Used car guide · 2014–2021

Nissan Qashqai Mk2 (J11): best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 (J11) did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 360,552 MOT tests.

2020best year: 87% pass first time, 1 points above all 2020 cars
2016weakest year: 71% pass first time, 4 points below all 2016 cars
Suspension arm bushes and jointsthe weak spot that shows up in 6 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 (J11), against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

50%75%100%2014: 65% pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%) 65% 2014*2015: 69% pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%) 69% 20152016: 71% pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%) 71% 20162017: 76% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 76% 20172018: 79% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%) 79% 20182019: 83% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%) 83% 20192020: 87% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%) 87% 20202021: 88% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 88% 2021*
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2014*65%69% -4Ball joint dust cover 5.8× usual43,675
201569%72% -3Ball joint dust cover 6× usual55,621
201671%75% -4Ball joint dust cover 6.3× usual58,096
201776%78% -2Brake pads 1.8× usual59,502
201879%81% -2Brake pads 1.8× usual47,031
201983%84% -1Brake pads 1.8× usual49,723
202087%86% +1Brake pads 1.9× usual31,428
2021*88%87% +1Brake pads 2.2× usual15,476

Weak spots across the Nissan Qashqai Mk2 (J11)

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Suspension arm bushes and jointsup to 2.7× usual

    Stands out in 6 years: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake padsup to 1.9× usual

    Stands out in 6 years: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Ball joint dust coverup to 6.3× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Track rod endsup to 3.6× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2017, 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Ball jointup to 2.8× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Known faults

From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.

  • Oil burning (1.2 DIG-T)

    Owners report heavy oil use and some piston failures on the 1.2 DIG-T petrol, sometimes needing a new engine.

    Check: Check the oil level on the dipstick. A spare bottle of oil in the boot is a warning sign. Listen for a noisy timing chain.

    Source: Car Mechanics: buying a Nissan Qashqai J11

  • CVT automatic judder

    The CVT automatic on earlier cars can judder at low speed and overheat on long climbs. Replacement is expensive.

    Check: If it’s an automatic, test for judder at low speed and look for a gearbox temperature warning.

    Source: Car Mechanics: buying a Nissan Qashqai J11

  • Turbo and particulate filter (1.5 dCi)

    The 1.5 dCi diesel’s turbo can fail early, and town-driven cars can block the EGR valve and particulate filter.

    Check: Listen for a whistle and loss of power, and watch for DPF or EGR warning lights.

    If it needs doing: DPF clean or regeneration, about £160–£500. ClickMechanic

    Source: Car Mechanics: buying a Nissan Qashqai J11

  • Rear springs breaking

    Rear springs commonly snap. The first sign is a knock from the back over bumps.

    Check: Listen for a knock from the rear on bumpy roads.

    Source: Car Mechanics: buying a Nissan Qashqai J11

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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