2011 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · LL61 CMV

A pattern of emerging front-end wear and persistent rear brake deterioration defines the mechanical picture of this Qashqai over the last four years. The May 2026 test passed, but it carried forward advisories for both rear brake discs being pitted and scored, rear brake pads thinning, and a nearside rear tyre suffering cracking or perishing, alongside a nearside front track rod end ball joint now showing slight play. Tracing the record backwards, this is not a sudden decline. The rear disc pitting and scored surfaces were first flagged in 2024 and have recurred at every test since, including for both rear discs on that occasion. The nearside front track rod end dust cover was already noted as deteriorated in 2024 and 2025 before progressing to actual joint play in the latest test. Earlier years from 2019 to 2021 were passed without defects, and the 2023 test additionally recorded corroded rear lower suspension arms on both sides, indicating that chassis and underbody corrosion has been a developing theme rather than a one-off observation. Against an age of around fifteen years and 90,370 recorded miles, the vehicle has accumulated roughly 6,025 miles annually, a rate broadly consistent with average UK usage. There are no prolonged gaps in the testing record, suggesting the car has remained in regular service rather than laid up, which means the wear patterns seen in the advisories reflect genuine mechanical ageing rather than the drying-out or corrosion typical of long-standing vehicles. The steady accumulation, combined with the repeated front suspension and steering component flags, points to the kind of wear one would expect on a car that has been driven consistently throughout its life, with consumables and front-end rubber components now reaching the stage where replacement is imminent. For a prospective buyer, the most pressing items to investigate physically are the front steering and suspension components. The nearside front track rod end ball joint has slight play and a damaged dust cover, so on a test drive listen for any clonking or knocking from the front wheels over uneven surfaces, particularly at low speed over speed humps, and feel for any looseness or vagueness in the steering on initial turn-in. The lower suspension arm ball joint dust covers on both sides were recorded as severely deteriorated in 2025, which leaves the joints exposed to water and grit ingress, so any excess play or stiffness when the wheels are rocked by hand should be treated as a near-term replacement cost. The rear brake discs have been repeatedly flagged as pitted and scored, and the rear pads are now noted as wearing thin, so brake pedal feel should be assessed for any judder under heavy application and the handbrake holding strength verified on a slope, as scored rear discs frequently accompany rear caliper issues. Body and underfloor corrosion warrants close physical inspection given the 2023 advisory regarding both rear lower suspension arms. With the vehicle on a ramp or over a pit, examine the rear suspension link mounting points, subframe sections, and brake pipe runs along the chassis for surface rust or flaking that could progress. The offside rear tyre cracking flagged in both 2024 and 2026 suggests the vehicle may spend time exposed to sunlight, and any replacement tyres should ideally be of matching brand and size to preserve correct speedometer and ABS calibration. Finally, the 2024 record noted a severely deteriorated nearside front outer CV joint boot, which if not already addressed risks allowing grease loss and eventual joint failure, so listen for any rhythmic clicking from the front when turning full lock at low speed, and inspect the boot itself for splits or grease fling.