Nissan Qashqai Common Faults in the UK
J11 2014–2021, J12 2021+ — compact crossover SUV. Updated 6 October 2026.
This guide covers the J11 2014–2021, J12 2021+ only. Older Qashqai generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.
The Nissan Qashqai J11 (2014–2021) suffers from 1.5 dCi DPF and injector issues pre-2018, plus CVT (X-Tronic) judder on the 1.6 petrol. The J12 (2021+) has fewer owner-reported faults, mainly minor e-Power inverter and rear-wiper concerns, but DVSA lists J12 recalls too (R/2025/424, a fuel pipe that can wear and leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024). Best-buy: J12 2022+. Worst: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018.
Largest DVSA recall for the Qashqai: R/2020/220, 299,631 vehicles in the whole recall — Possible reduced retention force of the rear door child lock switch. See the 8 DVSA recalls listed for this model.
80.5% of Nissan Qashqais registered 2014–2022 pass the MOT on the day (cars fixed during the test included), 2.3 points below all cars registered in those years (82.8%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 43,806 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Nissan Qashqai (2007–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 73.5% pass on the day (cars fixed during the test included), from 62,848 tests.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓Which Nissan Qashqai engine? What UK sources report
Pages read on 20 October 2026: What Car?, Autocar and Parkers on the J11, What Car? on the J12, Autocar's October 2018 report on the 1.3 petrol, and DVSA's recalls file. The engine points are owner-reported, no page gives a failure rate, and we hold no count of how many cars have any of these faults, so treat each as a question for the seller.
Each label compares an engine with the others listed for the same generation, on what the pages named under it say. It is not a failure rate: none of those pages gives one.
J11 (2014 to 2021)
On these pages the 1.2 DIG-T needs the most checking: Parkers would buy one only with an impeccable history at a price too cheap to ignore. The 1.3 DIG-T that replaced it in autumn 2018 draws milder comments from Parkers, and the 1.5 dCi needs its cambelt history checked.
1.2 DIG-T petrol (115hp)
Needs more checkingJ11 built before autumn 2018
Parkers says it uses oil and that some engines have been reported to fail from 30,000 miles. What Car? reports rattling timing chains, and Autocar reports turbocharger failures.
What to check: Dipstick before starting, a cold start with the bonnet open, and the full service history.
Sources: Parkers engines page, 19 Aug 2024; Parkers buying guide, 19 Aug 2024; What Car? J11 reliability page, 14 Jan 2026; Autocar J11 reliability page, 17 Sep 2024; Autocar news story, 1 Oct 2018
1.6 DIG-T petrol (163hp)
No engine fault named in these sourcesJ11 built before autumn 2018
Parkers calls it the fastest J11 petrol, a comment on speed and not on reliability. No page read names a fault specific to it.
What to check: Dipstick, a cold start, and the service history.
Sources: Parkers engines page, 19 Aug 2024; Parkers buying guide, 19 Aug 2024; Autocar J11 reliability page, 17 Sep 2024
1.3 DIG-T petrol (140hp or 160hp)
Fewer engine problems reportedJ11 from autumn 2018
Autocar reported in October 2018 that it replaced the 1.2 and 1.6 petrols. Parkers says it uses oil less quickly than the 1.2 but still has timing chain tensioner problems, and picks the 140hp version.
What to check: Listen for rattles when the engine starts and when it accelerates.
Sources: Autocar news story, 1 Oct 2018; Parkers buying guide, 19 Aug 2024; Parkers engines page, 19 Aug 2024
1.5 dCi diesel (110hp, 115hp from 2018)
Needs more checkingJ11, before and after the 2018 update
Parkers calls it reliable if serviced regularly, but says town driving clogs the particulate filter and cars sold after August 2018 add AdBlue faults. What Car? says the cambelt is due every five years or 75,000 miles, at about £500.
What to check: Ask when the cambelt was changed. Autoza found no Nissan page giving the interval, so ask a Nissan dealer, with the registration.
Sources: Parkers buying guide, 19 Aug 2024; What Car? J11 reliability page, 14 Jan 2026; Autocar J11 reliability page, 17 Sep 2024
1.6 dCi (130hp) and 1.7 dCi (150hp) diesels
Needs more checkingJ11; the 1.7 replaced the 1.6 in 2019 (Parkers)
The only four-wheel-drive engines (Parkers). Autocar reports turbocharger failures on the 1.6, and What Car? says some four-wheel-drive cars slip out of reverse.
What to check: Check reverse on the test drive, and ask for the differential and gearbox fluid records.
Sources: Parkers engines page, 19 Aug 2024; Parkers buying guide, 19 Aug 2024; Autocar J11 reliability page, 17 Sep 2024; What Car? J11 reliability page, 14 Jan 2026
J12 (2021 on)
The pages read name no engine fault for the 1.3 DIG-T mild-hybrid petrol. For e-Power, What Car? says owners report that larger repairs can be expensive outside the three-year warranty, and DVSA lists a battery management recall on the newest cars.
