Used Nissan Note 2006 – 2013 reliability

Owners generally have few gripes with the Nissan Note, appreciating its reliability, practicality, spaciousness and low running costs.

In 2010, the car received a mid-life facelift, with changes to the exterior and interior. There were major changes to the lights, bumpers and front grille, while the dashboard was redesigned, with higher-spec versions gaining a touchscreen.

It’s always best to buy examples that have a full service history and it’s worth doing a vehicle check to ensure there’s no outstanding finance on the car, and to check it hasn’t previously been written off.

One issue that’s worth bearing in mind when buying a Note is that SVE models use a tyre size that is made by just one manufacturer, can wear quickly and is expensive to replace.

Many owners have also complained about electrical issues, such as the foglights refusing to turn off and the windscreen wipers misbehaving. Fortunately, dealers can reprogramme the ECU to solve such issues, or in some cases, replace the whole unit.

A bigger problem is the disappointing reliability record of early diesels and the fact they are often expensive to repair.

You should also look out for doors that refuse to unlock and rear seats that jam so they can no longer be folded down to extend the boot space.

The Nissan Note is easier on its parts than most small hatchback, according to data supplied by CAP Derwent

Wiper blades and brake discs typically need replacing only every 35,000 and 40,000 miles respectively. Plus, brake pads, brake fluid, pollen filters and bulbs all last longer than average.

The data also shows that it’s typically more than 100,000 miles before expensive items such as the engine, gearbox, clutch or air-conditioning need to be repaired.

Nissan finished a credible 9th out of 37 manufacturers in the 2015 What Car? Reliability Survey.