City-friendly supermini, buy manual only
The Micra was reinvented with the K14 generation (2017-2022), moving from a frumpy city car to a stylish supermini built on the Renault-Nissan CMF-B platform. Pre-2017 K13 models (2010-2016) are ultra-cheap at £2,000-£4,500 but feel outdated. K14 models trade at £7,000-£13,000. The Micra was discontinued in 2022 with no direct replacement, which may limit future parts availability. It competes with the Fiesta, Corsa and Polo but has never matched their sales volumes in the UK.
We track 8 known issues across the Nissan Micra range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Nissan Micra? Enter the reg to see which of our 8 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
K10 (1988–1993) — Engine options included the 1.0, 1.2.
K11 (1994–2003) — Engine options included the 1.0, 1.3, 1.3. Our database flags 3 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
K12 (2003–2010) — Petrol options included the 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, with 1.5 dCi on the diesel side. Our database flags 8 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
K13 (2010–2017) — Engine options included the 1.2, 1.2 DIG-S. Our database flags 6 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion (£400–£800 to address).
K14 (2017–2023) — Engine options included the 0.9, 1.0. 1 known issues affect this generation, none rated as critical. The most significant concern is Door hinge corrosion (£80–£200 to address).
The rear subframe mounting points corrode where the subframe bolts to the chassis, causing structural weakness that can affect vehicle control. This is exacerbated by road salt exposure and poor drainage around the mounting areas. The issue appears across multiple mileage bands but is most severe on cars reaching 40,000-80,000 miles.
Subframe failure can cause complete loss of rear suspension control and potentially catastrophic handling failure. The car should not be driven if significant corrosion is present. Professional welding repair typically costs £400-£800 but may not be viable if corrosion is extensive.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The K9K 1.5 dCi diesel engine uses a variable geometry turbocharger that commonly fails between 80,000-180,000 miles. The turbo actuator mechanism sticks due to carbon buildup, and the turbo bearings fail due to oil contamination or irregular oil changes. This engine was shared with Renault and the turbo failure pattern is well-documented across both marques. Failure typically presents as loss of boost pressure, black smoke, and eventually complete loss of power.
Complete turbo failure leads to severe loss of power and potential engine damage from oil starvation or contamination. The car becomes undriveable for normal use. A replacement turbocharger costs £600-£1,500 fitted, with reconditioning being the most cost-effective option.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
MOT data shows Micras fail general body corrosion checks at 98.6 times the fleet average, indicating widespread structural corrosion issues beyond the subframe mounting points. The thin steel construction and limited rustproofing on these budget cars makes them particularly vulnerable to UK road salt and moisture. Door frames, sills, rear wheel arches, and floor sections are commonly affected.
Extensive body corrosion affects structural integrity and MOT compliance. Minor surface rust can be treated, but structural corrosion in load-bearing areas makes the car dangerous and uneconomical to repair. Professional body restoration typically exceeds the car's value.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
Nissan CVT transmissions in K12 and K13 Micras commonly develop juddering, slipping, and erratic behaviour at high mileages, typically beyond 100,000 miles. The continuously variable transmission uses a steel belt and pulleys that wear over time, and the transmission fluid degrades despite Nissan's 'lifetime' claims. This is a well-documented pattern across Nissan's CVT applications. Early intervention with fluid changes can extend life, but major internal wear requires transmission replacement.
CVT failure results in loss of drive and requires transmission replacement or major rebuild. The car cannot be driven safely with a failing CVT. Replacement costs £800-£2,500 depending on whether a used, reconditioned, or new unit is fitted.
Test the automatic gearbox extensively in slow traffic, car parks and on hill starts. Feel for any juddering, hesitation or clunking during gear changes. Try repeated low-speed manoeuvres as this is where problems are most apparent.
MOT data shows Micras fail power steering checks at 89.8 times the fleet average, indicating widespread power steering system problems. The most common issue is fluid leaks from the high-pressure hoses, pump seals, and rack seals. The steering becomes heavy and unresponsive when fluid levels drop, and the pump can be damaged by running dry.
Power steering failure makes the car difficult to manoeuvre at low speeds and increases driver fatigue. Running the pump without fluid can cause expensive pump damage. Fluid leaks typically cost £100-£400 to repair depending on the location.
During the test drive, check the steering for excessive play, vibration or pulling to one side. Listen for groaning or whining when turning the wheel at low speed. Power steering fluid level and condition should be checked on hydraulic systems.
For the full breakdown of all 8 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Nissan Micra common problems page.
Based on 1.4M real DVSA MOT tests, the Nissan Micra fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is abs fault at 1110x the fleet average, followed by headlight fault (288x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Nissan Micra MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £40–£70 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing chain inspection (£300–£500).
See the full Nissan Micra service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Nissan Micra has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2019-2021 K14 with the 1.0 IG-T 100PS and manual gearbox — early production electrical niggles resolved, engine refined with updated turbo mapping, and Nissan Intelligent Mobility features (AEB, lane departure) standard on most trims. Avoid the CVT automatic on any year. For budget buyers, 2020-2021 Acenta trim offers the best value with all essential kit included.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Nissan Micra, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 8 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 8 known Nissan Micra issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.