If you are considering buying a used Nissan Note, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 10 known faults for this model, 6 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
Are you about to buy a lemon?
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright. Our database tracks 29 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Nissan Note advert and we will check it in seconds.
The EGR valve on the 1.5 dCi engine can stick in the closed position, causing exhaust gas temperatures to rise. This can lead to turbocharger bearing failure and potentially cause the engine to run on its own crankcase oil, leading to catastrophic engine damage. If it sticks open, it can cause rough running.
Rough guide
£1000-3000+
Typical symptoms
Rough running (if EGR stuck open)
Loss of power
Engine consuming its own oil
Turbo failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.5 dCi Diesel
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
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Nissan Note Mk2 (2013-2016) (2013-2017) problems
Transmission/ClutchHigh severity💬 Owner reports
The X-tronic CVT transmission is prone to failure, with reports of noisy operation, juddering, and complete failure at relatively low mileages. Nissan has replaced units under warranty, but out-of-warranty repairs are very expensive.
Rough guide
£2000-4000+
Typical symptoms
Noisy transmission operation
Juddering or shuddering during acceleration, especially after over-run
Loss of drive or refusal to engage gear
Engine revving without corresponding increase in speed
Affected vehicles
Engines:
X-tronic CVT transmission
Typical mileage:
7000-50000 miles
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SuspensionMedium severity💬 Owner reports
Premature wear and failure of front anti-roll bar bushes, leading to creaking and rattling noises from the front suspension. Nissan has developed redesigned parts, but the issue can recur.
Rough guide
£200-400
Typical symptoms
Squeaking or creaking noises from the front suspension, especially over speed humps or uneven roads
Rattling from the front wheels
Poor handling or vague steering feel
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
20000-60000 miles
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ElectricalMedium severity💬 Owner reports
Air conditioning systems are prone to requiring re-gassing at low mileages, often due to leaks. The system uses the expensive R1234YF refrigerant, making repairs significantly more costly than older systems. Multiple reports of system failure and long waits for parts.
Rough guide
£250-600+
Typical symptoms
Air conditioning blowing warm air
System not cooling effectively
Unusual noises from the A/C compressor
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants with A/C
Typical mileage:
20000-50000 miles
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ElectricalHigh severity💬 Owner reports
Poor sealing of the front windscreen can lead to rainwater ingress, damaging the wiper motor and other associated electrical components on the same CANbus power circuit. This can cause multiple electrical failures.
Rough guide
£500-1500
Typical symptoms
Wipers failing to operate
Lights going out unexpectedly
Signal lights on wing mirrors failing
Rear door lock failure
Multiple intermittent electrical faults
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
30000-70000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 Owner reports
Reports of excessive oil consumption on the 1.2 DIG-T engine, with one owner reporting 2 litres of oil used in 11,000 miles and completely blackened engine oil. This can indicate internal engine wear or issues.
Rough guide
£500-2000+
Typical symptoms
Frequent need to top up engine oil
Engine oil quickly turning black after an oil change
Blue smoke from the exhaust (especially on startup or acceleration)
Engine warning light related to oil pressure or emissions
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.2 DIG-T (HR12DDT)
Typical mileage:
30000-70000 miles
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Nissan Note Mk1 (2006-2013) (2006-2013) problems
SuspensionHigh severity💬 Owner reports
Front subframe bulkhead mounts are prone to fracture, leading to knocking noises and potential MOT failure. This can also cause excessive front tyre wear.
Rough guide
£500-1000
Typical symptoms
Loud knocking noise from the front suspension, especially over bumps
Excessive or uneven front tyre wear
MOT failure due to subframe issues
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
50000-100000 miles
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SuspensionMedium severity💬 Owner reports
Front coil springs are prone to premature failure, with multiple reports of both original and replacement springs breaking. This can lead to poor handling and MOT failure.
Rough guide
£200-400 per axle
Typical symptoms
Loud clunking or banging noise from the suspension
Uneven ride height
Poor handling or steering feel
MOT failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
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SuspensionHigh severity📝 Editorial
Multiple reports of steering rack failures, sometimes requiring repeated replacements. This can lead to loss of steering control.
Rough guide
£600-1200
Typical symptoms
Excessive play in the steering wheel
Clunking or grinding noises when turning the steering wheel
Heavy or inconsistent power steering assistance
Loss of steering control (as per recall R1511 for Mk2, but similar issue reported for Mk1)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
40000-80000 miles
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SecurityHigh severity💬 Owner reports
Part of the worldwide Takata airbag recall, affecting front passenger airbag inflators. Improperly manufactured propellant could cause the inflator to rupture and the airbag to deploy abnormally in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Rough guide
£0 (free safety recall)
Typical symptoms
No symptoms prior to deployment
Airbag warning light may illuminate (though not directly related to this specific fault)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All variants
Typical mileage:
Any miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: September 2026
Where this Nissan Note fault data comes from
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Nissan Note owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Nissan Note goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.