2009 Nissan Micra 1.2L Petrol · WV09 CXM

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 6 October 2025, although five advisories were issued at the same time. It is worth noting that the 2025 test produced more advisory items than the previous two passes in 2024 and 2023, which were each clean apart from minor notes, suggesting a mild downward trend in mechanical condition as the car ages. The recurring oil leak advisory, now appearing at consecutive tests, indicates a persistent seep rather than an acute failure, but it does warrant monitoring as prolonged seepage can degrade surrounding components such as drive belts, alternator casings, and lower engine mount areas. The progressive surfacing of suspension and corrosion advisories across 2024 and 2025 also points to age-related wear that is likely to continue advancing and may eventually cross the threshold from advisory to failure. With an indicated 90,862 miles over roughly seventeen years, this Nissan Micra has covered an average of approximately 5,345 miles annually, which is considerably below typical usage for a vehicle of this age. Such low annual mileage suggests the car has either been used predominantly for short journeys or has spent extended periods standing between uses, both of which carry their own mechanical implications. Short-trip use tends to prevent the engine and exhaust system from reaching full operating temperature, encouraging moisture accumulation in the oil, premature turbo or catalyst degradation, and increased carbon build-up. Conversely, prolonged standing accelerates corrosion on brake discs, calliper slide pins, underbody components, and exposed suspension ferrous parts, and can also lead to 12V battery sulphation and drying of rubber seals throughout the drivetrain and cooling system. The advisories recorded across 2024 and 2025 deserve particular attention on any inspection. The offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush wear noted in 2024 is a common concern on Micras of this generation and can manifest on the road as a clonking noise over speed humps, a vague wandering sensation at speed, or uneven front tyre wear particularly on the inner or outer shoulder. A test drive should include driving over uneven surfaces and listening for knocks from the front end, along with a visual check of the tyres for asymmetric wear patterns. The offside front suspension component mounting area corrosion should be physically examined, ideally with the vehicle raised, to confirm it has not progressed beyond surface oxidation into structural concerns, as corrosion in prescribed load-bearing areas can ultimately result in MOT failure. The exhaust minor gas leak from 2024 should be rechecked, as a deteriorating exhaust can produce an increasingly audible blowing noise under load, reduced fuel efficiency, and elevated emissions that may affect future test outcomes. Given the age of the vehicle and its low annual mileage, several calendar-based service items should be verified regardless of the MOT record. The tyres, all of which showed perishing or slight damage in 2025, should be closely inspected for sidewall cracking, tread depth, and manufacturing date, as rubber degrades with age regardless of mileage. Brake discs and callipers should be examined for surface corrosion, seizing slide pins, or binding calliper pistons, all common after long periods of inactivity, and a firm brake pedal with no pulling to either side during a test drive would indicate reasonable condition. The coolant, brake fluid, and gearbox oil should all be considered for replacement on a time basis rather than mileage, as fluids degrade chemically over years. The 12V battery should be load-tested, as low-use vehicles frequently suffer from reduced cranking performance and electronic gremlins from a weakened battery, and finally a comprehensive service history including cambelt replacement records should be requested, as the timing belt interval on this engine is typically due around every five years or sixty thousand miles, and a missing or undocumented replacement represents a significant risk on a seventeen year old vehicle.