2015 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · SD65 DYA

A pattern of front-end wear is emerging on this 2015 Nissan Micra, with the most recent MOT on 1 December 2025 passing but carrying five advisories concentrated on the front suspension, front tyres, and front wheels. Two of those advisories relate to the front suspension arm bushes, with movement recorded on both sides but not yet exceeding the pass threshold. The remaining items flag a slightly distorted offside front outer road wheel, light oil misting on the offside front shock absorber, and superficial cracking or perishing on the rear tyres along with sidewall damage to the front pair. Earlier tests were broadly cleaner, with only a single advisory in 2024 for a distorted offside front road wheel and an oil leak noted back in 2020. Two consecutive passes in 2022 and 2023 were recorded with no defects at all, meaning the front-end deterioration has only become visible to the inspector over the last twelve months. There are no recorded failures across the eight-year test history, which provides a baseline of roadworthiness, but the cluster of repeat front-end advisories on the latest certificate warrants close attention before purchase. With 99,838 miles accumulated over roughly eleven years of testing, the vehicle averages around 9,076 miles per year, which sits within the normal range for a car of this age and original market class. Annual mileage has remained broadly consistent, with tests recorded in every year from 2018 onwards and no significant gaps that would suggest extended periods off the road. A high-mileage supermini of this vintage will typically have worn its original suspension, engine and gearbox mounts, and clutch material more than a lower-mileage equivalent, even if no individual component has yet crossed the MOT failure threshold. The recurring front suspension advisories on a car at this mileage are consistent with bush and shock absorber degradation that tends to accelerate once rubber hardening and fluid seal wear begin to compound. Mechanical sympathy should therefore be expected on items such as the clutch pedal, gearbox synchros, and engine ancillary drives, even though none of these are inspected at MOT. On a physical inspection, the recorded front suspension arm pin or bush wear on both sides should be probed by hand with the wheel loaded, and any clonking or knocking over uneven surfaces at low speed would indicate the bushes have loosened beyond the advisory stage. The misting shock absorber should be wiped clean and re-checked after a week of normal use to see whether fresh oil appears, as a weeping damper that progresses will eventually fail the MOT and compromise braking stability under heavy load. The distorted offside front wheel should be inspected for run-out on a balancer and checked against the nearside, as a bent rim can cause steering vibration at speed and uneven tyre shoulder wear. Given that the offside front wheel distortion advisory appeared on the 2024 test as well, this is a persistent condition rather than a one-off and warrants confirmation that a replacement wheel has not simply been swapped onto the rear. The tyre advisories on both axles suggest the current set is reaching the end of its usable life, and budget should be set aside for a full replacement prior to fitting the vehicle for regular use, particularly as cracking and perishing will worsen once temperatures drop. On a road evaluation, listen for any squeal or grinding from the front brakes that might indicate worn pads or scored discs, as brake component wear typically accelerates alongside higher mileage and aged suspension components. Steering should be checked for vagueness around the straight-ahead position and for any pulling or pull to one side under braking, which could point to combined wear across the front suspension and brake caliper slide mechanisms. Finally, with an oil leak noted as recently as 2020, the engine bay and undertray should be inspected for fresh residue around the sump, cam cover, and oil filter housing, and the coolant level and condition confirmed before purchase.