2011 Nissan Note 1.5L Diesel · SC11 OUS

The most recent DVSA MOT test, conducted on 22 September 2025, resulted in a failed outcome with a particularly serious combination of defects. Two of the items were categorised as Dangerous, namely excessive free play in the steering rack detected at the steering wheel to the extent that safe steering is affected, and an offside track rod end ball joint worn to a point where there is a serious risk of detachment. Either of these defects alone would render the vehicle unlawful to drive until rectified, and together they point to a critical deterioration in the front steering and suspension assembly. Additional Major defects included a non-functioning offside headlamp on dipped beam, an inoperative horn, and a fractured offside front coil spring. When viewed against the broader history, the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. The 2023 and 2024 tests recorded only minor advisories and a single ABS-related Pass after Rectification item, whereas the 2025 test represents a substantial step down in mechanical condition, suggesting that a significant period of neglect or component failure has occurred in the intervening twelve months. A prospective buyer should treat this 2025 failure as a strong indicator that substantial remedial work is required before the vehicle can be considered roadworthy. The recorded mileage of 121,829 miles against a vehicle of approximately fifteen years of age equates to an annual average of around 8,122 miles, which is broadly typical for a car of this vintage and segment. There are no conspicuous gaps or unusually rapid accumulation periods in the recorded figures, suggesting consistent if modest usage throughout its life. At this combined age and mileage, the Nissan Note would be expected to have worn items such as brake discs, pads, suspension bushes, and engine ancillaries approaching or past their normal service thresholds, but the mileage itself is not a particular concern. The issue is rather the lack of obvious recent investment in the steering and suspension components, which are typically mileage-sensitive assemblies. Given the severity of the 2025 defects, any prospective purchase must be predicated on a clear understanding of the rectification costs. Replacement of a steering rack on a vehicle of this type is a significant labour-intensive job, and a track rod end replacement, while more modest in cost, is inseparable from a four-wheel alignment thereafter. The fractured offside front coil spring is a safety-critical failure that will have left the vehicle unstable and potentially grounded on the spring coil; a new spring should be fitted in axle pairs, and given the recorded advisories for shock absorber oil misting on the offside front and rear from 2024, it would be prudent to assume the dampers on that side are also nearing the end of their service life and to budget for replacement. On a test drive following any repairs, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, check for vagueness or wandering in the steering, and observe whether the front tyre inner edges are wearing unevenly, which would confirm worn suspension bushes or geometry misalignment. The headlamp and horn defects are simple electrical items but should be verified as properly rectified rather than temporarily bypassed. Beyond the steering and suspension concerns, the 2024 advisory entries for shock absorber oil misting indicate that the damping units are beginning to weep, and although this was not yet a failure point, it is a progressive condition that warrants close inspection of the dampers for any staining running down the body or for a noticeably bouncy ride on test. The 2023 advisory regarding front tyres worn close to the legal limit on both edges points to possible tracking misalignment, which ties into the current steering component failures, and any new tyres fitted after the rectification work should be checked for even wear after a few hundred miles. Additional age-related items worth physical inspection include the condition of the tyres for sidewall perishing and cracking given the vehicle's age regardless of tread depth, the state of the 12-volt battery which typically requires replacement every five to six years, the brake discs for corrosion or lipping from standing or low-speed use, and the brake fluid and coolant which degrade on a calendar basis. The 2022 advisory noting a heavily undersealed undercarriage is worth a closer look with a torch or on a ramp, as underseal can mask developing corrosion on inner sills, subframes, and suspension mounting points, all of which are critical structural areas on a fifteen-year-old vehicle. A thorough pre-purchase inspection by a qualified independent technician, ideally with the vehicle raised on a ramp, would be strongly advised before committing to any purchase.