Nissan Micra Common Faults in the UK

K13 2010–2016 and K14 2017–2022 — small hatchback. Updated 28 October 2026.

This guide covers the K13 2010–2016 and K14 2017–2022 only. Older Micra generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.

The Nissan Micra’s weak spot on DVSA’s MOT data is the first years of the current generation: 2017 and 2018 registrations pass 13.6 and 12.7 points below all cars registered those years, and 2019 and 2020 sit 3.6 points below. DVSA lists three recalls of 10,000 or more vehicles (seat slide rails R/2023/095, 41,191; passenger airbag R/2019/312; push-start switch R/2015/133), and What Car? says the previous generation was recalled six times. It calls the 2017–2022 Micra generally reliable, and in a 2017 review of the earlier car said a lot of Micras had been written off, so check the history.

Largest DVSA recall for the Micra: R/2023/095, 41,191 vehicles — In certain vehicles should the driver s seat be set in the position where it coincides with a design feature in the upper rail it may in certain conditions exceed the stress limits of the rail material.

MOT pass rate — official DVSA data

77.9% of Nissan Micras registered 2013–2022 pass the MOT on the day (cars fixed during the test included), 2.9 points below all cars registered in those years (80.8%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 9,931 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Nissan Micra (2000–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 71.0% pass on the day (cars fixed during the test included), from 25,020 tests.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.

See it by registration year and by mileage ↓

Asking prices — on Autoza

£2,495–£8,650, median £4,995

Cars advertised on 29 October 2026

Road Tax (UK) — VED, from the second year

£200/yr standard rate

£200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).

Fuel Economy — sourced figures only

No sourced real-world figure for the Micra, so none is printed: the official lab figure depends on the engine and on the test cycle the car was approved under, so use the figure for the exact version you are looking at.

Insurance

Insurance group depends on the engine and trim, so get a quote for the exact registration before you buy.

The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for Nissan Micra cars registered 2010–2022. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The fuel economy tile names the source it rests on or says there is no sourced figure, and the insurance tile gives no figure. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.

Best and worst years to buy

We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.

Best Years

2021, 2022

DVSA’s MOT table rates 2021 and 2022 registrations above all cars registered those years (by 2.9 and 2.5 points), and a 2022 car will normally have been built after 5 October 2021, the last build date of the seat slide rail recall R/2023/095. A 2021 car can be inside it, and a car can be registered months after it was built, so check by registration.

Worst Years

2017–2020

DVSA’s MOT table rates 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 registrations below all cars registered those years, by 13.6, 12.7, 3.6 and 3.6 points; the first two are the widest gaps in the Micra’s table. These are K14 cars, which also carry the passenger airbag recall R/2019/312 (built to 14 November 2017) and the seat slide rail recall R/2023/095 (built to 5 October 2021). An MOT checks safety items on the day, not engine or gearbox condition, so read the gap as a pointer to upkeep and condition.

Known faults — Nissan Micra K13 2010–2016 and K14 2017–2022

How to read this list. Items marked Safety recall are DVSA safety recalls, shown with DVSA’s own reference. Whether a particular car is affected depends on when it was built: check it by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: what the UK publication named on each card reports from its owner surveys and tests. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.

Driver’s seat — slide rail may exceed its stress limits (K14)

Safety recall · R/2023/095Large recall — 41,191 vehicles

Symptoms: DVSA wording: in certain vehicles, if the driver’s seat is set in the position where it coincides with a design feature in the upper rail, the rail may in certain conditions exceed the stress limits of the rail material; the seat slide rails are replaced with revised parts.
Years affected: Micra built 5 December 2016 to 5 October 2021
Indicative repair (UK): Free under recall
What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the Nissan dealer record showing the driver’s seat rails were replaced on a 2016–2021 car.

Passenger airbag — may develop a tear when deployed (K14)

Safety recall · R/2019/312Large recall — 12,119 vehicles

Symptoms: DVSA wording: the passenger airbag may develop a tear during deployment; it is replaced with new parts. What Car? gives the number of cars as 12,119 and says the fix is free at a Nissan dealer.
Years affected: Micra built 1 October 2016 to 14 November 2017
Indicative repair (UK): Free under recall
What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the dealer record showing the passenger airbag was replaced on a late-2016 or 2017 car.

