2018 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · DP68 NOF

A pattern of mild but persistent advisories has emerged in the most recent MOT history of this 2018 Nissan Qashqai, suggesting a vehicle that remains legally roadworthy but is beginning to show early signs of wear in a couple of specific component areas. The most recent test on 19 January 2026 recorded a pass with a single advisory concerning the nearside front tyre being worn close to the legal limit and on its edge, a defect that is borderline and will likely require replacement imminently if the vehicle remains in regular service. The 2025 test also passed but carried two advisories: the same nearside front tyre wear issue, indicating that the inner-edge wear has been developing over at least two test cycles, and a separate note that the nearside front shock absorber has light misting of oil. The earlier tests from 2022, 2023 and 2024 were all clean with no advisories recorded, so the trajectory is one of a stable, low-issue vehicle that has only recently begun to flag the same area of front suspension and wheel geometry. With 50,549 miles recorded across eight years of testing, the Qashqai has been driven at an average of roughly 6,300 miles per year, which sits comfortably within the typical band for a vehicle of this age and class. There are no significant gaps in the MOT testing history that would imply extended periods off the road, and the mileage progression between tests appears broadly consistent with steady commuter or family use rather than long-distance motorway accumulation or sporadic short journeys. Mechanically, this level of usage tends to produce moderate but even wear across consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres and suspension bushes, rather than the dry-rotted rubber and seized components that can follow from very low annual mileage or the heavy wear associated with high-mileage operation. The recorded history does not flag any brake, exhaust or structural advisories at this point, which is reassuring for a vehicle of this age, but the emergence of tyre and shock absorber notes in consecutive tests suggests the front end is now the area to monitor most closely. For a prospective buyer, the nearside front tyre issue warranting particular attention because an inner-edge wear pattern that recurs across two consecutive MOT tests is rarely caused by the tyre alone; it frequently points to underlying suspension geometry concerns such as worn wishbone bushes, a failing track rod end, a sagging coil spring, or a slightly bent component following a kerb impact. A thorough inspection should include a close visual check of the nearside front shock absorber for fresh oil seepage down the body of the unit and around the upper mount, and the buyer should request that the vehicle be jacked up so the wheel can be grabbed at nine and three o'clock to detect any play in the suspension linkages, followed by a check at twelve and six to confirm the wheel bearing is sound. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the nearside front corner over uneven surfaces, particularly speed humps and potholes, and pay attention to whether the steering pulls to one side under braking or whether the front end feels unsettled over mid-corner bumps. Given that the shock absorber oil misting was recorded in 2025 and no further advisory was issued in the January 2026 test, the leak appears to have remained minor rather than worsening significantly, but a buyer should still verify the current condition by inspecting the underside of the unit and checking that the tyre does not bottom out against the arch under heavy load. With the nearside front tyre flagged at both the 2025 and 2026 tests, it is reasonable to budget for replacement and to factor in a four-wheel geometry check to determine whether the wear pattern will recur on a new tyre or whether the underlying cause has been resolved. The remainder of the mechanical record, covering braking, exhaust, lighting and structural items, is clean across all five tests, and there are no advisories relating to corrosion, brake pipe condition or steering rack integrity, which are the typical concerns for a Qashqai of this generation. Overall, the vehicle presents a fundamentally sound MOT history with two specific front-suspension related advisories that a careful inspection and a test drive focusing on the nearside front corner should be sufficient to evaluate before purchase.