2003 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · MA03 AHD

The vehicle shows a concerning trend of progressive corrosion in the rear braking system and components. While it passed the most recent test in October 2025 at 103,761 miles, the tester flagged corrosion on both rear brake pipes and the ferrule of the hoses, alongside worn and pitted rear brake drums. This follows a recurring issue noted in 2024, where the offside rear brake pipe was already marked as corroded. The presence of grease on these pipes suggests previous attempts to mask the appearance of the rust rather than replacing the components, which can hide the loss of structural integrity in the metal lines. At 23 years old, the recorded mileage of 103,761 miles represents an average of approximately 4,500 miles per year. This low usage often correlates with the age-related degradation seen in the record, specifically regarding structural oxidation. In November 2023 at 99,106 miles, the vehicle failed due to excessive corrosion on a rear suspension mounting area that significantly reduced the strength of the sill. Although this specific structural failure was addressed to allow passing, the subsequent appearance of corrosion on brake lines indicates that the chassis environment remains vulnerable to ongoing oxidation. Maintenance patterns appear reactive rather than proactive. The car suffered multiple failures in 2023 related to lighting, the SRS air restraint system warning lamp, and anti-roll bar linkage dust covers, which were only rectified prior to the retests. The exhaust leak noted in both 2020 and 2023 suggests minor mechanical wear was ignored for long intervals. A buyer should thoroughly inspect the sills and brake line routing to ensure the structural corrosion identified in previous years has not progressed beyond the point of repair.