2012 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Petrol · SC12 XBY

This Qashqai presents a mechanical profile dominated by recurring brake, tyre, and suspension wear items, with two recent test failures that warrant careful attention. The 2026 sequence is particularly telling: on 13 August the car was failed with two dangerous defects, an offside front tyre with no visible tread, and rear brake pads below 1.5mm on both sides, alongside a major item for a significantly worn front brake disc. The very next day it returned and passed, but the advisories recorded at that retest, an oil leak and rear tyres worn close to the legal limit on both edges, plus a minor for a deteriorated front suspension arm ball joint dust cover, indicate that several of the same wear items from earlier tests remain unresolved. Across the 2022 to 2026 record there is a clear pattern: rear brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in 2022, 2023, and again at dangerous levels in 2026, while rear brake discs were noted as pitted or scored in 2022 and the fronts were recorded as significantly worn in 2026. Suspension advisories are similarly persistent, with corroded arms across the vehicle in 2024, worn bushes and reduced damping effect on the rear shocks in 2023, steering rack inner joint play in 2025, and the ball joint dust cover deterioration now appearing on both nearside and offside across consecutive tests. The recorded mileage of 95,017 miles across 14 years equates to roughly 6,787 miles annually, which is broadly in line with average use for the age and does not suggest a long period of standing or unusually heavy motorway accumulation. The testing history is consistent, with annual MOT entries from 2022 onwards and no significant gaps, which means the wear items observed can be read as a relatively representative sample of the vehicle's working life. The 2023 test also recorded two dangerous tyre defects, both rear tyres with structural tears, which alongside the 2025 and 2026 advisories for edge wear on the same axle points to a chronic issue with rear tyre condition rather than a one-off replacement cycle. The combination of typical mileage, consistent annual testing, and recurring advisories suggests the car has been used regularly and that its component wear is tracking broadly with its age and accumulated distance. A prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the components that have recurred throughout the record. The braking system requires particular scrutiny: with brake pads and discs flagged on both axles across multiple tests, it is worth checking for any residual pedal judder under firm application, which would indicate the front discs still have lipping or run-out beyond what was rectified, and listening for any binding or scraping from the rear calipers that could suggest the slider mechanisms have seized. On the test drive, pay attention to steering feel, as the 2025 advisory for inner rack joint play could manifest as a slight notchiness or knocking through the wheel when turning on full lock, and any worsening of this should be investigated before purchase. The suspension should be exercised over uneven surfaces, listening for clonks from the front arms, particularly around the ball joint areas where the dust covers are now deteriorated, and checking for any vagueness from the rear damping, which was already noted as reduced in 2023. The persistent oil leak advisory, present at both the 2026 failure and the subsequent pass, also deserves physical verification. Underneath the engine bay, look for fresh oil residue around the rocker cover gasket, cam chain area, and lower crankcase seals, and check the undertray for signs of active dripping rather than just staining. The rear tyres should be inspected closely for shoulder wear, as the recurring edge-wear advisories suggest a possible alignment or suspension geometry issue that has not been addressed. Finally, while the failed registration plate lamp items from 2025 and 2026 are minor electrical matters, they do indicate general attention to small details has been inconsistent, and a walkaround to confirm all exterior lighting functions correctly is worthwhile before committing to the purchase.