Nissan Qashqai common faults, MOT red flags & buyer's guide
J11 (2014–2021) & J12 (2021–) · Crossover SUV
Family-friendly and popular — but the 1.5 dCi and CVT have known issues.
Nissan Qashqai common faults
Each fault below is drawn from real owner reports and UK garage patterns for this generation — not generic used-car advice.
1.5 dCi turbo & injector failure
seriousRenault-derived 1.5 dCi diesels can suffer turbo failure (coking) and leaky injectors — expensive if the engine ingests debris.
Check for: Blue smoke on hard acceleration. Rough idle when hot.
Typical cost: £900–£1,600 turbo; £400+ per injector
Xtronic CVT gearbox
seriousCVT can fail catastrophically if the fluid isn't changed at 30-40k miles — dealers often say 'sealed for life' and that's how they die.
Check for: Any hesitation, drone or juddering under acceleration.
Typical cost: £2,500–£4,500 replacement
Front subframe corrosion
seriousOlder J11s can develop significant corrosion on the front subframe — an MOT failure point.
Check for: Get it up on a ramp before buying anything over 6 years old.
Typical cost: £800–£1,500 subframe replacement
MOT history red flags
If any of these appear on the last two MOTs, negotiate hard or walk away.
- Any 'corrosion' advisory on subframe or sill
- Emissions failure on 1.5 dCi
- Advisory relating to power steering
Sharp questions to ask the seller
- CVT: has the transmission fluid ever been changed?
- Any subframe corrosion noted at last MOT?
- 1.5 dCi: any turbo work?
Got a specific Nissan Qashqai in mind?
Paste the reg and we'll pull its full MOT history, cross-check against these faults, and tell you: buy, negotiate or walk away.