2017 Nissan Qashqai 1.2L Petrol · SP67 VFD

A clear pattern of front suspension wear has emerged across the most recent MOT cycles for this 2017 Nissan Qashqai, with the front axle drawing advisories and defects in successive tests. The 2025 test initially recorded a failure on both sides for perished suspension arm ball joint dust covers alongside worn suspension arm pins or bushes that were within legal limits at the time, while the tyre wear advisories from the same date confirm ongoing consumable use. The June 2026 pass at 73,126 miles shows the advisories have shifted to track rod end dust boots weeping grease on both sides and a perished nearside rear tyre, indicating that the front steering and suspension joints are continuing to deteriorate even though no items failed outright. The overall trajectory is one of accumulating front-end wear items rather than a deteriorating structural or braking failure, but the recurring geometry of advisories around steering and suspension components suggests these areas warrant close physical inspection. With nine years on the road and 73,126 recorded miles, the Qashqai has covered roughly 8,125 miles annually, which sits close to the typical usage bracket for a vehicle of this age. The mileage progression across the recorded tests appears steady, with no large annual jumps that would imply extensive motorway use or commercial mileage, and there are no multi-year gaps that would suggest a long period of standing. This continuous annual use is mechanically significant because the wear pattern observed, namely perished boots, thinning pads, and edge tyre wear, is consistent with a vehicle that has been driven regularly but has accumulated age-related degradation on its consumables and rubber components. The relatively even mileage spread means the recorded mileage should be representative of the true odometer figure rather than a figure that has been artificially limited by extended off-road periods. For a prospective buyer, the priority items to physically examine are the front suspension and steering components flagged in 2025 and 2026. The perished track rod end boots on both sides will eventually allow water and grit into the joint, accelerating wear of the track rod ends themselves, so each front wheel should be inspected with the car on a ramp or with the wheels off the ground for any play when the wheel is rocked side to side at nine and three o'clock, and for any clicking or knocking transmitted through the steering when turning at low speed. The front suspension arm ball joint dust covers were failing in 2025, and the same arms had worn pins or bushes, so the lower wishbones should be checked for play by levering them with a pry bar, listening for clonks over speed bumps, and observing any uneven tyre wear across the front axle. The nearside rear tyre also flagged for cracking and perishing in 2026, so all four tyres should be inspected for sidewall cracks regardless of tread depth, as age-hardened rubber can lose grip before the tread is exhausted. The brake-related advisories from 2022, 2023, and 2025 indicate a history of fluctuating nearside rear service brake performance and thinning front pads, so a test drive should include firm pedal applications from speed to confirm there is no judder or pull, and a check that the handbrake holds the vehicle on an incline without excessive travel. The nearside rear brake in particular has shown recurring fluctuating performance across two test cycles, which can indicate a binding or partially seizing caliper or a worn sliding mechanism, so the rear calipers and pads should be visually inspected for uneven pad wear and confirm the rear disc rotates freely without resistance when released. Finally, the split front wipers noted in 2022 are a minor item, but given the consistent advisory pattern around consumables, a general inspection of all exterior rubber components including CV gaiters, drive shafts, and any visible brake hoses for cracking or perishing would be prudent to ensure no further age-related deterioration is present.