Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Nissan Note vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

42% 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 2011 Nissan Note reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,247 vehicles, the 2011 Nissan Note has a first-time MOT pass rate of 76.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Nissan Note?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Nissan Note are: Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (50.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (46.4% 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 2011 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 (2011)

13,247 real MOT outcomes analysed • 76.5% first-time pass rate

2011 Nissan Note

CarHunch analysed 13,247 real MOT records for the 2011 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 2011 Nissan Note's 76.5% pass rate trails the UK average by 3.5 percentage points, placing it in the lower-middle reliability band—but the real concern is that 42.2% of these vehicles have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, well above typical thresholds. Diesel versions underperform petrol ones notably, with a 74.3% pass rate versus 77.0%, suggesting the diesel engine presents additional risk if you're choosing between them.

These Notes are running around 51,500 miles median for their age, which is reasonable, but they're accumulating an average of 3.81 failures and 18.1 advisories per test—pointing to consistent wear issues across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on the engine and suspension, and factor in above-average maintenance costs; this is a dependable family car if properly looked after, but it won't surprise you with low repair bills.

The 2011 Nissan Note has a decent first-time pass rate (76.5%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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

76.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

42.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.81

Over 15.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

52k

Middle half: 38k–67k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 18.1 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 13,247 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 13,247 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 51.6%

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 50.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear 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.

Suspension & steering 29.9%

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 Front Coil spring fractured or broken · …

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

Other issues 28.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,247 Nissan Note cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

77%

Petrol

10,793 vehicles

74.3%

Diesel

2,452 vehicles

Before you buy a 2011 Nissan Note

Based on MOT data from 13,247 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 42.2% 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 (81%)	10,793	77%	3.76
Diesel (19%)	2,452	74.3%	4.03

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 2011 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.

51,520

typical

38,473

low mileage

66,908

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Nissan Note vehicles fall between 38,473 and 66,908 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,473 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.

✓ 38,473–66,908 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Nissan Notes sit.

⚠ Over 90,325 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Nissan Note — Still on the Road

Most 2011 Nissan Notes are still being driven.

Strong survival — 11,213 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% of the peak.

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

15.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.81

Avg failures per vehicle

18.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2011 Nissan Note stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing