2014 Nissan Note 1.2L Petrol · ML14 TOH

The most recent DVSA examination on 16 June 2026 recorded a clean PASS with no advisories or defects, which is a positive immediate indicator. When reviewing the broader trajectory, however, the trend is mixed rather than uniformly improving. The vehicle has now passed two consecutive tests, but the 2024 and 2025 examinations together produced a substantial cluster of advisories relating to suspension damping, tyre condition, anti-roll bar modifications, and the supplementary restraint system warning lamp. The earlier 2021 test cycle also recorded an MOT failure involving multiple major defects, including an inoperative headlamp, an ineffective wiper, and an illuminated airbag warning lamp. Taken as a whole, this suggests a pattern where the vehicle tends to accumulate wear-based and electrical advisories between tests rather than presenting a steadily improving or fully stable maintenance profile, and a prospective buyer should treat the clean 2026 pass as a current snapshot rather than evidence of consistent mechanical refinement over time. With 63,006 miles recorded across approximately twelve years, this Nissan Note averages around 5,250 miles per year, which is notably below the typical annual mileage for a vehicle of this age and class. Such low usage is mechanically double-edged; consumable wear items such as brake pads, discs, clutches and tyres will have experienced lower friction cycles, yet components that suffer from prolonged standing can degrade prematurely. Calendar-based deterioration is particularly relevant here, including brake disc surface corrosion, sticking or binding brake calipers, oxidation of brake fluid, hardening and cracking of rubber boots and bushes, and deterioration of the 12V battery due to chronic partial state of charge. Any extended periods of inactivity would also raise the likelihood of moisture accumulation in the engine oil and potential seal drying. The recurring advisories and historical failures point to several areas that warrant focused physical inspection and a careful test drive. The 2024 and 2025 entries flag light oil misting on both front and rear shock absorbers, which is consistent with the gradual seal wear typical of a twelve-year-old damping system; on the road, a buyer should listen for clonking or knocking over bumps, excessive body roll through corners, and a general sense of floatiness or poor recovery after crests, as these symptoms indicate the dampers are no longer controlling the springs effectively. The anti-roll bar linkage has been recorded as modified, and although not deemed seriously weakened, modified suspension components can mask fatigue in adjacent bushes and drop links, so the front end should be inspected for play when rocked by hand. The tyre advisories are particularly relevant given the low annual mileage, as tyres on lightly driven vehicles commonly suffer sidewall cracking and perishing well before the tread is exhausted, and the 2024 failure recorded dangerous structural tears on two tyres; close inspection of the sidewalls for hairline cracks, bulges, or age-related hardening is essential, and any tyre older than five years should be viewed with caution regardless of tread depth. Attention should also be paid to the supplementary restraint system warning lamp, which was the subject of a dangerous major defect in 2024 and major defects in 2021, with a further advisory in 2025 noting that the lamp failed to illuminate at all. While the 2026 pass suggests the system was functional at the time of test, intermittent airbag warning lamp illumination is a known concern and may be linked to connector corrosion under the seats, clock spring wear, or historic DTC storage; a diagnostic scan of the SRS module is strongly recommended prior to purchase, and the seller should be asked to provide evidence of any recent repair work in this area. Beyond the recorded defects, a buyer should verify the service book stamps and confirm that time-based items have been attended to regardless of mileage, particularly the cambelt if applicable to this engine variant, coolant renewal, brake fluid replacement, and the condition of the 12V battery, which on a low-mileage twelve-year-old vehicle is highly likely to be approaching the end of its service life. A thorough road test should include a cold start check for smoke or excessive rattle, confirmation that the brakes pull the car up squarely without shudder or grinding, and an inspection underneath the vehicle for any signs of fluid weeping from the shock absorbers, power steering, or cooling system that may not have been evident at MOT inspection level.