2009 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · NG09 MMK

The most recent DVSA examination dated 18 December 2023 records a Pass with no advisories, which is the most encouraging entry on the file and suggests the vehicle was presented in a roadworthy condition immediately following a prior failure. That earlier test on 15 December 2023 was a fail on four major items, but three of them were relatively minor lighting and washer fluid concerns, and one was a serious suspension defect concerning the nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint being excessively worn. The presence of an advisory on that same nearside front ball joint in the December 2022 test indicates a clear deterioration pattern over a twelve-month period, where slight play progressed into an excessively worn component requiring replacement for the car to pass. Overall, the maintenance trend appears to be one of intermittent attention rather than steady decline; the vehicle has alternated between clean passes and outright failures, which is consistent with a car of this age receiving reactive rather than preventative servicing. The recorded mileage of 61,328 miles across seventeen years equates to an annual average of approximately 3,600 miles, which is well below the typical figure for a town car of this class. Such low usage can mean reduced wear on major drivetrain components, but it also raises the likelihood of standing-related degradation, particularly corrosion of brake discs, seizure of caliper slide pins and handbrake mechanisms, and stiffening or cracking of rubber components such as boots, bushes and seals. There is no evidence on the MOT file of a significant mileage gap in any single year, but the pattern of advisories concerning tyres worn close to the legal limit or on the edges in 2021 and 2022 suggests the vehicle may have been subjected to kerbing or alignment issues rather than high outright mileage. With seventeen years of service on the original timing chain, sensors and ancillary drive components, calendar-based wear should be considered as relevant as odometer-based wear. Given the recurrence of the nearside front suspension arm ball joint issue and the edge-wear advisories on multiple tyres, a prospective buyer should arrange for the vehicle to be inspected on a lift to confirm that the replacement component is of satisfactory quality and that the adjacent bushes, track rod ends and anti-roll bar drop links have not also suffered. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and pay close attention to steering vagueness or tracking pull which could indicate that the tyre edge wear was caused by misalignment which has not been rectified. Inspect the brake discs for severe lipping or surface rust that does not clear after a few applications of the brakes, and confirm that the handbrake holds firmly on an incline as low mileage often correlates with seized rear calipers or stretched cables. Beyond the documented items, the age of the vehicle demands particular attention to time-served components regardless of the relatively modest mileage. The tyres, even if retaining legal tread, should be examined for sidewall cracking and perishing, and the production date code on the sidewall should be checked as rubber compounds degrade with age irrespective of wear. The 12V battery is likely due for replacement if it has not been changed in the last four or five years, and a load test is advisable. Coolant, brake fluid and automatic transmission fluid if applicable should all be considered overdue for renewal based on calendar age, and the exhaust system including the catalytic converter, mounts and downstream lambda sensor should be inspected for rust perforation. Finally, verify the service book stamps to confirm that cambelt replacement intervals, spark plugs, and the crankcase breather system have been addressed, and inspect the underside of the vehicle for any emerging structural corrosion around the suspension turrets, subframe mounting points and jacking locations, as these are common MOT failure points for vehicles of this vintage.