K13 recalls — push-start switch, brakes, fuel rail sensor, airbag, throttle software, ignition coil

Safety recall · R/2015/133Large recall — 10,248 vehicles

Symptoms: DVSA lists the recalls What Car? counts (it says “recalled six times”): the push-start switch may stay pressed and the engine stop unintentionally (R/2015/133); the brake master cylinder is not to specification and pedal travel can lengthen (R/2013/060); the fuel rail pressure sensor may loosen and fuel may leak in extreme cases (R/2012/024); the driver’s airbag inflator may crack and fragment (R/2014/137); an engine control software error can cause brief unexpected acceleration above 3,600 rpm, which the driver can counter with the brakes (R/2015/066); and an ignition coil can short-circuit and the engine may stall and not restart (R/2016/008).
Years affected: Micra built 5 June 2013 to 16 March 2015 (R/2015/133), 1 June 2012 to 15 March 2013 (R/2013/060), 25 January to 29 December 2011 (R/2012/024), 27 May 2010 to 31 July 2012 (R/2014/137), 25 October 2010 to 27 February 2015 (R/2015/066) and 9 July 2015 to 5 January 2016 (R/2016/008)
Indicative repair (UK): Free under recall
What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. On a 2010–2016 car ask for the Nissan dealer record for each recall that covers its build date; What Car? advises checking with a Nissan dealer using the registration number.

DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2015/133 10,248 (every model in the recall); R/2013/060 8,288; R/2012/024 4,690 (every model in the recall); R/2015/066 3,806; R/2016/008 2,010 (every model in the recall); R/2014/137 1,919.

K14 build-window recalls (ignition switch wiring, VIN label, front wheel hub)

Safety recall · R/2019/349Smaller recall — 1,985 vehicles

Symptoms: DVSA lists small recalls: the ignition switch harness connector of some K14 Micras with a mechanical key may not be locked in position and may disconnect, in an extreme case shutting the engine down while driving with no restart (R/2017/243, 1,615 vehicles); the masses on the VIN label may be incorrect (R/2019/349, 1,985); and the front wheel hub may crack, which drivers may notice as abnormal noise (R/2018/084, 14). What Car? names the first two.
Years affected: Micra built 23 May 2016 to 14 April 2017 (R/2017/243), 17 July to 5 November 2018 (R/2019/349) and 26 September to 4 October 2017 (R/2018/084)
Indicative repair (UK): Free under recall
What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask a Nissan dealer to confirm none applies to the VIN of a 2016–2018 car.

DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2019/349 1,985; R/2017/243 1,615; R/2018/084 14.

Clutch, CVT automatic and suspension (K13)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownModerate

Symptoms: What Car? says manual clutches on the 2010–2016 car can be vulnerable, that the CVT automatic has caused issues for some owners, usually when the car has not been serviced to schedule (its fluid needs changing at three years), that the cheap interior can develop rattles and squeaks, and that lower wishbones and their bushes have been known to fail prematurely. Its page is dated 3 October 2017, and it gave this generation a distinctly average reliability score of 54% in the survey it cites.
Years affected: K13 2010–2016
What to check before buying: Check for a clear clutch biting point and for slip when accelerating from low speed in a high gear, ask for the CVT’s service history, and listen for suspension knocks on the test drive.

History — many Micras have been written off

Owner-reported · frequency unknownMinor — wear-and-tear

Symptoms: What Car? says that, most likely because of their low values, a lot of Nissan Micras have been classed as Category C or D write-offs; there are pros and cons to buying such a car, but at the very least make sure the repairs were carried out by a reputable company to a high standard. Its page is dated 3 October 2017.
Years affected: K13 2010–2016
What to check before buying: Run a vehicle history check on the registration and ask for the repair invoices if the car has ever been written off.

