Nissan Micra (2001)
2001 Nissan Micra
CarHunch analysed 43,012 real MOT records for the 2001 Nissan Micra. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Nissan Micra has a 72.8% first-time pass rate, which is 7.2 points below the UK average, and nearly 30% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers considering a 23-year-old example. This reliability gap reflects the age of the vehicle rather than inherent design weakness.
At a median mileage of 53,225 miles, surviving examples are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they still rack up an average of 4.44 failures and 14.6 advisories per MOT—pointing to rust, worn suspension, and brake wear as recurring issues. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the undercarriage and brake condition, as these cars need proactive maintenance to pass reliably.
What to check before buying a 2001 Nissan Micra
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 29.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Nissan Micra
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 42,973 | 72.8% | 4.44 |
| Other (0%) | 23 | 70.9% | 1.35 |
| Diesel (0%) | 10 | 70.2% | 4.9 |
| LPG (0%) | 5 | 67.5% | 4 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 56.3% | 7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Nissan Micra vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2001 Nissan Micra vehicles fall between 39,547 and 68,470 miles.
2001 Nissan Micra — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,178 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Nissan Micra
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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65.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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59.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.8%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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34.5%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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27%
Oil leak
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23.2%
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread
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22.5%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Nissan Micra?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.