2016 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · PM09 DON

The Qashqai's MOT history is defined by a persistent pattern of front-end wear and chassis corrosion that has surfaced repeatedly across multiple tests, and while the most recent assessment on 17 March 2026 returned a pass, it was accompanied on the same day by an unrelated failed recheck on a loose rear heatshield, indicating at least one area of insecure underbody fitment. Looking back through the record, advisories have clustered around the front suspension bushes, track rod ends, coil springs, and brake components, with a formal Major failure in April 2024 for an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush, and a Dangerous failure in April 2022 for both front brake pads measuring under 1.5 mm thick. The recurring coil spring corrosion advisories across the nearside front and nearside rear, alongside front brake disc wear and thinning brake pads flagged in 2025, point to a vehicle whose mechanical condition is serviceable but on a clear wear trajectory. The overall trend is not one of improvement or deterioration but of continued monitoring, with most flagged items either addressed or borderline. Annual mileage for this ten-year-old vehicle sits at roughly 7,154 miles, which is broadly in line with typical usage for a Qashqai of this age and not suggestive of any significant periods off the road or unusually high accumulation. There are no extended gaps in the testing record, with annual MOTs recorded from 2022 through 2026, indicating continuous use on the public road. At this mileage level, consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres, and suspension bushes are expected to require attention, and the history is consistent with a vehicle being driven regularly enough for normal wear progression without extreme component fatigue. The presence of multiple brake and suspension advisories within a relatively modest annual mileage suggests that wear items are being flagged at routine service intervals rather than as a consequence of exceptionally high use. For a prospective buyer, the suspension components specifically flagged in the advisories warrant close physical inspection and a careful test drive. The offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush that failed in 2024 should be checked to confirm a replacement was carried out, and the nearside front equivalent, which was noted as worn but within limits in 2025, should be assessed for any further deterioration by rocking each front wheel laterally at full lock and listening for knocking over uneven surfaces. The track rod end ball joint with slight play noted in 2025 should be evaluated by observing for any wandering or vagueness in the steering on the road, particularly under braking or over cambers. Coil spring corrosion, recorded on both the nearside front and nearside rear, should be visually inspected for surface pitting and cracking, as corroded springs can fracture without warning and are a known issue on Qashqais of this generation. The braking system requires particular attention given the 2022 Dangerous failure on both front pads. The 2025 advisories for thinning rear pads and worn front discs indicate ongoing wear, so a buyer should measure remaining pad and disc material, check for any lip on the disc edges, and feel for brake pedal pulsation or judder under firm application. The rear heatshield issue recorded on the same day as the March 2026 pass should be confirmed as properly secured, as a loose heatshield can contact the exhaust or bodywork and create a rattle or, in extreme cases, a fire risk. Finally, the 2022 advisories for tyres worn close to the legal limit on all four corners, with the nearside rear also showing perishing, indicate that tyre condition should be inspected for age-related cracking as well as tread depth, particularly on the rear axle where rubber deterioration was already being noted.