A manual Nissan Micra K13 is the lesser risk if its clutch bites low and doesn't slip (early clutch failure is a known fault), but skip the K13 CVT automatic, a known failure between 27,000 and 63,000 miles.
10 known faults, 6 rated high severity in our database; owners report 50.7 mpg, 90% of the official figure. Everything below is built from that data and the archived owner history, not from a press car.
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Check a Nissan Micra advert (free) →A K13 Micra (2010 to 2017) with the manual gearbox is the lesser risk, but it isn't a clean one: early clutch failure is a serious known fault on 2010 to 2016 cars, turning up anywhere from 7,000 to 40,000 miles, and Nissan itself admitted to more clutch trouble than usual. Test the bite point, ask for clutch receipts and listen for banging from the front, since suspension trouble is a known fault on 2012 to 2017 cars.
Don't buy a K13 with the CVT automatic. Gearbox failure is a known fault on 2010 to 2016 cars between 27,000 and 63,000 miles, and owners have reported whole transmissions needing replacing. The K12 (2003 to 2010) isn't an easy way round it either: ABS and ESP module failure on 2006 to 2010 cars and electric power steering failure on 2004 and 2005 cars are both serious known faults, and water getting into the ABS module is often behind the first.
The K11 (1992 to 2003) is an old car now, so rust decides it: the front cross-member under the radiator and the sills corrode and fail MOTs, a known fault. The 2017 to 2022 Micra has hardly anything on record, and that's a gap rather than a clean bill. The one thing that is logged is a Nissan dealer bulletin for the 1.0 DIG-T 117 stalling at idle, cured by refitting a one-way air valve that had gone in backwards.
No Micra engine or gearbox gets a clean sheet, so the lesser risk is the K13 1.2 petrol with the manual box, as long as its clutch checks out. That clutch is its known fault, failing early on 2010 to 2016 cars with a high bite point, slipping and awkward gear changes, and one owner paid £1,000 for a new one at just 3,400 miles after it went without warning.
Steer clear of the K13's CVT automatic, a known failure between 27,000 and 63,000 miles. One owner paid £1,000 when the pressure valve went at 63,000 miles, and another's 2012 DIG-S needed a whole new transmission at about 45,000 miles despite a Nissan dealer history. Missed fluid changes are one cause, and the CVT fluid's due every 60,000 miles, or from 30,000 in hard use. The K12's 4-speed automatic is a dull thing, and one owner's failed at 13,500 miles.
The K12's 1.2 and 1.4 petrols have timing chains that stretch between 40,000 and 80,000 miles when the oil isn't changed often enough, a known fault that brings an engine warning light, poor cold starts and a rough idle. Petrol K12s from 2003 to 2007 also carry a serious known fault with the crankshaft sensor, which makes the engine stall, run badly or refuse to start.
The 1.5 dCi diesel, sold in the K12, has a serious known fault on early engines in 2003 to 2006 cars, before a modified valve arrived: the EGR valve can stick shut, which can wreck the turbo bearings and leave the engine running on its own oil. Its cambelt's due every 72,000 miles or 5 years, if that comes sooner, and the lower-powered version's a disappointment to drive. The K11's 1.0 and 1.3 petrols have their own throttle body and timing chain troubles, covered in its section.
On a K13 manual the clutch comes first: a bite point right at the top of the pedal, revs rising without the speed following when you press on in a high gear, or a baulky change all mean it's on the way out. Try the 3rd to 2nd downshift from cold too, because one owner's 2016 car went notchy in cold weather even after a replacement gearbox.
Listen for banging from the front as you pull away, and for crunching from the front suspension; two owners of 2012 to 2017 K13s have reported suspension trouble, one with rear arm bushes gone at about 14,000 miles. On a K12, the ABS and ESP lights must go out after start-up and stay out, the steering should feel light with no warning light, and there should be receipts for brake fluid every 2 years.
Start any K12 or K11 petrol from cold and listen for timing chain rattle or a misfire. One owner's early K12 went from the first misfire to not starting from cold in about 1,800 miles. Ask for oil change receipts at short intervals, and on a 1.5 dCi, a receipt for the cambelt. Underneath a K11, look hard at the front cross-member and the sills for rust.
Ask for proof that recall work was done. On K12s that means the driver's seat walk-in mechanism and the steering wheel bolt on 2002 and 2003 cars, doors that could open on the move on early cars, and the airbag and steering rack on 2008 cars. On K13s it's the fuel leak fix on 2011 cars and the sticking push-start switch on 2013 and 2014 cars.
Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.
Only buy a K11 with solid metal underneath: the sills and the front cross-member (the strut ahead of and beneath the radiator) both rust through and fail MOTs, a known fault once a car's past 6 years old, and every K11 is well beyond that. Any rust in those two places ends the deal, however tidy the rest of the car looks.
The petrol engines have two weak points. The throttle body, which houses the mass airflow sensor, fails from 60,000 to 100,000 miles, bringing misfires, cutting out and poor starting, and short runs on cheap fuel clog it up; a corroded fuse in the small fuse box by the battery can cause the same symptoms. If the timing chain rattles, don't buy it: that can mean a new tensioner, and replacing a stretched chain is a big job.
Oil matters more than mileage here: it needs changing at least every 6 months, so dirty oil on the dipstick is a warning. Clocking goes on, so check the mileage against the paperwork. Kerbing damages the suspension, worst on power-steered cars, and some early cars didn't have power steering at all. Damp weather can stop one starting, as the spark plugs pick up condensation.
