2014 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · BL05 BAG

A pattern of front suspension wear and recurring brake disc deterioration dominates the mechanical record of this 2014 Nissan Qashqai, with the trend appearing to worsen rather than resolve over the recorded test history. The most recent assessment on 25 January 2026 returned a Pass, but it carried an advisory for worn front suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides, a defect first flagged strongly at the January 2025 test and traced back further through the record. Front brake disc advisories have also appeared repeatedly, noted as worn in 2023 and again as pitted or scored in 2025, while a failed test on 11 January 2025 added a major defect for an excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and a non-functional offside rear seat belt. An earlier failure on 19 January 2024 for an inoperative nearside stop lamp is a comparatively isolated electrical issue, but the cumulative picture points to suspension and brake wear that has been progressively flagged across multiple annual tests rather than resolved. Mileage accumulation across the recorded MOT entries is broadly consistent with the vehicle's age, sitting at 105,407 miles over approximately twelve years, which equates to an annual rate of around 8,784 miles. The progression between tests does not reveal any unusual gaps or significant jumps that would suggest long periods off the road or sudden high-mileage use. This steady accumulation implies normal service life for a family crossover, with predictable wear on consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension components consistent with the advisories actually recorded. No multi-year lay-up is evident, so there is no particular concern regarding dormant corrosion, perished rubber from extended standing, or battery degradation beyond what would be expected for a continuously used vehicle of this age and mileage. For a prospective buyer, the priority components to scrutinise are the front suspension arms, bushes, and anti-roll bar linkages, given their repeated appearance across the 2025 and 2026 advisories. On a test drive, listen for knocking or clonking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and during direction changes, as worn anti-roll bar ball joints and arm pins commonly produce audible impacts and can transmit vibration through the steering wheel. With the engine running and the vehicle stationary, manually check the front wheels for excessive play or clonking when rocked top to bottom, and pay attention to any vagueness or rattling through the steering that could indicate advancing bush wear. The brake pedal should feel firm without excessive travel, and during moderate braking the car should pull up straight without judder through the pedal or steering, as the pitted front discs noted in 2025 can produce brake vibration under harder stops. Brake component condition should also be physically inspected before purchase, as the 2022 advisories for thinning front and rear pads, combined with the 2023 and 2025 disc wear entries, suggest these items have been on a downward trajectory. Measure remaining pad material against the backing plate and run a finger carefully along the disc surfaces to feel for an excessively rough or stepped lip at the outer edge, both of which indicate the discs are nearing the end of their service life. Inspect the offside rear seat belt retraction, which was the cause of the major failure in January 2025, by pulling it out fully and confirming it rewinds smoothly and locks under a sharp tug, as a sticking or non-retracting belt is both an MOT failure item and a serious safety concern. Finally, examine the nearside rear tyre for cracking or perishing, check the offside front tyre for edge wear suggesting an alignment issue, and verify that both front stop lamps illuminate correctly, since these specific items have appeared as advisories or failures within the last two test cycles.