2012 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Petrol · GF12 CPU

A fractured front coil spring recorded at the 2022 test represents the single significant structural defect in this Qashqai's documented MOT history, although the vehicle subsequently passed its 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 tests with no defects recorded. That failure, classified as Major, resulted in a retest just five days later on 27 April 2022, where the car passed with only a tyre advisory noted. The intervening years have therefore been entirely clean from a roadworthiness standpoint, and the most recent assessment on 23 July 2025 returned a Pass with no advisories or defects. Prior to the spring failure, the only other documented concerns were two advisories in June 2019 relating to slight play in the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint and thinning brake pads at both front and rear axles, neither of which has reappeared on subsequent tests. The overall picture is of a vehicle with one notable suspension component failure already addressed, and an otherwise stable and unremarkable MOT record since. With 71,357 miles recorded over a fourteen-year lifespan, this Qashqai has covered approximately 5,097 miles annually, which is markedly below average for a vehicle of this age and class. The MOT record is unbroken across all eight tests from 2019 through 2025, with consistent yearly intervals suggesting the car has remained in regular use rather than laid up for extended periods. This pattern of light but continuous usage is mechanically relevant because low annual mileage typically reduces wear on high-cycle components such as the clutch, drivetrain, and braking surfaces, but it can also accelerate deterioration of rubber and plastic items that degrade with age rather than use. Components such as suspension bushes, coolant hoses, drive belts, and brake fluid are time-sensitive rather than purely mileage-sensitive, and buyers should weigh this against the odometer reading rather than assuming low miles equates to minimal mechanical attention required. The front coil spring fracture recorded in 2022 is a known failure point on Qashqais of this generation, and it is worth inspecting the opposite side spring closely for any signs of corrosion pitting, cracking, or reduced free length, as a fractured spring frequently precedes a repeat failure on the companion side. The 2019 advisory concerning the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint warrants a physical check during a test drive, specifically listening for clonking or rattling noises from the front end over uneven surfaces and feeling for any vagueness or shimmy through the steering wheel during directional changes. The brake pad advisories from the same 2019 test have not recurred, suggesting the pads were renewed or monitored, but a road test should include several firm stops from higher speeds to confirm straight-line stability without pulling and to verify there is no pedal judder that would indicate warped front discs, a common wear item on this model. Given the age and the documented spring failure, a thorough inspection beneath the vehicle on a ramp would be prudent to check for any corrosion on the front suspension turrets, strut mounting areas, and subframe mounting points, as these are areas where Nissan products of this era can develop surface or structural corrosion. The tyres should be examined for age-related cracking in the sidewalls, as the 2022 advisory noted perished rear rubber, and any tyres fitted more than five or six years ago regardless of tread depth may require replacement. During a test drive, attention should be paid to the behaviour of the automatic or manual transmission, noting any hesitation, shudder, or harsh engagement, and the engine should be observed from cold start for excessive smoke, irregular idle, or cooling fan anomalies, all consistent with a mechanical evaluation of a fourteen-year-old vehicle with light but steady usage.