The K11's CVT automatic can develop clutch problems, so if it thumps when you select drive or the lever's stiff, leave it. There was a recall on 1992 to 1994 cars for the floor cracking beside the handbrake, and on 1996 and 1997 cars an electrical fault can melt the plastic headlamp bulb holders.
Real-world economy on this generation: Nissan Micra 50.5 mpg.
A K12's a gamble on its electrics, so only buy one with working ABS and receipts for brake fluid every 2 years. ABS and ESP module failure on 2006 to 2010 cars is a serious known fault, often from water getting in, turning up from 30,000 to 70,000 miles. One owner's module was repaired under goodwill and failed again 8 months later.
Electric power steering failure is a serious known fault on 2004 and 2005 cars between 30,000 and 60,000 miles, bringing heavy steering and a warning light, and independent repairs haven't always held. Petrol cars from 2003 to 2007 can lose their crankshaft sensor signal and stall or refuse to start, and Nissan gave dealers a tool to clean the flywheel. The 1.2 and 1.4 timing chains stretch when oil changes slip, and on early 1.5 dCi engines a sticking EGR valve can ruin the turbo, another serious known fault.
It's a four-star NCAP car, but there's a long list of smaller faults: flat batteries on short-run cars from a software drain that reprogramming cures, water in the electric boot lock, a corroding fusible link holder under the nearside headlamp, plastic dipstick tubes snapping (later cars got a bracket), and failing seat lift mechanisms on 3-door cars. Front clonking on full lock can be a factory misalignment that dealers can correct.
One report says early cars with the keyless intelligent key can end up as write-offs when the system fails, because the fix means a new steering rack and column. Recalls cover the driver's seat walk-in mechanism and steering wheel bolt on 2002 and 2003 cars, doors that could open on the move on early cars, and airbags that could fail to deploy plus a steering rack missing a needle bearing on 2008 cars.
Real-world economy on this generation: Nissan Micra 50.5 mpg, Nissan Micra 47.7 mpg.
The manual's the one, and only with a clutch that bites low and doesn't slip: early clutch failure is a serious known fault on 2010 to 2016 cars from 7,000 to 40,000 miles, and Nissan often turns down goodwill. Owners have reported clutches going at 3,400, 6,982 and 10,500 miles, and one owner's 1.2 needed its third clutch within 20,000 miles.
The CVT automatic is the one to avoid, with failure a serious known fault between 27,000 and 63,000 miles. Watch for a stutter and loss of power pulling away or changing up, and revs soaring at 70mph or up hills before it grabs a higher ratio. Two owners have reported a grating or loud noise on start-up, and one owner's dealer put the stutter down to a sticky solenoid.
Suspension trouble is the other known fault on 2012 to 2017 cars, from two owners' reports: listen for banging from the front as you pull away, or crunching from the front suspension. One owner's banging carried on after new bushes and a new steering rack, and another's rear suspension arm bushes went at 14,384 miles.
It carries a four-star Euro NCAP rating, though stop/start only works with the air con switched off. One owner paid £500 for a new air con condenser after stone damage. Recalls cover a fuel leak on 2011 cars and a push-start switch that could stick in on 2013 and 2014 cars, so ask to see that they've been done.
Real-world economy on this generation: Nissan Micra 47.7 mpg, Nissan Micra 57.1 mpg.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
Paste any Nissan Micra advert and we check it against the faults, the MOT record and these figures in seconds.
Check an advert now (free) →Owners report 50.7 mpg across the Nissan Micra engines with data, about 90% of the official figure, from 354 submissions.
Nissan Micra Real MPG by engine →The K12's cabin is full of clever storage: there's a bin under the passenger seat, a glovebox split into compartments and door bins shaped so maps don't flop over. The rear seat slides too, and it's good to drive, practical and easy on fuel.
The 2017 to 2022 Micra manages to be comfortable and fun to drive at the same time. The K11's a well-built little car, and it widened the Micra's appeal, so younger drivers wanted one as well as the older buyers it had always attracted.
A manual Nissan Micra K13 is the lesser risk if its clutch bites low and doesn't slip (early clutch failure is a known fault), but skip the K13 CVT automatic, a known failure between 27,000 and 63,000 miles. Our database holds 10 known Nissan Micra faults, 6 rated high severity, and the sections above say which generation and engine carry them.
A K13 Micra (2010 to 2017) with the manual gearbox is the lesser risk, but it isn't a clean one: early clutch failure is a serious known fault on 2010 to 2016 cars, turning up anywhere from 7,000 to 40,000 miles, and Nissan itself admitted to more clutch trouble than usual. On the fault record the K11 (1992 to 2003) carries 2 known faults against 5 on the K12 (2003 to 2010). Each generation's section above gives the detail. Nissan Micra faults by generation.
On a K13 manual the clutch comes first: a bite point right at the top of the pedal, revs rising without the speed following when you press on in a high gear, or a baulky change all mean it's on the way out. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories and ask for invoices for any work the seller mentions. Then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against every known Nissan Micra fault before you travel.
Owners report 50.7 mpg on average, about 90% of the official figure, from 354 submissions. Belt (1.5 DCI, K9K): 72,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first, so budget for it if the history does not show it done. The known faults page lists a rough repair cost against each fault. Nissan Micra Real MPG by engine.
If you used the Honest John car-by-car reviews before the site closed in 2026, this is where the Nissan Micra buying advice now lives. It is written from the archived owner reports and model notes (archived page, 129 items read for this model), our own known-faults database, the confirmed service intervals and the Real MPG figures. Every number on the page comes from that data, not from the text. The same data feeds our free advert check.
CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services. What happened to Honest John, and where each feature lives now.
The Nissan Micra is one decision. Reading the advert, the history and the seller are the rest, and these cover them.
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