2009 Nissan Qashqai 1.5L Diesel · SD09 SWK

A pattern of front suspension and subframe wear dominates this Qashqai's MOT history, with three failures and persistent advisories all centred on the same corner of the car. The most recent test on 10 July 2026 was a pass, but it carried forward advisories for offside front anti-roll bar linkage play, nearside front wheel bearing play, and subframe pin or bush wear on both sides, alongside a minor defect for an inoperative registration plate lamp and an advisory for a non-excessive oil leak. Earlier failures are particularly revealing: in July 2024 the nearside front passenger door could not be opened from inside the vehicle and an offside front position lamp had failed, while the July 2023 test recorded a split nearside inner drive shaft CV boot, an excessively worn nearside front track rod end, a worn rear suspension arm bush, and an illuminated airbag warning lamp. The July 2022 failure was especially serious, flagging both dipped-beam headlamps as non-functional and both front subframe rear bushes as excessively worn, indicating structural mounting degradation at the front of the vehicle. Recorded mileage of 170,656 miles across roughly seventeen years equates to an average annual accumulation of about 10,039 miles, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and suggests consistent rather than sporadic use. There are no extended gaps between tests that would imply long periods off the road, and the mileage progression between annual examinations appears steady, pointing to a car that has been in regular service throughout its life. For a front-wheel-drive SUV of this vintage and mileage, this usage profile would generally be expected to produce wear on suspension consumables, CV boots, and engine ancillaries, and the recorded defects align closely with what would be anticipated from sustained high-mileage running rather than from neglect or prolonged standing. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front suspension and subframe area, given that subframe bush wear has appeared in five of the seven recorded tests and progressed to a major failure category on both sides in 2022. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, which would indicate that the previously noted anti-roll bar linkage play and subframe bush wear have advanced since the July 2026 test. Inspect the nearside front inner CV joint area for fresh grease contamination around the boot, as a split boot was recorded in 2023 and any repair should be verified as durable. Check that the front passenger door opens reliably from the interior release following the 2024 failure, and confirm both dipped-beam headlamps and all front position lamps operate correctly, as multiple lamp-related defects have appeared across the record. The nearside front brake hose was flagged as slightly deteriorated in both 2024 tests and warrants a firm brake pedal test for sponginess or any pulling to one side under braking. The persistent oil leak advisory, while noted as not excessive at the most recent test, should be monitored by checking the underside of the engine and gearbox for fresh oil deposits and by observing the oil level on the dipstick before purchase. The nearside front wheel bearing play flagged in July 2026 is likely to manifest as a rotational rumble that changes with vehicle speed or a slight wander, and any sign of this would suggest the bearing requires replacement. Given the cumulative advisory load on the front suspension geometry, a four-wheel alignment check would be advisable after any component replacement to ensure even tyre wear and stable straight-line tracking. Overall, the record shows a vehicle that has remained on the road through repeated suspension-related interventions, and a careful pre-purchase inspection focused on the front subframe, anti-roll bar linkages, CV joints, and lighting circuits will be essential to confirm that the advisories have not progressed to further failures.