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Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) (2017-2024) reliability

At a glance

Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) built around 2018: fails its MOT more often than average

Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) models built around 2018 fail their MOT more often than similar cars the same age. Look closely at the suspension on any car you view.

Looking at a Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

25% of MOT tests on Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) models built around 2018 ended in a fail (retests included), against 18% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) models built around 2018 involves the suspension.

Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14)
poor reliability2017-2024HatchbackPETROL / DIESEL

Based on 59,063 tests of Micra models registered 2017-2024.

About 1 in 10 petrol Micra cars registered in 2022 (9.3%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 5,226 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 25 Micra Mk5 (K14) MOTs (4.3%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2018 (7 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 15,045 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 20 Micra Mk5 (K14) MOTs (4.8%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2018 (7 years old).

Based on 15,045 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk5 (K14) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
7,1268.4%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
7,69612.0%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
8,11916.3%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
10,93520.3%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
15,04524.7%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
10,14224.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

How the Micra Mk5 (K14) compares

At each age below, see how the Micra Mk5 (K14) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 148,484 tests across 14 Nissan models, built around 2018 (7 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateNissan average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
7,1268.4%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
7,69612.0%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
8,11916.3%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
10,93520.3%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
15,04524.7%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
10,14224.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Micra Mk5 (K14).

  1. 1

    Suzuki Celerio

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.5%
    Dangerous
    2.4%
    Still registered at 10 years
    93.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.9%, against 24.7% for the Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14), both built around 2018.

    5,662 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Volkswagen up!

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    14.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.7%

    Lower fail rate: 14.2%, against 24.7% for the Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14), both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    15,657 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Toyota Aygo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.2%
    Dangerous
    4.6%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    Lower fail rate: 13.0%, against 24.7% for the Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14), both built around 2018.

    25,028 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Skoda Citigo

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.6%
    Dangerous
    3.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96.2%

    Lower fail rate: 15.3%, against 24.7% for the Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14), both built around 2018.

    6,553 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

20 recalls in all

5 of the 20 Micra Mk5 (K14) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 4 more

Top concerns

  • The passenger air bag may develop a tear during deployment
  • In certain vehicles should the driver s seat be set in the position where it coincides with a design feature in the uppe
  • The masses applied on the VIN label may be incorrect

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on Micra Mk5 (K14) cars built around 2018

The share of petrol cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 638 cars.

Structural systems

Suspension
37%
Emissions
4%

Wear items

Tyres
18%
Brakes
10%
Lighting
6%

Fail rate by engine size, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Engine sizes across all petrol Micra tests (not specific to Mk5 (K14)).

Under 1.0 litre24.4%12,419 tests1.0 to 1.4 litres20.6%858 tests
How Micra Mk5 (K14) cars have aged

How Micra Mk5 (K14) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%20%345678Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.5% (5,019 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 10.6% (4,672 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.0% (4,359 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 11.8% (4,154 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 16.1% (4,209 tests, 2025 data)2020Built around 2019, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 7.8% (6,826 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2019, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 11.9% (6,400 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2019, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 15.2% (6,350 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2019, 6 years old at the time of MOT: 18.7% (6,447 tests, 2025 data)2019Built around 2018, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.7% (8,433 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2018, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 12.2% (8,054 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2018, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 16.7% (8,069 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2018, 6 years old at the time of MOT: 19.9% (8,178 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2018, 7 years old at the time of MOT: 24.0% (8,411 tests, 2025 data)2018Built around 2017, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 13.7% (10,353 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2017, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 16.8% (10,107 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2017, 6 years old at the time of MOT: 21.3% (10,303 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2017, 7 years old at the time of MOT: 22.0% (9,989 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2017, 8 years old at the time of MOT: 24.8% (10,142 tests, 2025 data)2017
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020First registered around 2019First registered around 2018
How each part holds up as Mk5 (K14) cars age

How each part holds up as Mk5 (K14) cars age

The share of petrol cars built 2017-2020 that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Rates usually rise with age, but can dip slightly as cars leave the road.

Part of the car5 years6 years7 years8 years
Suspension14%18%37%43%
Brakes3%8%10%16%
Emissions1%2%4%6%
Tyres10%15%18%20%
Lighting3%3%6%7%
DrivetrainNo figureNo figureNo figure1%
Corrosion0%0%0%1%

Based on petrol cars in the 2017-2020 build-year band, from 368 to 923 cars at each age.

Mk5 (K14) variants compared

Micra Mk5 (K14) variants built around 2018

The fail rate for each Micra Mk5 (K14) variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Petrol

  • MICRA24.1%13,278 tests

Diesel

  • MICRA29.2%1,766 tests
All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common issues on Nissan Micras of this age

This list covers every Nissan Micra built around 2018, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk5 (K14) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    25.9%
    Advisory: 4,501Fail: 1,931 (30% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    15.7%
    Advisory: 3,343Fail: 371 (10% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    14.4%
    Advisory: 2,864Fail: 267 (9% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Coil spring corroded

    13.4%
    Advisory: 683Fail: 2,093 (75% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    7.3%
    Advisory: 1,014Fail: 221 (18% of the times it was found)

Based on 15,045 tests

Looking at a Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Nissan Micra Mk5 (K14) (2017-2024) fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. This is based on 15,045 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 59,063 MOT tests on Nissan Micras first registered between 2017-2024. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.