2015 Nissan Note 1.2L Petrol · AX15 SFZ

A persistent pattern of tyre perishing advisories on the rear nearside defines the roadworthiness story of this 2015 Nissan Note, with the same advisory appearing across nearly every MOT since 2021 and ultimately culminating in a dangerous defect at the most recent test. On 30 January 2026 the vehicle failed its MOT due to a nearside front inner tyre bulge caused by structural separation of the sidewall, a categorisation that reflects an immediate risk of catastrophic failure. A re-test on the same day recorded a pass, but the associated advisories from that session should not be overlooked: all four tyres were flagged as perishing or starting to perish, the front brake discs were noted as worn though not excessively, and an oil leak was recorded as not excessive. The escalation from a single, stable advisory on the rear nearside tyre for several years to a dangerous structural failure and a whole-set tyre perishing advisory indicates a worsening rather than improving trend in rubber condition and warrants careful scrutiny of every tyre by date code and physical inspection. Against an age of approximately eleven years, the recorded mileage of 28,997 miles equates to an average of around 2,636 miles annually, which is notably low and consistent with a vehicle that has either been used lightly or has spent extended periods stationary. The annual gaps between tests, particularly the longer interval between the May 2022 and June 2021 entries, suggest possible SORN periods or limited use, both of which can be expected to accelerate ageing of rubber components, brake discs through corrosion, and seals through inactivity. The 2024 to 2026 gap is also longer than the typical single-year MOT interval. While low annual mileage reduces wear on internal combustion components, the MOT history shows exactly the kind of deterioration that prolonged standing tends to produce, particularly in tyres and brake discs, rather than mileage-driven wear. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a thorough physical inspection of all four tyres and ideally replacement as a full set, given the documented perishing across the axle and the dangerous separation event recorded on the front nearside. On a test drive, the brake pedal should be felt for any judder or vibration under firm application, which would suggest the front discs have corroded or warped beyond the advisory threshold, particularly given the disc wear already noted in early 2026. The engine bay should be examined for the source and freshness of any oil residue, as a not-excessive leak recorded during MOT does not define its origin, and during the drive attention should be paid to any blue smoke from the exhaust on start-up or overrun, which would indicate valve stem oil seal wear consistent with a stationary engine. Finally, while the headlamp aim failures recorded in February 2025 were straightforward Prescriptive defects, they warrant a quick check that both lamps are set within the prescribed beam pattern, as incorrect levelling mechanisms or simply a heavily laden vehicle can cause them to drift high again, and a simple bulb or alignment check is inexpensive reassurance before purchase.