2013 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Petrol · EX13 GVY

A pattern of progressive steering and suspension wear dominates the DVSA record for this 2013 Nissan Qashqai, culminating in a failed test on 9 January 2026 followed by a pass four days later on 13 January 2026. The failure cited a nearside track rod end ball joint with a severely compromised dust cover, an offside rear fractured coil spring with its rubber pad missing, and advisories for slight play in the same track rod end, thinning front brake pads, and front tyres worn to the legal limit. Earlier years reinforce this picture: the 2024 test recorded deteriorated dust covers on both front lower suspension arm ball joints and on both track rod end ball joints, while 2025 noted continued degradation of the nearside track rod end cover. A clean pass in 2023 with no recorded defects shows the deterioration is recent rather than lifelong, and the rapid sequence of advisories in 2024, minor defects in 2025, and major defects at the start of 2026 indicates accelerating wear in the front steering and suspension geometry. Separately, 2021 and 2022 each noted an inoperative high level brake light and a child seat preventing full inspection of the offside rear adult belt, with the latter year also failing on a non-functioning nearside front position lamp. Annual mileage is broadly average for the vehicle's age, with 111,465 recorded miles accumulated over thirteen years, equating to roughly 8,574 miles per year. There are no extended gaps between annual tests and no evidence of prolonged off-road storage, which means the mechanical wear reflected in the advisories is consistent with continuous use rather than deterioration from standing. At this mileage point on a Qashqai of this generation, wear items such as brake pads, discs, tyres, bushes, and steering linkage components are expected to be approaching or past their service thresholds, and the MOT record directly confirms this with track rod ends, lower arm ball joint covers, coil springs, and brake pads all flagged within the last two cycles. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on inspection are the front suspension and steering assembly, particularly the track rod ends and lower arm ball joints referenced repeatedly since 2024. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven surfaces, particularly over speed bumps, and feel for any vagueness or looseness in the steering, wandering at speed, or uneven tyre wear across the front axle which would point to deteriorated joints beyond what the dust covers alone suggest. With the offside rear coil spring reported as fractured, check the vehicle standing level on level ground and inspect both rear springs for any sagging, and ask for evidence of replacement, as a broken coil spring is a significant component failure that should not be present on a freshly passed test unless immediate rectification is documented. Brake pedal feel should be firm without excessive travel, and the front discs checked for lipping and the pads for remaining material given the 2026 advisory of thinning pads. Additional checks should target the items flagged in earlier years to confirm they have been resolved rather than simply hidden from view. Verify operation of the high level brake light, which was reported inoperative across three consecutive tests from 2021 to 2022, and confirm all front and rear position lamps are functioning, including the nearside front lamp that failed in 2022. Inspect the front tyres for uneven shoulder wear on both edges consistent with the 2026 advisory, and check the nearside front tyre for any scalloping or feathering that might indicate the worn edge was accompanied by a geometry issue. Finally, given that the 2026 advisories were noted on the pass certificate without rectification recorded, it is reasonable to negotiate for the front tyres, front brake pads, and a full steering and suspension overhaul to be completed prior to purchase, or to factor those costs into the offer, as the history suggests these components are at the end of their effective service life.