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MajorCommonSuspension

Nissan Note: Front lower arm bush failure causing front-end knock

Front lower arm bush failure causing front-end knock is a common suspension fault on the Nissan Note on the 2012–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 31 documented faults on the Nissan Note.

Vehicle
Nissan Note
Years
2012–2020
System
Suspension

This page covers the Nissan Note as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Note faults31 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front wheel of a car splayed outward with the lower control arm hanging down after a ball joint separation.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A separated lower ball joint: the control arm has dropped and the wheel has splayed out under the guard.

Elfix · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The front lower control arm inner pivot bushes on the E12 Note are rubber-bonded and degrade with age and mileage. NZ and AU conditions — road grit, UV exposure, and road salt in coastal areas — accelerate rubber deterioration. Worn bushes allow the lower arm to shift under braking and cornering loads, producing a clunking or knocking noise from the front of the car. Severe bush wear increases toe change under braking, worsening straight-line stability and accelerating front tyre wear. Both front and rear pivot bushes typically require replacement together. The fault is a common VTNZ and AA WoF rejection item on E12 Notes above 120,000 km.

What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front end over bumps or rough road surfaces
  • Noise pronounced during braking or during slow-speed cornering
  • Vague or imprecise front-end steering feel
  • Uneven or accelerated front tyre wear on inner or outer edge

How to check it

Where to look. Front lower control arm inner pivot, both sides

Visually inspect the rubber for cracking, splitting, or displacement from the metal sleeve. Check for oil contamination from engine leaks which softens bushes prematurely. Compare both sides for symmetrical condition. If a workshop inspection is possible: With the car on a hoist, grip each front lower arm and push and pull firmly fore and aft to check for movement at the inner pivot bushes.

Parts involved: Ball joint.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the car had any suspension or steering work done recently?”
  • “Do you notice any knocking or clunking from the front end over bumps?”
  • “Has the vehicle had a recent wheel alignment and did it pass without suspension advisory notes?”

Now check the Nissan Note you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Note buyer questions

Is front lower arm bush failure causing front-end knock serious on a Nissan Note?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Note. The front lower control arm inner pivot bushes on the E12 Note are rubber-bonded and degrade with age and mileage. NZ and AU conditions — road grit, UV exposure, and road salt in coastal areas — accelerate rubber deterioration. Worn bushes allow the lower arm to shift under braking and cornering loads, producing a clunking or knocking noise from the front of the car. Severe bush wear increases toe change under braking, worsening straight-line stability and accelerating front tyre wear. Both front and rear pivot bushes typically require replacement together. The fault is a common VTNZ and AA WoF rejection item on E12 Notes above 120,000 km.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Note?

$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Note years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2020 Nissan Note. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Visually inspect the rubber for cracking, splitting, or displacement from the metal sleeve. Check for oil contamination from engine leaks which softens bushes prematurely. Compare both sides for symmetrical condition. If a workshop inspection is possible: With the car on a hoist, grip each front lower arm and push and pull firmly fore and aft to check for movement at the inner pivot bushes. Look here: Front lower control arm inner pivot, both sides