1.3 DIG-T mild-hybrid petrol (140PS or 158PS)
No engine fault named in these sourcesJ12 from 2021
What Car? says owners mostly report electrical and infotainment faults, and ranks the J12 38th of 62 family SUVs (89.5%). It names no engine fault.
What to check: Check the registration for DVSA recall R/2025/424 (fuel-pipe wear, built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024).
Sources: What Car? J12 reliability page, 8 Oct 2026; Drive review, page undated; DVSA recalls file, read 20 Oct 2026
e-Power (a petrol engine that generates electricity for the motor that drives the wheels)
Needs more checkingJ12 from 2022
Drive describes it that way, sold from 2022. What Car? says larger e-Power repairs can be expensive outside the three-year warranty. DVSA recall R/2026/290 covers e-Power battery management on cars built 8 July 2025 to 20 May 2026 (15,592 vehicles).
What to check: Ask how much warranty is left, and check the registration for R/2026/290.
Sources: What Car? J12 reliability page, 8 Oct 2026; Drive review, page undated; DVSA recalls file, read 20 Oct 2026
The pages this section rests on (8)
- What Car?, "Used Nissan Qashqai 2014-2021 reliability review", George Hill, updated 14 January 2026
- What Car?, "Used Nissan Qashqai 2021-present reliability review", George Hill and Mark Pearson, updated 8 October 2026
- Autocar, "Nissan Qashqai 2014-2021 reliability", Jonathan Bryce and Matt Prior, published 17 September 2024
- Autocar, "Nissan adds 1.3-litre petrol engine to Qashqai range", 1 October 2018
- Parkers, "Nissan Qashqai Mk2: used review and buying guide", Richard Kilpatrick, updated 19 August 2024
- Parkers, "Nissan Qashqai Station Wagon (2014-2021) engines, drive and performance", Richard Kilpatrick, updated 19 August 2024
- Drive (drive.co.uk), "Nissan Qashqai Review", Andrew Brady, page undated, read 20 October 2026
- DVSA's recalls file (check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk), read 20 October 2026
What we looked for and did not find
- No page read gives a failure rate for any Qashqai engine.
- Parkers says every second-generation Qashqai engine uses a timing chain, and What Car? says the 1.5 diesel has a cambelt. Autoza has taken What Car?'s account for the 1.5 dCi; a Nissan dealer can confirm it from the registration.
The SMMT counted 38,333 used Nissan Qashqai cars changing hands in the UK in April to June 2026, the seventh most traded used model that quarter, behind the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Polo and MINI. The figure covers every Qashqai generation.
Source: SMMT, used car sales (Q2 2026 data), read 28 October 2026.
The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for Nissan Qashqai cars registered from 2014. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The other quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall data and reliability surveys. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
J12 generation: new platform and new engines (1.3 DIG-T, e-Power 1.5), with fewer owner-reported faults than the J11. It is not recall-free: DVSA lists R/2025/424 (fuel-pipe wear that can lead to a fuel leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024), R/2025/128 (battery state-of-charge software, 20,847, built September 2021 to January 2024) and R/2026/290 (e-Power battery management, 15,592, built July 2025 to May 2026). Check the registration.
2023 and 2024 cars are too new for the DVSA table below, so there is no MOT record behind them yet.
J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018 had cascading DPF and injector issues; ownership in the UK often stacked £2,000+ in repairs by 60,000 miles.
Known faults — Nissan Qashqai J11 2014–2021, J12 2021+
How to read this list. This model’s DVSA safety recalls are listed in their own section below, largest first, each with DVSA’s reference and vehicle count. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: patterns that come up repeatedly with workshops, owner forums and reliability surveys. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
1.5 dCi DPF + injectors (J11)
- Symptoms
- Engine warning light; limp mode; DPF full message
- Years affected
- J11 1.5 dCi 2014–2018 — Typical issue from 50,000 miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- DPF clean £400–£700; injector set £1,400+; combined often £2,000+
- What to check before buying
- Avoid 1.5 dCi if possible. Diagnostic scan mandatory. Service history showing repeat DPF events is a red flag.
CVT (X-Tronic) judder (J11 1.6 petrol)
- Symptoms
- Shudder under acceleration; rubber-band feel; warning at high speed
- Years affected
- J11 1.6 DIG-T petrol — 50,000+ miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- CVT replacement £2,500–£4,000
- What to check before buying
- Long test drive including motorway acceleration. Any judder = walk away.
Rear wiper motor
- Symptoms
- Rear wiper inactive; intermittent operation
- Years affected
- Both J11 and J12
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £140–£220
- What to check before buying
- Test rear wiper during inspection.
e-Power inverter (J12)
- Symptoms
- Reduced power; warning light; vehicle in limp mode
- Years affected
- J12 e-Power 2022+
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Should be under warranty; out-of-warranty £1,800+
- What to check before buying
- Diagnostic scan for stored inverter codes.
