2010 Nissan Note 1.4L Petrol · AV60 VJM

A Nissan Note of this vintage and mileage with two recorded MOT failures on the file but absolutely no advisories, component-specific defects, or reasons for refusal documented is unusual in a way that warrants careful interpretation. The latest test on 5 March 2025 resulted in a fail, yet the DVSA record lists no defects, which strongly suggests the failure was administrative in nature, such as an expired or missing tyre, blown bulb, missing number plate, or failure to present valid documentation or insurance at the time of test rather than a mechanical or structural roadworthiness issue. The previous pass on 6 March 2024 was clean, and the pass before the earlier February 2024 failure was also recorded without advisory items, indicating no chronic pattern of wear-related deterioration has been formally identified. The overall trend across the visible testing history is therefore one of broadly stable mechanical compliance, with the recorded failures not pointing to any underlying chassis, braking, or suspension degradation. Covering 130,681 miles over approximately sixteen years equates to an annual accumulation of around 8,168 miles, which sits squarely within the typical usage band for a vehicle of this age and class. There is a notable gap in the testing record between October 2022 and February 2024, a period of roughly sixteen months during which no MOT test was carried out; while this can simply reflect a vehicle that fell outside the standard three-year test cycle window or was perhaps off the road temporarily, it does mean there is no DVSA-verified snapshot of condition across that entire stretch. The recorded mileage progression between the visible tests appears consistent rather than erratic, suggesting the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than experiencing a sudden long-distance accumulation that might disproportionately stress the drivetrain. Mechanically, this level of mileage on a Note of this generation means consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and likely the timing chain and clutch will all have been replaced at least once, and the suspension components will be approaching the back end of their functional life. For a prospective purchaser, the immediate priority is to obtain the actual failure sheet from the most recent 5 March 2025 test and the prior 22 February 2024 test, because the DVSA summary provided does not record the specific reasons for refusal and any undisclosed advisory items would materially change the risk picture. With no component-level defects on file, a physical pre-purchase inspection should focus on the areas that commonly deteriorate on a high-mileage supermini of this era: the front strut top mountings and coil springs for any knocking or harshness over bumps, the rear torsion beam bushes for clonking under load, and the steering rack gaiters for splits that allow water ingress. Brake feel should be assessed for a soft pedal or any judder under braking, which on a Note at this mileage often indicates warped front discs rather than pad wear alone, and a careful check underneath should be made for any oil seepage from the engine sump gasket or cam cover, as well as corrosion along the exhaust system and around the rear wheel arches. On the road, listen at low speed for any clonking from the front suspension that would suggest worn drop links or anti-roll bar bushes, both of which are common on Nissan Notes approaching and exceeding this mileage bracket. Steering should feel tight without any vagueness through the straight-ahead, and any pulling to one side would warrant investigation of the front suspension geometry or brake caliper binding. The clutch should be tested for slipping under load in fourth or fifth gear, and the manual gearbox for any crunchy synchromesh particularly on second gear. Check that the cooling system holds pressure and that the engine bay is free of any crusty white or green residue around hoses and the radiator, and inspect the under-bonnet area generally for signs of recent work that might indicate unresolved issues. Finally, confirm that any advisory items from the intervening years are fully resolved and that the vehicle carries a current MOT certificate, as the present assessment is based solely on the defects recorded in the official history and cannot account for items that arose after the most recent documented test.