Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Nissan Note 2014: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2014 Nissan Note include Wheel bearings (rear) (~5.9× peers) and Linkage ball joints (front) (~5.6× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (5,876 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

5,876 failed first-attempt tests · 21,068 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Wheel bearings (rear) — about 5.9× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Wheel bearings (rear): about 5.9× more often than similar cars
Linkage ball joints (front): about 5.6× more often than similar cars
Ball joint (front): about 5.2× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 5,876 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Wheel bearings (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 5.9× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 134 failed first-attempt tests; 2.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 134 failures · ×5.9 vs similar cars · 2.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Linkage ball joints (front)

This failure pattern appears about 5.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 498 failed first-attempt tests; 8.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 498 failures · ×5.6 vs similar cars · 8.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Ball joint (front)

This failure pattern appears about 5.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 138 failed first-attempt tests; 2.3% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 138 failures · ×5.2 vs similar cars · 2.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Wheel bearings (rear) Suspension > Wheel bearings	Rear	134	×5.9	2.3%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Linkage ball joints (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints	Front	498	×5.6	8.5%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint	Front	138	×5.2	2.3%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Position lamp (rear) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp	Rear	371	×4.5	6.3%	Likely common fault pattern
5	Position lamp (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp	Front	795	×2.4	13.5%	Possible elevated fault
6	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes	Front	586	×2.2	10.0%	Possible elevated fault
7	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint	Front	757	×2.2	12.9%	Possible elevated fault
8	Malfunction indicator lamp Noise, emissions and leaks > Exhaust emissions > Spark ignition > Malfunction indicator lamp	Any	336	×2.1	5.7%	Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Linkage ball joints (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints	Front	358	×6.4	6.1%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Coil spring Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring	Any	126	×5.5	2.1%	Elevated vs peers
3	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint	Front	64	×5.1	1.1%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Coil spring (front) Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring	Front	313	×4.4	5.3%	Elevated vs peers
5	Pedal Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal	Any	56	×3.3	1.0%	Elevated vs peers
6	Rigid brake pipes (front) Brakes > Rigid brake pipes	Front	364	×3.1	6.2%	Possible elevated fault
7	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes	Front	1,175	×2.7	20.0%	Possible elevated fault
8	Pins and bushes Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes	Any	39	×2.4	0.7%	Elevated vs peers

FAQs

Is the 2014 Nissan Note reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2014 Nissan Note on this page. Among 5,876 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Wheel bearings (rear) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 5.9× more often than peers; 134 observed failures; 2.3% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Nissan Note 2014?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Wheel bearings (rear) (about 5.9× more often than peers; 134 observed failures; 2.3% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Wheel bearings (rear) stand out?

Wheel bearings (rear) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 5.9× more often than peers; 134 observed failures; 2.3% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2014 Nissan Note?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2014 Nissan Note include Wheel bearings (rear), Linkage ball joints (front), Ball joint (front). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Nissan Note 2014 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2014 Nissan Note (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Nissan (separate from this model-year report).