2018 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · BP18 AOM

A pattern of front suspension wear dominates the mechanical history of this 2018 Nissan Qashqai, with the front lower arms, ball joints, and related bushes appearing across four of the last five tests. The most recent test on 14 April 2026 returned a pass with no advisories, but this followed a failure the day before when the nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint was deemed excessively worn. Looking back, an advisory on the offside front suspension arm pin or bush was raised in both 2025 tests, alongside minor advisories for a deteriorated nearside front ball joint dust cover and a deteriorated nearside front anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover. Taken together, the front suspension geometry is showing clear age-related deterioration that has now reached replacement threshold on at least one side, with the opposite side likely to follow. Earlier tests in 2024 and 2023 passed cleanly, and the 2022 test was clean aside from a wiper blade defect, indicating that the suspension concerns are a relatively recent but escalating pattern rather than a long-standing issue. With 66,594 miles recorded over approximately eight years, the vehicle has accumulated around 8,300 miles annually, which is broadly typical for its age and points to steady rather than exceptional use. There are no multi-year gaps in the testing record, so the mileage history is continuous and there is no indication of a prolonged standing period that might have masked deterioration. At this rate of use, the wear observed on the front suspension and braking components is consistent with what would be expected of a Qashqai of this vintage, and the recorded mileage lends credibility to the test observations rather than suggesting either unusually light or unusually heavy duty. For a prospective buyer, the priority is a thorough inspection of the front suspension and braking system before purchase. The nearside and offside front lower suspension arms, including the ball joints and the rearward bushes, should be examined for play, cracking, or perishing of the dust covers, as these were the components flagged on the most recent failure. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps, uneven road surfaces, and when turning at low speed, and feel for any vagueness or wandering from the steering that could indicate worn ball joints or bushes. With the car raised if possible, the offside front arm should be checked carefully because it was last flagged as wearing in 2025 and may now be approaching the point at which it would be reported as a major defect. The braking system also warrants close attention given the dangerous brake pad finding on the offside front in 2022 and the 2024 advisory on both rear pads. The offside front caliper should be inspected for binding or uneven pad wear, and the rear pads and discs checked for remaining material and surface condition, as the thin rear pad advisory has had two years to progress since 2024. On the road, the brake pedal should feel firm and progressive, with no excessive judder under heavy braking that might indicate warped front discs, and the car should pull up straight without pulling to one side. Finally, given the tyre defects recorded at the 2025 failure, including a dangerous structure separation, all four tyres should be examined for age, sidewall damage, and uneven wear patterns before purchase, and consideration given to replacing any that are more than five or six years old regardless of tread depth.