2017 Nissan Micra 1.5L Diesel · LJ67 YWH

The most recent MOT passed in September 2025, following a failure due to an inoperative registration plate lamp. While the latest result is relatively clean, the overall maintenance trend shows a period of increasing mechanical degradation between 2023 and 2024. During this window, the vehicle accumulated multiple advisories relating to steering and suspension components, suggesting that the car has been entering a phase of heightened wear. Although the 2025 test shows fewer mechanical defects, the emergence of a new advisory regarding mismatched tyre sizes indicates that maintenance oversight may be an ongoing issue. With 131,321 miles recorded over nine years, this vehicle has averaged approximately 14,591 miles per year. This is high mileage for a small hatchback, indicating consistent, heavy usage rather than infrequent or short-distance driving. From a mechanical standpoint, this high-mileage profile means that major wear items such as suspension bushes, ball joints, and potentially the clutch or timing components are likely nearing the end of their reliable service life. The vehicle has clearly been used as a primary transport tool, which necessitates a more rigorous inspection of the drivetrain and chassis. During your test drive, you should pay particular attention to the steering and suspension response. The history of play in the track rod ends, steering linkages, and anti-roll bar ball joints means you should listen for any clunking, knocking, or rattling sounds when driving over uneven surfaces or turning the wheel at low speeds. Furthermore, the advisory regarding different tyre sizes on the front and rear axles is a significant concern. Mismatched tyre diameters can negatively impact the vehicle's handling, stability, and braking performance, and may even cause premature wear to the differential. You must verify that all tyres are of the correct, matching specification as per the manufacturer's requirements. Finally, inspect the engine bay and the ground beneath the car for any signs of an active oil leak, following the advisory noted in 2023. While it was not considered excessive then, high-mileage engines can see these leaks worsen over time. You should also check the tyres for any signs of perishing or sidewall cracking, as previously flagged in the 2024 records. Given the high annual mileage, it is vital to verify the service history to ensure that oil changes and essential fluid replacements have been carried out strictly according to schedule to protect the engine's longevity.