Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Nissan Note vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

40% 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 2012 Nissan Note reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,636 vehicles, the 2012 Nissan Note has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Nissan Note?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 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 2012 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 (2012)

12,636 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.4% first-time pass rate

2012 Nissan Note

CarHunch analysed 12,636 real MOT records for the 2012 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 2012 Nissan Note falls slightly below the UK average with a 77.4% first-time pass rate, but the real concern is that 40% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above typical levels and a serious red flag for potential buyers. Diesel versions perform worse than petrol (75% vs 78% pass rate), suggesting the diesel engine may be less reliable in this generation.

These Notes are running at a typical mileage for their age (median 46,981 miles), yet they're averaging 3.37 failures per test and a notably high 16.7 advisories, indicating widespread wear and minor issues. Before buying one, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brakes, suspension, and emissions systems, as the dangerous defect prevalence suggests these are problem areas on this model.

The 2012 Nissan Note has a decent first-time pass rate (77.4%), 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

77.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

40%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.37

Over 13.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

47k

Middle half: 34k–61k

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 16.7 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 12,636 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 12,636 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 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,636 Nissan Note cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

78%

Petrol

10,288 vehicles

75%

Diesel

2,348 vehicles

Before you buy a 2012 Nissan Note

Based on MOT data from 12,636 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 40% 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%)	10,288	78%	3.31
Diesel (19%)	2,348	75%	3.66

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 2012 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.

46,981

typical

34,106

low mileage

61,433

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Nissan Note vehicles fall between 34,106 and 61,433 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 34,106 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.

✓ 34,106–61,433 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Nissan Notes sit.

⚠ Over 82,934 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Nissan Note — Still on the Road

Almost all 2012 Nissan Notes are still on the road.

Strong survival — 11,167 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

13.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.37

Avg failures per vehicle

16.7

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 2012 Nissan Note stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing