Practical space, sensible money, genuine economy
The Nissan Note occupies a practical niche between supermini and MPV, competing with the Honda Jazz and Hyundai ix20. The E11 (2006-2013) and E12 (2013-2017) generations are plentiful on the UK used market from around £1,500 to £7,000, making them strong value-for-money choices. With an average 79-81% MOT pass rate across 256,000+ tests, the Note sits just below the class leaders on reliability.
We track 11 known issues across the Nissan NOTE range, with 4 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Nissan NOTE? Enter the reg to see which of our 11 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
E11 (2006–2013) — Petrol options included the 1.4L 16v, 1.6L 16v, 1.5L 16v, with 1.5L dCi on the diesel side. We track 8 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Timing chain tensioner failure (£400–£700 to address).
E12 (2013–2021) — Petrol options included the 1.2L DIG-S, 1.2L, 1.2L, with 1.5L dCi on the diesel side. We track 10 known issues on this generation, with 3 classified as significant. The most significant concern is High oil consumption (£0–£200 to address).
The hydraulic timing chain tensioner on E11 1.4L and 1.6L engines fails due to worn internal components, allowing the timing chain to rattle and potentially jump teeth. This is a widespread issue on these engines, with failure typically occurring between 60,000-120,000 miles. The rattling noise is most pronounced on cold starts when oil pressure is low. If left unaddressed, the chain can skip timing and cause severe internal engine damage including bent valves and piston contact.
Complete tensioner failure allows the timing chain to jump teeth, causing catastrophic engine damage including bent valves and potential piston-to-valve contact. Engine rebuild costs £2,000-£4,000. Tensioner replacement is significantly less expensive if caught early.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The HR12DE 1.2L DIG-S supercharged engine suffers from excessive oil consumption due to poor piston ring sealing and oil control ring design. Consumption rates of 1 litre per 1,000 miles are commonly reported, far exceeding normal levels. This issue affects both naturally aspirated and supercharged variants but is more severe on DIG-S models due to higher combustion pressures. The problem typically manifests between 30,000-80,000 miles and progressively worsens.
Continued high oil consumption can lead to engine seizure if oil level drops critically low. Running costs increase significantly due to frequent oil top-ups. Blue smoke emissions can cause MOT failure. Engine rebuild may be required in severe cases.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
The HR12DE 1.2L engine timing chain stretches prematurely due to the combination of high oil consumption, extended service intervals, and lightweight chain construction. DIG-S supercharged variants are particularly affected due to higher combustion loads. Chain stretch causes timing retardation, rough running, and eventual chain jump. The problem is accelerated by poor oil maintenance and affects engines from 50,000 miles onwards.
Severe chain stretch leads to timing errors, rough running, and eventual chain jump causing catastrophic engine damage. Complete engine rebuild typically required if chain fails, costing £3,000-£5,000. Early intervention with chain replacement prevents major damage.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
Defective ignition coils on 2015-2016 HR12DE engines cause engine stalling without warning, creating a significant safety hazard. The coils fail internally due to poor insulation design, leading to misfires, rough running, and complete engine shutdown. Nissan issued recall NTB15-012 to replace faulty coils with improved versions. This affects all mileages and can occur on very low-mileage vehicles.
Engine stalling without warning creates serious safety risks, particularly in traffic or at junctions. Complete loss of power steering and braking assistance occurs when engine stops. Recall work must be completed to ensure safety.
Check for misfires, rough running or hesitation under acceleration. Ask when spark plugs and coil packs were last replaced. A diagnostic scan can reveal stored misfire codes that may not be obvious during a short test drive.
The Nissan Xtronic CVT transmission develops juddering, hesitation, and hanging between gear ratios due to worn drive belts, contaminated fluid, and valve body issues. This affects both E11 and E12 generations, typically manifesting between 50,000-100,000 miles. The transmission may hang in a single ratio, fail to respond to throttle inputs, or produce whining noises. Complete CVT failure requires expensive replacement.
Complete CVT failure requires transmission replacement costing £2,000-£4,000. Driving with a failing CVT risks being stranded and may cause further damage to engine mounts and drivetrain components.
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.
For the full breakdown of all 11 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Nissan NOTE common problems page.
Based on 853k real DVSA MOT tests, the Nissan NOTE fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is subframe bushes or mounts worn at 77x the fleet average, followed by rear registration plate lamp throwing direct wh... (48x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Nissan NOTE MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include cvt transmission fluid (£200–£300).
See the full Nissan NOTE service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Nissan NOTE is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2014-2016 E12 models offer the best balance: the DIG-S supercharged engine is refined, the sliding rear bench is standard, and MOT pass rates sit at 85-90%. Avoid 2006 (70% MOT pass) and check recall status on July 2015 to January 2016 builds for the ignition coil issue.
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 NOTE, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 11 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 11 known Nissan NOTE issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.