2012 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · AU62 THK

This 2012 Nissan Micra presents a clean and reassuring DVSA roadworthiness profile, with its most recent test on 11 February 2026 recording a pass and no advisories or defects of any kind. The same date also shows a fail entry with no defects recorded, which is a recognised DVSA administrative occurrence typically tied to a retest being logged on the same calendar day as a minor repair or administrative correction. The wider test history reinforces a stable pattern: a pass on 12 February 2024, a fail on 12 February 2025 with no defects recorded (likely a similar retest situation), followed by a pass on 13 February 2025, and the clean February 2026 pass. Across four consecutive years of testing there is a complete absence of advisories relating to corrosion, suspension components, braking system wear, exhaust integrity, tyres, or structural items, which is unusual for a 14 year old city car that has clearly been in regular use. The lack of any recorded advisory for component wear suggests the consumable and chassis items have either been renewed proactively between tests or have remained within legal limits at each annual inspection. Recorded mileage of 124,162 miles over 14 years equates to an average annual accumulation of roughly 8,869 miles, which is broadly typical for a small hatchback of this age and segment and indicates consistent, real-world use rather than long periods of standing or unusual high-mileage running. The MOT record itself shows testing at consistent twelve month intervals from 2024 through 2026, with no multi-year gaps that would suggest the vehicle was off the road or subject to SORN arrangements. Mechanical implications of this usage profile are that wear-related items such as suspension bushes, coil springs, brake discs and pads, exhaust mounting rubbers, and engine ancillary drive components will have accumulated normal in-service fatigue commensurate with the odometer reading, but the absence of any flagged advisories means none of these items have yet been identified as approaching service or replacement thresholds by the testing station. For a prospective buyer, the absence of any specific component advisories in the MOT history means there are no flagged items to target with a particular inspection, but the mileage and age still warrant a focused physical check on the known wear points of the K12 Nissan Micra platform. On a test drive, listen for any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven road surfaces, particularly indicative of worn lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, or top mount bearings, and feel for any vagueness in the steering or clonking on full lock that would point to deteriorated front strut assemblies. Brake pedal feel should be firm and progressive with no excessive travel or judder under firm application, which would suggest worn front discs or a binding caliper given the mileage, while the rear drum setup should be checked for adequate handbrake bite given the accumulated wear. Underneath the vehicle, a thorough inspection with the wheels turned and a torch applied to the inner arches and sill seams is advisable, as K12 Micras of this vintage are known to develop localised corrosion around the rear wheel arches, under the fuel filler neck, and along the lower sill seams even when MOT advisories are absent, partly because testers only comment on areas they can see during a standard bay test. Inspect the engine bay for any signs of oil seepage from the cam cover gasket and for oil misting around the throttle body, which is a common trait on higher mileage Micras and can indicate valve cover breathing issues rather than immediate mechanical concern. Finally, verify that the cooling system has been maintained with regular coolant changes by checking the colour and clarity of the expansion tank contents, as neglected cooling system service on a high mileage small engine can lead to head gasket concerns, and confirm that the timing chain is quiet on cold start with no rattle that would indicate stretched chain guides, a known wear item on the CR12DE and CR14DE engines fitted to this model.