2011 Nissan Note 1.4L Petrol · SL61 LLF

The mechanical story of this 2011 Nissan Note is dominated by a persistent front subframe mounting issue that has surfaced at every single MOT test recorded, alongside a concerning cluster of major brake, suspension, and tyre failures that triggered immediate stop-test categories in 2023 and again in March 2026. The subframe pin or bush wear has been flagged on both nearside and offside front positions in 2023, 2024, and 2026, and although each time the examiner recorded the movement as not yet resulting in excessive play, the recurrence across three years points to a mounting that is progressively degrading rather than a one-off observation. The March 2026 test is particularly significant: while the vehicle was ultimately recorded as a pass on the same date, the failure sheet contained four major defects and one dangerous failure, including a fractured offside rear coil spring, an excessively binding offside rear service brake, a front brake imbalance across an axle, an ineffective windscreen wiper, and a nearside front tyre with tread depth below the 1.6mm legal minimum, which is categorised as too dangerous to drive away. This combination of a snapped spring, binding caliper, and imbalanced front brakes within a single test suggests the rear brake and suspension assemblies have not been inspected or serviced proactively between annual tests. Against a fifteen-year age, the recorded mileage of 83,473 equates to roughly 5,500 miles annually, which is substantially below the typical accumulation for a vehicle of this era. The MOT history shows tests at roughly annual intervals from 2022 through to March 2026, with no extended gaps or periods off the road, indicating the car has been in continuous light use. Lower annual mileage reduces wear on high-cycle components such as the clutch, engine internals, and gearbox, but it does not insulate the car from the kind of corrosion, seized caliper, and dry-rotted suspension components that have actually been failing this vehicle. The 2023 failure for a separated rear tyre structure and inoperative parking brake on one side, combined with the 2026 binding rear brake and snapped coil spring, is consistent with under-use rather than over-use, as sliding mechanisms seize, dampers fail through lack of regular movement, and tyres deteriorate structurally when a vehicle spends long periods stationary. For a prospective buyer, the priority mechanical items to inspect physically and on a test drive are the front subframe mountings and the rear brake and suspension assembly. On the subframe, the buyer should ask the seller to confirm whether the nearside and offside front subframe pins or bushes have been replaced, as the advisory has now appeared on three consecutive tests; on a test drive, listen for clonks or shudders through the front end over speed bumps and uneven tarmac, and have an assistant watch the front wheels for lateral movement while the steering is rocked. At the rear, the fractured offside coil spring and excessively binding service brake on the same corner are red flags for a caliper that has seized in its guide pins or piston, which would manifest on test as the car pulling to one side under firm braking, a rear wheel feeling significantly hotter than the others after a short drive, or a burning smell after the vehicle has been parked following use. The buyer should also check the nearside rear tyre for any bulges, cracks in the sidewall, or uneven inner-edge wear, as the 2023 record showed a structural tyre failure, and the front tyres should be measured with a tread depth gauge given the 2025 advisories for both front tyres being close to the legal limit. A further area worth scrutinising is the front brake system, which has accumulated two recorded advisories for worn, pitted, or scored front brake discs in 2022, a major failure for a significantly worn offside front disc in 2023, and a front axle brake imbalance in 2026. This sequence suggests the discs may have been machined or replaced and that caliper slide pins or flexible brake hoses on the front axle should be examined for any sticking, leaks, or swelling under the bonnet. The exhaust minor leak advisories from 2024, the bonnet primary retaining device failure from the same test, and the inoperative registration plate lamp are all relatively minor and easily remedied, but the buyer should still verify that the bonnet catch now latches positively and that all plate lamps illuminate. The 2024 oil leak advisory, recorded as not excessive, warrants a check of the underside of the engine and gearbox for fresh drips on a warm day, and the buyer should request the current oil level and condition. Taken together, the test record does not indicate a well-maintained or carefully looked-after vehicle; it indicates a low-mileage car with chronic subframe bush wear, recurring brake and tyre failures, and a pattern of major defects being discovered only at the point of annual MOT inspection rather than addressed proactively beforehand.