2004 Nissan Micra 1.0L Petrol · YP04 WHE

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a pattern of reactive repairs rather than preventative care. The most recent test on December 14 2021 at 95,419 miles resulted in a pass following a failure for incorrect headlamp aim and an oil leak. While the car passed its last inspection, the recurrence of failures in previous years suggests that the owner only addresses defects when necessitated by the MOT tester rather than monitoring components during regular service intervals. The mileage profile is notably low for a 22-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 4,337 miles per year. Between November 2019 at 93,415 miles and December 2021 at 95,419 miles, the car covered only 2,004 miles over a two-year period. This low usage often leads to the degradation of rubber-based components and seals due to age and stationary periods rather than mechanical wear, which aligns with the deteriorated ball joint dust cover failures recorded in 2020. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension, specifically the ball joint dust covers which failed in November 2020. Although these were replaced to pass the test, the low mileage suggests other rubber components may be brittle or cracking. The oil leak noted in the December 2021 test requires a close examination to determine if it is a minor weeping seal or a failing engine gasket, as such leaks can worsen when a vehicle sits. Given the age of the Micra, checking the chassis for structural corrosion on the mounting points is also essential, as these areas were not highlighted in the provided MOT history.