the front suspension and steering wear before committing to purchase.