2013 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · VO13 OOF

A pattern of chronic rear coil spring corrosion sits at the centre of this Micra's roadworthiness profile, with the offside rear coil spring appearing as an advisory in 2023, 2025 and now escalating in the most recent pass on 17 August 2026 to corrosion noted across all three rear springs including the offside front. This persistent advisory trend, recorded annually under section 5.3.1 (b) (i), points to progressive structural surface oxidation rather than an isolated event. A single failure is also on file from 23 August 2022, when the offside front lower suspension arm ball joint was judged excessively worn, a defect of sufficient severity to prevent a pass but which has not recurred in the four subsequent tests. Aside from this, the car has passed every annual examination since 2020 with no further failures, although the cumulative advisory count now runs into double figures when tyre wear items from 2020, 2022 and 2025 are factored in. The overall trajectory is therefore one of stable roadworthiness on major items, set against a worsening picture on spring corrosion that warrants close physical inspection. With a recorded mileage of 42,376 miles across thirteen years of testing, the vehicle has averaged approximately 3,260 miles annually, a notably low figure that places it well below typical Micra usage. There are no extended gaps in the MOT record to suggest long periods off the road, with annual tests consistently filed from 2020 onwards. Low annual mileage of this nature generally reduces wear on high-cycle items such as brake discs, clutch assemblies and engine internals, but it can accelerate deterioration of static components, particularly rubber bushes, brake pipes, subframe metalwork and the spring coils already flagged, because the vehicle spends extended periods stationary. The MOT history itself does not record any brake pipe corrosion advisories, but the prevailing environment suggested by the rear spring corrosion should be assumed to apply to underbody metalwork more broadly. A prospective buyer should physically inspect the rear coil springs for advanced section loss, paying particular attention to the offside rear unit which has now been flagged in three consecutive advisories, and the offside front which is newly affected. Spring replacement on a Micra of this generation is a relatively contained job, but if corrosion has migrated to the spring seats or the surrounding axle turret area, repair costs escalate sharply and a close look with a torch and ideally the vehicle raised on a ramp is essential. On the road, listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear over uneven surfaces, which can indicate a fractured or weakened spring, and check that the vehicle sits level at both sides when unladen. The nearside front tyre, flagged in 2025 as worn on both inner and outer edges, points to potential camber or suspension geometry deviation on that corner, so on a test drive feel for steering pull to the left, particularly under braking, and any vibration through the wheel. The offside front lower suspension arm ball joint that failed in 2022 should be confirmed as having been properly renewed rather than simply greased, and the replacement component checked for any play by hand with the wheel lifted. With four tyre-related advisories across the record, including sidewall cracking on both rear tyres in 2020 and edge wear on the offside front in 2022 and nearside front in 2025, a thorough inspection of all four current tyres for age-related perishing, tread depth and uneven wear patterns is warranted, and budget for a full set if they have been neglected. Given the underbody corrosion evidence on the springs, an oil leak from the rear of the engine or transmission area is worth checking for on the ground after the car has been standing, as low mileage can mask seal deterioration that becomes apparent once the vehicle is used more regularly. A pre-purchase inspection on a ramp remains the most reliable way to verify the true extent of corrosion beyond what is visible from above.