2012 Nissan Leaf Electricity · VE62 AEX

The 2012 Nissan Leaf presents a stable and largely reassuring roadworthiness profile through its MOT history, with the most recent test on 26 September 2023 passing at 65,591 miles. That test flagged four advisories, all minor in nature: the offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on edge, front brake pads wearing thin, rear brake pads wearing thin, and a child seat fitted that prevented a full inspection of the adult belt. No advisory appeared in the 2020 or 2019 tests, and the 2021 and 2022 tests carried only the child seat restriction. The trend is therefore one of gradual consumable wear rather than any escalating mechanical concern. The electric drivetrain has not generated any recorded defects across five consecutive passes. The mileage pattern tells a story of very light use. Between the October 2021 test at 53,551 miles and the September 2023 test at 65,591 miles, the car covered 12,040 miles in just under two years, a rate of roughly 6,000 miles per year. However, the gap between the October 2022 test at 60,650 miles and the September 2023 test at 65,591 miles accounts for 4,941 miles in eleven months, suggesting a modest increase in usage toward the end of the record. The car has now sat for nearly three years without a fresh MOT, meaning the current mileage and mechanical condition are unverified beyond the September 2023 snapshot. A buyer should approach the inspection with a focus on the components the tester flagged. The offside front tyre wear pattern points to possible tracking misalignment or a suspension bush beginning to deteriorate, so checking the condition of the front suspension bushes, ball joints, and coil springs is worthwhile. Both front and rear brake pads were noted as wearing thin in 2023, and given the car has not been tested since, the discs and pads should be measured for remaining material. Brake calipers should also be checked for binding, a common issue on electric vehicles where regenerative braking can mask a dragging hydraulic circuit. The lack of any structural or corrosion advisories across the full history is encouraging, but an in-person underbody inspection remains prudent given the vehicle has been stationary for an extended period. Tyre age, not just tread depth, deserves attention as well, since rubber degrades with time regardless of mileage.