2009 Nissan Note 1.6L Petrol · AF09 UYV

The most recent MOT test on 9 December 2021 resulted in a PASS, although four advisory items were noted alongside it. The trend between the two recorded tests is broadly neutral to slightly concerning. The earlier test on 8 December 2021 failed on four major defects, including an airbag warning lamp fault, an inoperative horn, an offside front position lamp not working, and a nearside rear service brake excessively binding. Three of those four major failures are relatively straightforward electrical or bulb-related issues, but the binding rear brake is a mechanical concern that warranted immediate attention. The fact that the vehicle passed the very next day suggests the failures were addressed, but a prospective buyer should be alert to whether any of these problems have recurred or were merely bodged for the retest. The advisory items carried across both visits, particularly the anti-roll bar linkage play and the exhaust mounting issues, were not sufficient to fail the vehicle but indicate wear that should be monitored and likely resolved during routine maintenance. With 140,373 miles recorded on a 2009 Nissan Note, the vehicle has averaged around 8,257 miles per year over its 17-year life, which is broadly typical for a car of this age and class in the UK. However, there is a notable absence of MOT history between 2021 and the present date, and mileage gaps across that period cannot be confirmed from the available records. The relatively high overall mileage combined with potentially long standing periods raises the prospect of calendar-related degradation as much as wear from use. Brake discs and calipers, suspension bushes and coil springs, the 12-volt battery, all fluid systems including brake fluid and coolant, and the rubber components throughout the underbonnet and chassis areas will all have aged regardless of how many miles were covered. Given the advisory items recorded, several physical checks are strongly advised before purchase. The offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint was flagged for slight play, and on a test drive you should listen for clonks or knocking over speed humps, rough surfaces, and when turning at low speed. If the play has progressed, it can affect handling stability and may also accelerate uneven front tyre wear, which is particularly relevant because the same test also noted an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on the edge. Both front tyres should be inspected for inner and outer edge wear, and replacements budgeted if necessary. The binding nearside rear brake from the failure should be checked by confirming the wheel rotates freely by hand when cold, listening for scraping or dragging on a short drive, and ensuring the vehicle does not pull to one side under braking. The exhaust-related advisories concerning a defective rear mounting and a loose heat shield at the rear and central sections suggest degradation of the rubber hangers and possibly corroded bracket fixings. With a 17-year-old exhaust system, internal corrosion of the silencer and pipework is also plausible, so the system should be inspected for rattles, blowing joints, and excessive soot around the mountings. Given the age and mileage, the buyer should also verify evidence of time-based servicing such as brake fluid changes, coolant renewals, cambelt replacement history on the 1.4 or 1.6 petrol engine, and a healthy 12-volt battery. Tyre sidewalls should be checked for perishing and cracking from age, the underside should be examined for standing corrosion particularly around suspension arms, wheel arches, and brake lines, and the service book should be reviewed for consistent stamp history to confirm the vehicle has been mechanically maintained rather than merely passed through MOT testing.