2008 Nissan Note MOT pass rate: 64.6% (44,364 tests)
Is the 2008 Note getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
Scroll horizontally to read every trend column.
| Test year | Pass rate | Pass-rate bar |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 65.6% +0.2 vs same-age |
65.6% visual scale |
| 2024 | 64.3% -0.5 vs same-age |
64.3% visual scale |
| 2025 | 63.7% -1.5 vs same-age |
63.7% visual scale |
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 2008 Note
Scroll horizontally to read every failure column.
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18,228 | 35.8% |
| 2 | Suspension | 14,291 | 28.1% |
| 3 | Brakes | 5,005 | 9.8% |
| 4 | Tyres | 3,778 | 7.4% |
| 5 | Visibility | 2,843 | 5.6% |
| 6 | Body, chassis, structure | 2,229 | 4.4% |
All Note years compared
Scroll horizontally to compare every registration-year column.
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 25,581 | 61.9% | -2.5 pts | 101,645 |
| 2007 | 34,621 | 63.1% | -2.1 pts | 97,492 |
| 2008 (this page) | 44,364 | 64.6% | -0.5 pts | 94,368 |
| 2009 | 43,795 | 66.2% | -0.2 pts | 87,655 |
| 2010 | 41,728 | 66.5% | -0.9 pts | 84,491 |
| 2011 | 35,382 | 67.6% | -1.5 pts | 78,054 |
| 2012 | 34,688 | 68.7% | -2.6 pts | 70,445 |
| 2013 | 34,963 | 73.1% | -0.2 pts | 65,512 |
| 2014 | 64,692 | 81.0% | +5.2 pts | 58,441 |
| 2015 | 44,362 | 85.3% | +6.6 pts | 50,570 |
| 2016 | 31,930 | 87.9% | +6.5 pts | 41,750 |
| 2017 | 15,389 | 88.1% | +4.1 pts | 38,195 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Nissan Note years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
FAQs
Is a 2008 Nissan Note reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 64.6% of their MOT tests (44,364 tests, 2023–2025), -0.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 94,368 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 Note?
The median tested example shows 94,368 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 2008 Note?
In this cohort petrols pass 64.8% of tests against 57.7% 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.
Before you agree to the work
A fault or an advisory is a quote waiting to happen. These pages set out what a garage has to tell you, what a comparable written quote should include, and what you can do if the bill is not what you agreed.
- When a repair costs more than the car — what a comparable quote should include, plus any verified UK figures we have sourced.
- Estimates, quotes and extra work — what a price has to cover, and when a garage may charge more than it first said.
- What a diagnostic test costs — what the fee should include, and when it should come off the repair.
- Tools — when to buy and when to skip — how to choose a diagnostic tool, and when a garage visit is cheaper than owning one.
- Choosing a garage you can check — what to verify before you hand over the keys.
- Your rights after a car repair — what to do when the work is not right, and how to put it in writing.
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 the Open Government Licence v3.0.