The crossover that started it all
The car that invented the UK crossover market, the Qashqai remains a top-10 seller despite losing ground to the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. Used Mk2s (2014-2021) range from £6,000 to £18,000, while Mk3s (2021+) command £15,000-£30,000. Bought by families upgrading from hatchbacks who want a raised driving position without full SUV bulk or running costs.
We track 14 known issues across the Nissan Qashqai range, including 3 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Nissan Qashqai? Enter the reg to see which of our 14 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
J10 (2006–2013) — Petrol options included the 1.6 Petrol, 2.0 Petrol, with 1.5 dCi, 1.6 dCi, 2.0 dCi on the diesel side. Our database flags 10 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Timing belt neglect (£400–£600 to address).
J11 (2014–2021) — Petrol options included the 1.2 DIG-T, 1.3 TCe, 1.6 Petrol, with 1.5 dCi, 1.6 dCi on the diesel side. Our database flags 10 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Excessive oil consumption and engine failure (£3,000–£5,000 to address).
The 1.2 DIG-T HRA2 engine has a severe design flaw in the piston rings and cylinder bore finish that causes catastrophic oil consumption, often exceeding 1 litre per 1000 miles. Oil starvation leads to bearing failure and complete engine destruction without warning. This is the most documented and costly failure mode on second-generation Qashqais, with engines requiring complete replacement. Nissan issued extended warranties in some markets but not comprehensively in the UK.
Complete engine failure occurs without warning when oil starvation destroys main bearings. Replacement with remanufactured engine costs £4000-£6000 plus labour. Many cars are written off as uneconomical to repair. The car is dangerous to drive once oil consumption exceeds 1 litre per 1000 miles.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
Early diesel Qashqais use interference engines where the timing belt synchronises valve and piston movement. Belt failure causes immediate valve-to-piston contact, destroying the cylinder head, valves, and often pistons. Nissan specifies 72,000-mile or 6-year replacement intervals, but many owners neglect this service due to the high cost. Belt failure is catastrophic and immediate, with no warning signs, making this a critical maintenance item.
Timing belt failure destroys the engine immediately through valve-to-piston contact. Repair requires complete cylinder head rebuild costing £2000-£4000, often exceeding the car's value. Prevention through timely belt replacement costs £500-£800 and is essential.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
MOT data reveals Qashqais suffer suspension component fractures at 230.7x the fleet average, particularly on higher-mileage examples with 2.0-litre engines. Fractured suspension components include control arms, subframe mounting points, and anti-roll bar attachments. This represents a serious safety defect that can cause sudden loss of vehicle control. The high failure rate suggests a design weakness in the suspension mounting points or inadequate corrosion protection.
Fractured suspension components cause immediate and dangerous loss of vehicle control. The car should not be driven with fractured suspension components. Emergency repair is required immediately, with costs varying from £200-£800 depending on which component has failed.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The HRA2 1.2 DIG-T engine suffers from premature timing chain stretch due to inadequate tensioner design and oil quality degradation from the severe oil consumption issue. Chain stretch causes valve timing to drift, triggering check engine lights and rough running. If left uncorrected, the chain can jump teeth and cause valve-to-piston contact in this interference engine. This issue affects the majority of 1.2 DIG-T engines by 60,000 miles.
Stretched timing chain causes progressive valve timing drift leading to poor performance and fuel economy. If chain jumps teeth, valve-to-piston contact destroys the engine requiring complete rebuild. Chain replacement costs £1200-£1500 but prevents catastrophic engine damage.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
First-generation diesel Qashqais suffer from DPF clogging when used for short journeys, preventing the high-temperature regeneration cycles needed to burn off accumulated soot. Blocked DPF causes back-pressure that can damage the turbocharger through oil starvation when the engine struggles to maintain boost pressure. This is compounded by inadequate DPF regeneration software in early models. The combination often results in both DPF replacement and turbo rebuild being required simultaneously.
Blocked DPF triggers limp mode and eventually prevents engine starting. DPF replacement costs £800-£1200, while turbo rebuild adds another £600-£1000. Combined failure of both systems requires £1500-£2500 repair and leaves the car immobile.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
For the full breakdown of all 14 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Nissan Qashqai common problems page.
Based on 2.8M real DVSA MOT tests, the Nissan Qashqai fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is emissions failure at 49x the fleet average, followed by electrical wiring fault (36x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Nissan Qashqai MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt (£400–£600), timing chain service (£800–£1,200).
See the full Nissan Qashqai service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Nissan Qashqai has some well-documented weak points, including 3 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2019-2020 Mk2 facelift with the 1.3 DIG-T 160PS petrol. The 1.3 engine fixed the 1.2's timing chain weakness, the CVT was improved, and battery drain software patches were applied. These represent the most refined and reliable Mk2 before the Mk3 price premium. Avoid 2014-2016 models entirely.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Nissan Qashqai, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 14 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 14 known Nissan Qashqai issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.