2010 Nissan Qashqai 1.6L Petrol · YP60 ODJ

The defining mechanical concern surrounding this 2010 Nissan Qashqai is a front suspension and drivetrain deterioration that culminated in a recent fail, followed by a pass on the immediately following day. The 2025-10-27 test recorded two Major defects, a split constant velocity boot on the nearside front inner drive shaft joint which can no longer prevent ingress of dirt, and a deteriorated nearside front lower engine mounting, specifically the gearbox mount, resulting in excessive movement. The vehicle was presented for a retest the very next day and passed, but both the CV boot and engine mount were not listed as having been repaired or replaced; this is consistent with the tester applying a 'minor' classification for those components at retest, meaning the items remain defective and are now legally permissible but mechanically compromised. Compounding this, the test on the same day flagged advisories for worn rear bushes on both front suspension arms, items which were also present as advisories on the failed test the previous day, suggesting these have been deteriorating across more than one annual cycle. The broader MOT record shows advisories on the front brake discs, front brake pads, and a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit in October 2024, alongside a nearside rear tyre with perishing. While the 2023 test was clean with no defects recorded, the picture from 2024 onwards is one of accelerating wear on braking, tyres, and now the front suspension and drivetrain. The recorded mileage of 83,234 miles across approximately 16 years equates to a usage profile of around 5,200 miles annually, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age and type. This kind of mileage is often associated with second-car duties, short urban runs, or extended periods of standing between uses, all of which carry their own mechanical implications. Low annual mileage does not necessarily preserve consumables; in fact, short journeys tend to promote corrosion on brake discs due to incomplete drying cycles, and standing periods can dry out rubber boots and mounts, leading to the very CV boot splits and engine mount deterioration seen on this record. There are no extended gaps in testing history, with annual submissions consistently recorded from 2023 onwards, which indicates the vehicle has been in regular use and presented for inspection each year rather than having been off the road for prolonged stretches. The cumulative wear pattern observed across the MOT record, particularly on suspension bushes, brake components, and now drivetrain mounts, is broadly consistent with a vehicle of this age reaching the point where rubber and friction components are reaching the latter stages of their service life. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension and drivetrain items flagged in October 2025 as the priority areas for physical inspection and negotiation. The split CV boot on the nearside front inner joint is particularly significant; even if the boot has been temporarily repaired, any grease loss during the period of ingress will have accelerated wear on the joint itself, and on a test drive you should listen for a rhythmic clicking or popping noise from the front nearside when turning at low speed, or feel for vibration through the steering wheel under load. The deteriorated engine mount on the gearbox side will produce an audible clunk or judder on engagement of drive or release of the throttle, and you may feel excessive powertrain shunt through the cabin when moving off from rest or reversing. The front suspension arm rear bushes flagged on both sides are typically a known wear item on the Qashqai of this generation, and on test drive you should listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed bumps, broken tarmac, or when braking sharply, as well as checking for vague or wandering steering feedback. Given the 2024 advisories on the front brake discs and pads, a close inspection of braking performance is strongly advised; test the vehicle from a moderate speed and feel for any judder through the brake pedal or steering wheel, which would suggest disc runout or uneven pad transfer, and listen for any grinding or scraping noises that could indicate the pads have worn beyond the advisory condition. Inspect the nearside front tyre sidewall for uneven wear on the inner or outer shoulder, which would suggest the suspension geometry has been disturbed by worn components, and check the nearside rear tyre for any signs of cracking or perishing progressing further. The CV joint area, engine mount, and front suspension arms should be physically examined on a ramp or over a kerb for any fresh grease deposits, cracked or perished rubber, or visible play when the components are levered. A pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with Nissan Qashqai chassis components would be a sensible precaution, and budget should be reserved for replacement of the CV boot and joint, the engine mount, and potentially both front suspension arms given the bilateral advisory on the bushes.