Nissan Qashqai Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 1,004,461 MOT tests across 16 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
79%
Nissan Qashqai pass rate
81%
Nissan average
82%
All-model average
The Nissan Qashqai has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, which is 2 points below the Nissan average and 3 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 19 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Nissan Qashqai Fails Its MOT On
Of the 179,557 MOT tests on the Nissan Qashqai that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Suspension
43%Cars and vans the same age: 33% (the Qashqai fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
31%Cars and vans the same age: 37% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
24%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £80-£450
Steering
21%Cars and vans the same age: 7.1% (the Qashqai fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
Tyres
18%Cars and vans the same age: 23% (the Qashqai fails on this less often) · Typical repair £50-£300
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (17% of failed tests, steering)
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (12% of failed tests, brakes)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Nissan Qashqai Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Qashqai year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Nissan Qashqai Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 1.3L | 94% | 6% | 93% (+1) |
| 2020 | Petrol | 1.6L | 93% | 7% | 92% (+1) |
| 2019 | Petrol | 0.0L | 90% | 9% | 91% (-1) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.2L | 87% | 12% | 89% (-2) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.2L | 86% | 14% | 87% (-1) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.2L | 83% | 17% | 86% (-3) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.4L | 81% | 19% | 84% (-3) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.6L | 78% | 21% | 82% (-4) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 80% (-8) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 1.6L | 70% | 29% | 79% (-9) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 2.0L | 69% | 31% | 77% (-8) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.6L | 67% | 32% | 75% (-8) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.6L | 65% | 34% | 75% (-10) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.6L | 65% | 34% | 74% (-9) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 2.0L | 66% | 33% | 73% (-7) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 2.0L | 64% | 36% | - |
Nissan Qashqai Running Costs
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Nissan Qashqai FAQ
What are the most common Nissan Qashqai problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Nissan Qashqai that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (43% of the 179,557 failed tests), lights and electrics (31%) and brakes (24%). The single most common fault was "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" (17%). Across 1,004,461 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 79% ended in a pass.
Is the Nissan Qashqai reliable?
The Nissan Qashqai has an average MOT pass rate of 79%, from 1,004,461 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 4 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Nissan Qashqai years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2009 (65% of 45,532 tests passed, against 75% for all 2009 cars), the 2012 (70% of 77,840 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars) and the 2008 (65% of 26,413 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Qashqai faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Nissan Qashqai typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Nissan Models
Common problems pages for other Nissan models