2008 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · PJ57 XHD

The 2008 Nissan Micra presents a mixed mechanical picture at its most recent MOT on 31 July 2025, passing at 102,657 miles but carrying two active advisories for worn front lower suspension arm rear bushes on both sides. The maintenance trend is broadly stable rather than deteriorating, though it is not resolving. A clear pattern of recurring front suspension wear has persisted across three consecutive annual tests. The nearside and offside wishbone rear bushes were flagged as worn but not resulting in excessive movement in both the July 2024 and July 2025 tests, indicating gradual deterioration that has not yet crossed into a dangerous threshold. The July 2025 pass followed a failure just seven days earlier on 24 July 2025 at 102,617 miles, where the tester identified a more serious concern: an excessively corroded offside front suspension mounting prescribed area on the inner wing, significantly reducing structural strength. That defect was addressed before the retest, but its presence so recently should not be overlooked. The mileage profile is notably low for an eighteen-year-old vehicle. At 102,657 miles, the annual average sits around 5,703 miles, well below the typical UK figure of 8,000 to 12,000. The record shows the car covered just 2,685 miles between July 2023 and July 2025, with a mere forty-mile gap between the failed and passed tests in July 2025. This suggests light, local use or possibly extended periods of standing, which can itself accelerate corrosion on brake components, tyres, and structural underbody areas due to lack of regular heat cycling and movement. Buyers should focus their in-person inspection on the front suspension and structural corrosion. The offside inner wing mounting area that failed in July 2025 warrants close examination for the quality of any repair and for signs of corrosion spreading to adjacent structure. Both front lower suspension arm rear bushes remain advisories and should be checked for play, as worn bushes affect tyre wear, steering precision, and handling stability. The front brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in the July 2025 failure, so pad thickness and disc condition need verification. The offside front CV boot was also flagged as split in both the 2024 and 2025 failures, meaning the joint may have been exposed to dirt and moisture over an extended period. Inspect for clicking under turns and check the joint for play. Tyre condition, particularly the nearside rear which was close to the legal limit in 2024, should be assessed for uneven wear consistent with the ongoing suspension bush wear.