2010 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · WM10 WMA

Four consecutive clean MOT passes with no advisories recorded across the most recent four annual tests, the latest being 22 August 2025, present a notably tidy roadworthiness profile for a 2010 Nissan Micra now approaching its sixteenth year. The absence of any flagged defects, advisories, or marginal items over this four-year window indicates that the components normally susceptible to age-related deterioration on a supermini of this generation—suspension linkages, coil springs, brake pipes, underbody corrosion, and exhaust mounting points—have not yet attracted examiner attention. While a clean MOT history is not a guarantee of internal mechanical condition, the consistency of uneventful annual results from 2022 through 2025 suggests the vehicle has remained structurally sound and free from developing corrosion or worn componentry severe enough to warrant an advisory entry. With 51,146 miles recorded against a sixteen-year span, annual accumulation averages roughly 3,197 miles, which sits well below typical usage for a city-oriented hatchback of this vintage and indicates either genuinely light running or extended periods of inactivity. The continuous year-on-year MOT testing from 2022 onwards confirms the vehicle has not been off the road or declared SORN during recent years, so any standing time would have occurred earlier in its life. Low-mileage examples of this age do carry specific mechanical considerations: rubber and elastomeric components such as suspension bushes, anti-roll bar links, drive shaft gaiters, and engine mounting rubbers can perish through age as readily as through use, and brake caliper slide pins may seize if the vehicle has seen long idle stretches. Equally, infrequent running means oil changes may have been calendar-driven rather than mileage-driven, and cooling system internals, including the thermostat and water pump, warrant verification of recent service history. On a physical inspection, particular attention should be paid to the areas the MOT record cannot fully interrogate. Lift the vehicle or request the seller raise it to allow a thorough visual check of the front suspension wishbones, lower ball joints, and anti-roll bar drop links for perished rubber boots or play, as the K13 Micra is known for these items deteriorating progressively with age even on well-maintained examples. Check the rear brake drums or discs for surface corrosion and confirm the handbrake holds on an incline, as caliper piston seizure is a documented issue on low-use vehicles. Listen for any clonks or knocks from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and pay close attention to steering returnability, as a sluggish self-centring action often points to worn lower control arm bushes. During the test drive, allow the engine to warm fully before assessing performance, as the 1.2 HR12DE three-cylinder unit can mask minor misfires or rough running when cold. Confirm smooth engagement across all gears, listen for any whining from the transmission on the overrun, and verify that the clutch takes up positively without slipping under hard acceleration in fourth or fifth gear. Steering should remain straight and true without pulling, and the brake pedal should feel firm with no sponginess, pulling to one side under heavy braking, or grinding noises from the calipers. Finally, inspect the coolant and oil levels and their respective condition, examine the underside for any signs of fresh weeping from the sump, and confirm that the timing chain operates quietly on start-up, as this engine is timing chain-driven and replacement at this mileage is plausible if the original component has stretched.