2017 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Diesel · DP17 XTX

A clear pattern of front-end suspension wear is emerging on this 2017 Nissan Qashqai, with the most recent test on 18 June 2026 passing but recording an advisory for play in the offside front steering rack inner joint. The year prior, on 26 June 2025, the front suspension was already flagged more comprehensively: both nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes were noted as worn, and the ball joint dust covers on both lower front arms were classified as severely deteriorated. The three tests prior to that, spanning 2022 through 2024, were completely clean with no advisories or minor defects recorded. This progression from a pristine record to accumulating front suspension and steering advisories over the last two cycles points to components that are now approaching the end of their service life and are likely to require attention in the near future, even though the car continues to pass its roadworthiness check. Against an age of nine years, the recorded mileage of 67,020 miles equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 7,447 miles, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a vehicle of this type and age. The MOT record shows consistent annual testing with no significant gaps in cover, suggesting the car has remained in regular use rather than being laid up for extended periods. There are no mileage anomalies or unexplained jumps between tests. Mechanically, this kind of steady, moderate usage is broadly favourable, as it implies consistent warm-up cycles, regular brake and clutch operation, and steady fluid circulation, all of which reduce the risk of corrosion-related issues and seized components. However, even at average mileage, nine-year-old rubber bushes, ball joints, and steering components on a Qashqai of this generation are entering the wear window where deterioration becomes expected, which aligns neatly with what the recent advisories are showing. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas during inspection are the front suspension and steering assemblies specifically flagged in the MOT record. The steering rack inner joint play noted in 2026 is the most significant item and warrants close attention: on a test drive, listen for any knocking or clunking from the front end, particularly when turning the wheel at low speed or traversing speed humps, and feel for any slack or delay in steering response. The worn suspension arm pins or bushes and deteriorated ball joint dust covers from 2025 should be visually inspected for any grease leakage around the ball joint boots, which would accelerate wear of the joint itself, and the lower arms should be checked for excessive movement when levered with a pry bar. Given that both sides were flagged symmetrically in 2025 and only the offside joint was raised in 2026, the nearside components are likely not far behind in terms of degradation and may need replacement alongside the steering rack joint. Beyond the flagged components, a careful test drive should focus on the secondary symptoms these wear items tend to produce. Uneven or premature front tyre wear, particularly inner-edge feathering, would corroborate the suspension geometry issues already recorded, and the tyres themselves should be checked for age-related cracking given the vehicle's nine-year service life. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for any sponginess or excessive travel, and the car should be checked for straight-line stability and any pulling to one side under braking, which could indicate binding calipers or warped discs developing in line with the general wear pattern. Given the predictable nature of the recorded defects, a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist or Nissan-trained technician with the car raised on a ramp would be a prudent step, allowing a proper assessment of the steering rack, lower arms, and ball joints before committing to the purchase, and providing an early indication of the likely cost of the remedial work that is approaching.