2007 Nissan Note 1.4L Petrol · OV57 AYX

The mechanical picture painted by this Nissan's MOT history is one dominated by persistent front suspension wear, with both nearside and offside lower arm pins or bushes flagged in nearly every test over the past three years. The offside lower arm bush deteriorated to an excessively worn Major defect at the January 2025 test, resulting in a failure, while the nearside component was merely advisory on that occasion. The prior test in January 2024 carried advisories on both sides at the same location, indicating progressive rather than sudden deterioration. Beyond the suspension, the record shows an oil leak first noted in January 2022 that has been recorded as an advisory in four subsequent tests, front brake disc wear noted in both 2024 and 2025, and a dangerous brake pad failure in January 2022 where the offside inner pad was found to be less than 1.5 mm thick. The most recent test on 7 February 2025 was a pass, but only after the suspension, supplementary restraint system warning lamp, and rear fog lamp issues from the late January failure were resolved. With seven tests recorded across nineteen years of registration and a current odometer reading of 105,824 miles, the annual accumulation works out at roughly 5,570 miles, which is markedly low for a vehicle of this age. The mileage progression between tests is generally modest, though the gap between the January 2023 and January 2024 tests implies only modest accumulation in that interval. Such light use over a long period is consistent with the kind of component degradation observed in the MOT record, where rubber bushes and brake components suffer from age-related perishing and corrosion rather than outright mileage wear. The recurring oil leak further supports a vehicle that has likely spent significant periods stationary between short journeys, allowing seals to dry and degrade. For a prospective buyer, the front suspension is the priority area for physical inspection. The persistent advisories on both lower arm pins or bushes point to worn mounting rubbers that may now be approaching or exceeding permissible movement, even if the most recent test merely recorded them as advisories. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for imprecise steering response or wandering at motorway speeds. The front discs, recorded as worn, pitted or scored in both 2024 and 2025, should be checked for juddering under heavy braking and a lip on the outer edge, while the rear brake pads should be visually inspected for remaining friction material given the inner pad was found at less than 1.5 mm at the 2022 test. The recurring oil leak, although not flagged as excessive, has been present in the record for four consecutive years and warrants a thorough under-bonnet inspection for fresh residue on the engine block, sump, and surrounding components, as well as checking the coolant and oil levels before any purchase. The supplementary restraint system warning lamp fault that caused the January 2025 failure also requires confirmation of resolution, ideally through a diagnostic scan rather than visual inspection alone, as airbag system faults can be intermittent. The tyre cut failure from January 2021 and the worn rear tyre advisory from the most recent test indicate that tyre condition should be closely examined for sidewall cracking, perishing, and uneven wear patterns, particularly given the vehicle's age. Finally, given the near-continuous advisory pattern on suspension and braking components, budgeting for replacement front suspension arms and a brake disc refurbishment or replacement should be considered as part of any acquisition cost.