2018 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · DL18 CEV

The defining event in this Qashqai's MOT record is the April 2026 fail, which broke what had otherwise been a run of clean passes. Three Major defects were recorded on that single visit: a fractured nearside rear coil spring, an excessively worn nearside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, and a nearside front tyre with a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords. The vehicle was presented again the very next day and passed, with both rear tyres carrying advisories for perishing or cracking. A fractured coil spring is a serious structural and safety finding, as a broken spring can shift under load and cause sudden loss of vehicle control, while the anti-roll bar ball joint wear directly affects body control and cornering stability. The fact that these items appeared together, on a vehicle now nearing 104,000 miles, points to chassis and suspension components that have reached the end of their service life rather than isolated damage. Outside of this 2026 cluster, the only other recorded advisory was for brake pads wearing thin across all four corners in May 2023, which is consistent with normal wear on a high-mileage car rather than a premature defect. With a recorded 103,970 miles across roughly eight years, this Qashqai is accumulating around 13,000 miles annually, which sits well above the typical 7,000 to 9,000 miles seen for its age group and means it has effectively lived a commercial or long-commute life. The MOT tests are spaced fairly evenly at roughly annual cadence with no prolonged gaps in testing, suggesting the vehicle has been in continuous use rather than laid up for extended periods. This high but consistent usage pattern is mechanically significant, as brake consumables, clutch wear (if manual), drivetrain mounts, suspension bushes, and exhaust components will all have been worked considerably harder than on a lower-mileage equivalent. It is also worth noting that there is no recorded MOT test between November 2019 and May 2021, a gap of around eighteen months, which is unusual only in that the vehicle appears not to have required testing during that window despite its age; this may indicate the registration date or first-test timing makes the first entry the earliest required test. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a thorough inspection of the suspension and steering, since the record shows both a fractured rear coil spring and a worn anti-roll bar link in quick succession. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear over uneven surfaces, which can suggest further spring distress or exhausted rear dampers, and feel for any vagueness, looseness, or shudder through the steering wheel that could indicate remaining wear in the front anti-roll bar, drop links, or related bushes. The car should sit level at both ends when parked on flat ground, with no obvious lean that would indicate a collapsed spring on the side that previously failed. Visually inspect all four coil springs for signs of paint chipping, cracking, or corrosion pitting, as one fractured spring often means the others are not far behind, particularly on a vehicle at this mileage. A thorough check underneath on a ramp is advisable to look for oil weeping from the front dampers, perished anti-roll bar bushes, and any movement in the front lower suspension arms. The braking system also warrants close attention following the 2023 advisory of pads wearing thin across all four corners. At the current mileage, the pads flagged in 2023 will almost certainly have been replaced, but the discs should be checked for lip, scoring, and minimum thickness, as worn pads frequently take material off the disc surface and may necessitate replacement. During the test drive, test the brakes firmly from around 40 mph and feel for any judder, vibration through the pedal, or pulling to one side, which would indicate warped or unevenly worn discs, seized caliper slide pins, or a binding caliper. The rear tyres were advised for perishing at the most recent test, and the nearside front had a deep cut requiring replacement, so a careful inspection of all four tyres, including the spare, is essential, paying particular attention to the sidewalls for cracking, bulges, and tread depth. Given the annual mileage and the cluster of suspension failures at this stage of the car's life, budgeting for replacement springs, dampers, and further consumable wear over the next twelve months would be prudent, alongside an inspection of the exhaust mounts, drivetrain flex joints, and engine for any oil leaks that commonly appear on higher-mileage Qashqais.