2009 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Petrol · SJ09 XHT

The Nissan Qashqai presents a borderline roadworthiness picture. The most recent test on 11 September 2025 at 206,293 miles passed, but the tester flagged worn and pitted front brake discs alongside slight play in the offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint. These are not new issues. The maintenance trend is one of gradual deterioration rather than resolution. Corroded front coil springs have appeared in every test since August 2023, and suspension components have been generating advisories consistently for over three years. The car is holding together, but the pattern suggests deferred attention rather than proactive upkeep. At 17 years old with 206,293 recorded miles, this Qashqai has covered roughly 12,135 miles per year, which is notably high for its age. The mileage progression tells a clear story. Between the August 2022 pass at 183,645 miles and the August 2023 failure at 191,962 miles, the car added 8,317 miles in twelve months. From August 2023 to July 2024 it gained another 7,969 miles, and by September 2025 it had reached 206,293 miles, covering 6,136 miles in just over a year. The accumulation has been steady and consistent with sustained daily use, not long periods of inactivity. There are no suspicious gaps in the record that would suggest the mileage has been tampered with. The recurring coil spring corrosion is the most concerning long-term issue. Front coil springs were flagged as corroded in August 2023, again in July 2024, and still present in September 2025. This is not a one-off advisory. Progressive corrosion weakens spring integrity and can lead to sudden fracture, particularly under load or over sharp bumps. A buyer should have both front coil springs inspected for pitting depth and wall thickness, and check whether the rear springs show similar deterioration given the rear corrosion advisory noted in July 2024. The rear underbody corrosion mentioned in the same test deserves close scrutiny. Seventeen years of road salt exposure combined with high mileage makes structural corrosion a genuine risk, particularly around subframes, sills, and suspension mounting points. Beyond corrosion, the suspension and steering components need hands-on evaluation. Excessive play in the offside front track rod end and nearside anti-roll bar ball joint in the August 2023 failure, followed by continued anti-roll bar linkage advisories in 2025, point to worn front-end geometry. The front brake discs were described as worn and pitted in the most recent test, meaning replacement is imminent. Any test drive should assess braking feel for vibration or pulsing, and a full suspension bounce test and steering rack inspection are advisable before purchase.