Diesel particulate filter — needs motorway runs (K14 1.5 diesel)

Owner-reported · frequency unknownMajor

Symptoms: What Car? says the 1.5-litre diesel’s particulate filter needs regular motorway journeys to regenerate, that lots of urban journeys will clog it and may lead to an expensive repair, and that a regeneration shut off part-way can put fuel in the oil so the oil level rises and the engine can be damaged. Its page is dated 8 January 2024.
Years affected: K14 1.5-litre diesels
What to check before buying: Ask how the previous owner used the car, check the oil level and for a particulate filter warning light, and ask for the service record.

Nissan Micra MOT results by year and mileage

Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.

By registration year

Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the Micra was higher in 3, lower in 4 and level in 3 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap below is 2017 registrations: 68.6% against 82.2% for all cars registered that year. The widest gap above is 2021 registrations: 93.0% against 90.1%.

Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every Nissan Micra DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together.

Nissan Micra MOT pass rate (passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included) by registration year, against all cars registered the same year
Registered	Micra	All cars that year	Difference
2022537 tests	93.7%	91.2%	+2.5 higher
2021642 tests	93.0%	90.1%	+2.9 higher
2020611 tests	85.1%	88.7%	−3.6 lower
2019792 tests	83.3%	86.9%	−3.6 lower
20181,046 tests	71.8%	84.5%	−12.7 lower
20171,243 tests	68.6%	82.2%	−13.6 lower
20161,075 tests	78.1%	79.4%	−1.3 level
20151,311 tests	78.6%	76.7%	+1.9 level
20141,444 tests	76.9%	74.3%	+2.6 higher
20131,230 tests	71.3%	71.9%	−0.6 level

By mileage at the test

Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the Micra was lower in 5 and level in 1 of the 6 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.

Show the table by mileage (6 bands)

Nissan Micra MOT pass rate by odometer reading at the test, against cars of the same age on the same mileage
Mileage	Micra	Same age and mileage	Difference
0k–20k2,020 tests	91.5%	92.4%	−0.9 level
20k–40k4,592 tests	80.9%	85.7%	−4.8 lower
40k–60k5,481 tests	72.5%	77.6%	−5.1 lower
60k–80k5,163 tests	67.1%	71.1%	−4.1 lower
80k–100k3,593 tests	62.3%	66.5%	−4.2 lower
100k–120k2,003 tests	60.7%	64.1%	−3.4 lower

Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.

We don’t give a recall count for the Nissan Micra: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 537 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere

Recommended for

Buyers who want a small hatchback and will check the recall record for the car’s build date, the history for a write-off, and the service record of a CVT.

Not recommended for

Anyone buying a 2017–2020 car without the dealer record for the airbag and seat-rail recalls and a good look at its condition, or a diesel that has only done short trips.

Alternatives to consider

If the Nissan Micra doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:

Nissan Micra: questions buyers ask

What are the most common faults on a used Nissan Micra in the UK?

What is the best year to buy a used Nissan Micra in the UK?

Best-buy years: 2021, 2022. DVSA’s MOT table rates 2021 and 2022 registrations above all cars registered those years (by 2.9 and 2.5 points), and a 2022 car will normally have been built after 5 October 2021, the last build date of the seat slide rail recall R/2023/095. A 2021 car can be inside it, and a car can be registered months after it was built, so check by registration.

What years of Nissan Micra should I avoid in the UK?

Worst years: 2017–2020. DVSA’s MOT table rates 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 registrations below all cars registered those years, by 13.6, 12.7, 3.6 and 3.6 points; the first two are the widest gaps in the Micra’s table. These are K14 cars, which also carry the passenger airbag recall R/2019/312 (built to 14 November 2017) and the seat slide rail recall R/2023/095 (built to 5 October 2021). An MOT checks safety items on the day, not engine or gearbox condition, so read the gap as a pointer to upkeep and condition.

How much does a used Nissan Micra cost in the UK in 2026?

What sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026, for Nissan Micra cars registered 2010–2022: £2,495–£8,650, median £4,995 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.

What is the road tax (VED) on a Nissan Micra in the UK?

Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).

