2009 Nissan Micra MOT pass rate: 70.1% (45,808 tests)
Is the 2009 Micra getting worse?
Pass rate of 2009-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 71.2% +4.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 70.2% +4.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 68.9% +2.7 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2009 Micra
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12,144 | 31.7% |
| 2 | Suspension | 11,897 | 31.0% |
| 3 | Tyres | 3,936 | 10.3% |
| 4 | Visibility | 3,073 | 8.0% |
| 5 | Brakes | 3,015 | 7.9% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 1,473 | 3.8% |
All Micra years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12,273 | 61.4% | -5.2 pts | 63,208 |
| 2002 | 21,220 | 62.3% | -3.4 pts | 62,931 |
| 2003 | 27,818 | 62.4% | -2.6 pts | 75,382 |
| 2004 | 30,520 | 63.2% | -1.1 pts | 79,610 |
| 2005 | 43,936 | 63.1% | -1.4 pts | 82,044 |
| 2006 | 50,605 | 66.5% | +2.1 pts | 82,604 |
| 2007 | 38,270 | 67.1% | +2.0 pts | 77,089 |
| 2008 | 41,649 | 69.2% | +4.1 pts | 75,836 |
| 2009 (this page) | 45,808 | 70.1% | +3.7 pts | 71,062 |
| 2010 | 45,997 | 70.4% | +3.0 pts | 68,840 |
| 2011 | 37,148 | 72.1% | +2.9 pts | 60,876 |
| 2012 | 33,913 | 72.3% | +1.1 pts | 56,211 |
| 2013 | 33,858 | 74.1% | +0.8 pts | 50,130 |
| 2014 | 41,557 | 77.6% | +1.7 pts | 43,626 |
| 2015 | 38,294 | 80.8% | +2.1 pts | 39,629 |
| 2016 | 31,618 | 82.0% | +0.7 pts | 32,448 |
| 2017 | 37,424 | 74.7% | -9.4 pts | 37,202 |
| 2018 | 29,421 | 79.0% | -7.4 pts | 33,876 |
| 2019 | 25,295 | 86.6% | -1.8 pts | 25,618 |
| 2020 | 15,629 | 89.8% | -0.1 pts | 19,601 |
| 2021 | 12,789 | 92.8% | +2.4 pts | 17,708 |
| 2022 | 5,560 | 93.3% | +2.1 pts | 15,670 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Nissan Micra years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2009 Nissan Micra reliable?
2009-registered examples passed 70.1% of their MOT tests (45,808 tests, 2023–2025), +3.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 17 years old with a median 71,062 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2009 Micra?
The median tested example shows 71,062 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2009 Micra?
In this cohort petrols pass 70.7% of tests against 63.8% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.