2008 Nissan Note 1.6L Petrol · LR08 NLE

A pattern of chronic rear suspension and tyre wear advisories dominates the mechanical profile of this 2008 Nissan Note, surfacing consistently across the 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 MOT tests. The most recent examination on 26 March 2026 was a pass, but it carried five advisories covering both rear shock absorbers with reduced damping effect, rear axle swivel pin and bush wear, lower suspension arm pin or bush wear on both sides at the front, a broken exhaust mounting clamp, and a nearside rear tyre at the legal limit with cracking and perishing. This follows a 2025 pass that flagged identical rear axle bush wear and rear shock absorber deterioration, plus both rear tyres at the limit with cracking. While the vehicle has passed its tests in three of the last four attempts, the recurrence of the same suspension and tyre defects year after year indicates progressive wear rather than isolated incidents. Two failures appear in the record: a fractured offside front coil spring in March 2023 and, in March 2024, three major defects relating to incorrect headlamp beam pattern from bulbs fitted in the wrong orientation and multiple inoperative stop lamps, alongside an advisory for lipped front brake discs. Each of those failures was rectified to allow a subsequent pass. Against an 18-year vehicle age, the recorded mileage of 53,846 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 2,991 miles, which is notably low for the platform. MOT records exist consecutively from 2022 through 2026, leaving only 2021 as a gap without a recorded test, but there is no DVLA-documented evidence to confirm whether the vehicle was off the road during that year or simply not tested. Low annual mileage on a vehicle of this age generally reduces wear on major drivetrain components but allows prolonged standing periods, which can advance ageing of rubber components, brake discs, tyres, and suspension bushes through environmental exposure rather than mechanical use. The repeated cracking and perishing of tyres, combined with the persistent advisories on suspension bushes and rear shock absorber damping, is consistent with rubber and elastomeric components hardening over time even where mechanical mileage is modest. A prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the rear suspension and under-bonnet condition, since these are the items consistently flagged. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the rear axle over uneven surfaces, which would indicate further deterioration of the swivel pin bushes already noted as worn in 2025 and 2026, and pay particular attention to any pitching or excessive vertical movement of the rear body over speed humps, a likely symptom of the rear shock absorbers losing damping effect. At the front, the lower suspension arm pin or bush wear flagged on both sides in the latest test should be checked by rocking each front wheel top to bottom at the tyre with the car raised, looking for free play or a dull rattle, and the front brake discs should be inspected for further lipping beyond the advisory noted in 2024. The fractured offside front coil spring that caused a failure in 2023 warrants a close look at the replacement unit for any signs of premature sag or corrosion, which is common on Nissan Notes of this era. The exhaust mounting clamp recorded as broken in the most recent test is a straightforward repair, but it confirms that the exhaust system should be physically shaken and supported to check for further fractured hangers or heat shield rattle, particularly with the engine running over a rough road surface. All exterior lamps, including the front position lamps that caused a fail in March 2025 and the stop lamps and headlamp beam pattern that caused a fail in March 2024, should be verified individually before purchase, as the headlamp failures stemmed from bulbs being installed in the wrong orientation rather than a fault in the wiring. The nearside rear tyre should be examined for the cracking and perishing pattern noted as advisory, and the age of all four tyres confirmed, as perished rubber will require replacement regardless of remaining tread depth. Finally, given the low annual mileage and evidence of age-related component deterioration rather than mileage-related wear, an under-bonnet inspection for perished hoses, dried seals, and any surface corrosion on the subframe and suspension mounting points is strongly advised before committing to purchase.