What real-world fuel economy does a Nissan Micra achieve on UK roads?

How does a Nissan Micra compare to its rivals?

Strong alternatives in the UK: Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).

Who is the Nissan Micra most suitable for?

Buyers who want a small hatchback and will check the recall record for the car’s build date, the history for a write-off, and the service record of a CVT.

Who should NOT buy a Nissan Micra?

Anyone buying a 2017–2020 car without the dealer record for the airbag and seat-rail recalls and a good look at its condition, or a diesel that has only done short trips.

Are there safety recalls on the Nissan Micra?

DVSA lists 11 safety recalls for the Nissan Micra that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2023/095 (41,191 vehicles, built between 5 December 2016 and 5 October 2021): In certain vehicles should the driver s seat be set in the position where it coincides with a design feature in the upper rail it may in certain conditions exceed the stress limits of the rail material; R/2019/312 (12,119 vehicles, built between 1 October 2016 and 14 November 2017): The passenger air bag may develop a tear during deployment; R/2015/133 (10,248 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 5 June 2013 and 16 March 2015): Engine push start switch may malfunction. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.

Is the Driver’s seat — slide rail may exceed its stress limits (K14) on the Nissan Micra a serious problem?

Driver’s seat — slide rail may exceed its stress limits (K14) on the Nissan Micra is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2023/095. Symptoms: DVSA wording: in certain vehicles, if the driver’s seat is set in the position where it coincides with a design feature in the upper rail, the rail may in certain conditions exceed the stress limits of the rail material; the seat slide rails are replaced with revised parts. Years affected: Micra built 5 December 2016 to 5 October 2021. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under recall. What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the Nissan dealer record showing the driver’s seat rails were replaced on a 2016–2021 car.

Is the Passenger airbag — may develop a tear when deployed (K14) on the Nissan Micra a serious problem?

Passenger airbag — may develop a tear when deployed (K14) on the Nissan Micra is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2019/312. Symptoms: DVSA wording: the passenger airbag may develop a tear during deployment; it is replaced with new parts. What Car? gives the number of cars as 12,119 and says the fix is free at a Nissan dealer. Years affected: Micra built 1 October 2016 to 14 November 2017. Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under recall. What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. Ask for the dealer record showing the passenger airbag was replaced on a late-2016 or 2017 car.

Is the K13 recalls — push-start switch, brakes, fuel rail sensor, airbag, throttle software, ignition coil on the Nissan Micra a serious problem?

K13 recalls — push-start switch, brakes, fuel rail sensor, airbag, throttle software, ignition coil on the Nissan Micra is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2015/133. Symptoms: DVSA lists the recalls What Car? counts (it says “recalled six times”): the push-start switch may stay pressed and the engine stop unintentionally (R/2015/133); the brake master cylinder is not to specification and pedal travel can lengthen (R/2013/060); the fuel rail pressure sensor may loosen and fuel may leak in extreme cases (R/2012/024); the driver’s airbag inflator may crack and fragment (R/2014/137); an engine control software error can cause brief unexpected acceleration above 3,600 rpm, which the driver can counter with the brakes (R/2015/066); and an ignition coil can short-circuit and the engine may stall and not restart (R/2016/008). Years affected: Micra built 5 June 2013 to 16 March 2015 (R/2015/133), 1 June 2012 to 15 March 2013 (R/2013/060), 25 January to 29 December 2011 (R/2012/024), 27 May 2010 to 31 July 2012 (R/2014/137), 25 October 2010 to 27 February 2015 (R/2015/066) and 9 July 2015 to 5 January 2016 (R/2016/008). Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under recall. What to check before buying: Check this one by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy — an outstanding recall is free to put right and a completed one should be on the service record. On a 2010–2016 car ask for the Nissan dealer record for each recall that covers its build date; What Car? advises checking with a Nissan dealer using the registration number.

Check these next

The guide above is about the Nissan Micra as a model. These are about the car in front of you.

More checks on a Nissan Micra

A fault list tells you what goes wrong; these tell you about the car in front of you.

Looking to buy a Nissan Micra in the UK?

Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.

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