Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Nissan Note?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Nissan Note?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Nissan Note?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Nissan Note vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

45% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Nissan Note reliable?

Based on MOT data from 20,126 vehicles, the 2008 Nissan Note has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Nissan Note?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Nissan Note are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (65.2% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (60.9% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (51.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Nissan Note?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Nissan Note (2008)

20,126 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73% first-time pass rate

2008 Nissan Note

CarHunch analysed 20,126 real MOT records for the 2008 Nissan Note. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2008 Nissan Note passes its MOT first time just 73% of the time, seven points below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significant concern for buyers prioritising safety. Both petrol and diesel variants perform similarly poorly, with pass rates of 73.0% and 71.1% respectively.

At 64,000 miles median mileage, these Notes are typical for their age, yet they're racking up an average of 5.32 failures and 22.2 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear issues rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for preventative repairs on common failure points and always get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks for the defects that have tripped up nearly half the fleet.

The 2008 Nissan Note has a below-average first-time pass rate (73% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

73%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

45%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.32

Over 18.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 50k–80k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 20,126 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 20,126 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 65.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 60.9%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 43.6%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 28.9%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 20,126 Nissan Note cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73%

Petrol

19,281 vehicles

71.1%

Diesel

836 vehicles

Before you buy a 2008 Nissan Note

Based on MOT data from 20,126 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (96%)	19,281	73%	5.32
Diesel (4%)	836	71.1%	5.39

Colour Breakdown

Based on 179,519 Nissan Note vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 21.6%

38,715

Silver 16.6%

29,730

Black 15.8%

28,316

Red 15.6%

28,006

Grey 10.9%

19,635

White 9.3%

16,641

Beige 8.2%

14,649

Orange 1.4%

2,494

Gold 0.3%

588

Yellow 0.3%

524

Brown 0.1%

147

Maroon 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Nissan Note vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

64,421

typical

49,686

low mileage

79,744

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Nissan Note vehicles fall between 49,686 and 79,744 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,686 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,686–79,744 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Nissan Notes sit.

⚠ Over 107,654 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Nissan Note — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 69% of 2008 Nissan Notes are still active.

13,249 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 69% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

18.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.32

Avg failures per vehicle

22.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Nissan Note: All Note years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Nissan Note stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on