2004 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · PY04 ABZ

The 2004 Nissan Micra currently shows a PASS outcome from its most recent MOT test on 8 April 2025, with no advisories or defects recorded against the vehicle. Recorded mileage at that test stood at 117,152 miles. A single prior PASS is documented in April 2024 alongside an April 2023 PASS, giving three passes and two recorded failures across the five-test history. The failures in April 2024 and April 2025 both returned clean records with no defects listed, which suggests the items causing those failures were rectified quickly enough to achieve a pass on the same day. With no advisories logged anywhere in the visible five-test window, the documented trend is stable, though the presence of two immediate re-test failures warrants a cautious read rather than an assumption of mechanical soundness. Mileage accumulation over the 22-year life of this Micra averages roughly 5,325 miles per year, which is notably low for a city-oriented supermini of this vintage. Annual MOT dates cluster tightly between April 2023 and April 2025, so consistent year-on-year testing has been carried out, although the absence of any earlier entries within the supplied dataset limits interpretation of longer-term wear patterns. Such low annual use can indicate periods of standing, which in itself raises the likelihood of dried brake fluid, perished rubber components, and seized calipers developing off-screen between recorded tests. Equally, the low figure means wear-sensitive components such as the timing chain, clutch, and cooling system have not been exercised heavily, and their true condition cannot be inferred from mileage alone. A prospective buyer should arrange an independent physical inspection rather than relying on the MOT pass alone, given the two immediate re-test failures. Key areas to examine closely include the front and rear brake calipers for binding, brake discs for corrosion ridges around the outer edge, and the hydraulic fluid for moisture content. The coil springs and suspension bushes should be checked for cracking, while the exhaust system and underbody need a thorough look for structural corrosion, particularly around the wheel arches, sills, and subframe mounting points. Steering rack gaiters, CV joint boots, and tyre sidewalls — even items not flagged at test — deserve visual scrutiny given the car's age and the likelihood of long storage intervals. A compression test and a check of the cooling system, including the radiator and thermostat housing for the K12-era Micra, would round out a sensible pre-purchase evaluation. Overall, the official MOT data presents a clean and stable recent record, but the two immediate failures, the vehicle's age, and the low average mileage together justify a measured approach. Risk to a buyer sits in the Medium band, with a buying score in the low-to-mid sixties, reflecting a record that is tidy on paper yet lacking the depth to confirm the mechanical integrity of a car now well into its third decade. buying_score: 62 risk_level: Medium.