2016 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · DX66 SSJ

A pattern of front suspension wear dominates the roadworthiness history of this 2016 Nissan Qashqai, culminating in an MOT failure on 18 November 2025 where the nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint was recorded as excessively worn to Major defect level, and a nearside front tyre was found with tread depth below the 1.6 mm legal minimum and categorised as Dangerous. The same date also produced a clean pass with no defects, indicating the vehicle was retested and rectified the same day, but the underlying wear on the front end is not an isolated event. An advisory on the offside front track rod end ball joint for slight play was issued in November 2024, and advisories for cracking and perishing on both rear tyres were logged in 2020 and 2021. Earlier tests from 2019, 2022, and 2023 returned clean passes, so the trajectory has shifted from a tidy record to one where steering and suspension joints are now attracting tester attention, and the 2025 failure represents the most serious finding on file. With 82,252 miles accumulated over approximately ten years, annual usage averages around 8,225 miles, which sits broadly in line with typical mileage for a car of this age. The annual MOT entries show no extended gaps in testing, and there is no evidence of a long stationary period that would provoke concerns about brake seizure, fluid degradation, or seized calipers. A continuous pattern of roughly eight to ten thousand miles per year places this Qashqai squarely in the moderate-use bracket, where components such as front suspension bushes, ball joints, anti-roll bar links, and front brake discs are likely to be approaching the second or third replacement cycle. The progression from clean passes through advisories on steering and suspension parts to a Major defect on a lower arm ball joint within twelve months is consistent with wear accumulating on a vehicle of this mileage rather than any anomaly in how it has been used. For a prospective buyer, the priority is a thorough inspection of the front suspension and steering geometry. The lower arm ball joint that failed in November 2025 should be confirmed as replaced, ideally with a receipt, and the surrounding bushes should be checked for cracking or perishing. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly when steering is loaded through a turn, and feel for vagueness or play in the steering that could indicate residual wear in the track rod ends or inner rack joints. Tyre wear should be examined across both front and rear axles, as the record shows uneven edge wear on the offside front and cracking on the rear pair; uneven front wear can point to alignment issues stemming from the recent suspension work, and a four-wheel alignment check is advisable after the repair. Braking performance warrants attention despite no recorded brake-related defects, given the cumulative mileage and the fact that the original brake discs and pads have almost certainly been replaced at least once. During a test drive, the pedal should feel firm without excessive travel or judder under heavy application, and the vehicle should pull up in a straight line without pulling to either side, which would suggest a binding caliper. The underside of the car should be examined on a ramp for any signs of fluid seepage around the power steering rack, as steering component advisories can sometimes coincide with slow hydraulic leaks. Finally, verify that the nearside front tyre that was below the legal limit has been replaced with matching specification and that all four tyres show even wear, as the dangerous tread-depth finding represents the most pressing safety concern recorded against this vehicle.