Electric handbrake fault
- Symptoms
- "Handbrake malfunction" warning; engine won't start
- Years affected
- Both generations — 50,000+ miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £350–£550
- What to check before buying
- Engage and release handbrake multiple times during inspection.
NissanConnect infotainment freezes
- Symptoms
- Touchscreen unresponsive; CarPlay disconnects
- Years affected
- J11 2017–2020 and early J12
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Software update at Nissan dealer
- What to check before buying
- Use infotainment for 15 minutes during test drive.
1.2 DIG-T petrol oil consumption and engine failure (J11)
- Symptoms
- Oil level dropping between services, rattles or chattering from the engine on a cold start, and in bad cases engine failure. What Car? reports excessive oil consumption on the 1.2 petrol from some owners. Parkers says the engine uses oil, which can starve it of lubricant and wreck it.
- Years affected
- J11 with the 1.2 DIG-T (115hp), sold until the 1.3 DIG-T replaced it in autumn 2018 (Autocar, 1 October 2018) — Parkers says some have been reported to fail from 30,000 miles, and many owners have complained of engine trouble at about 50,000 miles with a full service history
- What to check before buying
- Check the oil level on the dipstick before the engine has been started, then start it from cold with the bonnet open and listen for rattles or chattering, as Parkers advises. Ask for the full service history and any record of oil being topped up. Parkers would only recommend this engine for a car with an impeccable history at a price too cheap to ignore.
Timing chain rattle on the 1.2 DIG-T and chain tensioner problems on the 1.3 DIG-T (J11)
- Symptoms
- A rattle from the engine when it is started cold or when it accelerates. What Car? reports rattling timing chains under acceleration on the 1.2 petrol. Parkers says the 1.3 DIG-T still suffers timing chain tensioner problems, although it does not use oil as quickly as the 1.2.
- Years affected
- J11 with the 1.2 DIG-T (to autumn 2018) and with the 1.3 DIG-T (from autumn 2018)
- What to check before buying
- Listen when the engine first starts and again when it accelerates, as Parkers advises for the 1.3. Ask for the service history, and for any record of the chain or tensioner being replaced.
Turbocharger failure on the 1.2 petrol and the 1.5 and 1.6 diesels (J11)
- Symptoms
- Autocar says the signs are the engine sounding rough, refusing to rev above 2,000rpm, and blue or black smoke from the exhaust under acceleration. It says owners commonly report turbocharger failures on the 1.2 petrol and on the 1.5 and 1.6 diesels, and that the only fix is a replacement turbocharger.
- Years affected
- J11 with the 1.2 DIG-T petrol, the 1.5 dCi diesel or the 1.6 dCi diesel
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Around £450 for a replacement turbocharger plus labour, according to Autocar (its page, published 17 September 2024)
- What to check before buying
- On the test drive, check the engine revs freely past 2,000rpm and watch the exhaust under acceleration for blue or black smoke. A rough or flat engine is a reason to ask for a diagnosis before buying.
AdBlue system faults on the 1.5 dCi sold after August 2018 (J11)
- Symptoms
- Parkers says cars sold after August 2018 have an AdBlue system with extra failure points: NOx sensors in the exhaust, level sensors in the AdBlue tank, and counter reset problems after the tank is refilled. It says each fault has its own set of warnings.
- Years affected
- J11 1.5 dCi sold after August 2018 (Parkers)
- What to check before buying
- Look for warning lights on the dashboard during the test drive and ask whether the AdBlue system has needed attention. Parkers also says town-driven diesels tend to clog their particulate filter, so check for a warning light for that as well.
DVSA safety recalls for the Nissan Qashqai, largest first
These are the recalls DVSA lists for this model and its build years: every one of 10,000 or more vehicles, largest first, with DVSA’s own reference and figures. A recall covers only cars built in its dates and within its VIN range — check a particular car by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. “Critical” here means DVSA’s own notice tells owners not to drive the car until it is fixed. It is never a size: “Large” means DVSA lists 10,000 or more vehicles in the recall.
- Safety recall · R/2020/220Large recall — 299,631 vehicles
Possible reduced retention force of the rear door child lock switch
299,631 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 28 September 2015 and 3 March 2018 · recall launched 14 August 2020
- Safety recall · R/2025/424Large recall — 101,557 vehicles
Qashqai (J12) Fuel Pipe
For affected vehicles it has been identified that there is potential for movement between the fuel pipe and its retaining clip within the engine bay this movement can potentially lead to wear on the fuel pipe.
101,557 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 4 May 2021 and 17 October 2024 · recall launched 20 October 2025
- Safety recall · R/2014/157Large recall — 43,238 vehicles
Towbar may detach
The bolted joints fixing the towbar kit to the chassis of the vehicle may loosen. In an extreme situation where the vehicle continues to be driven with loose bolted joints the towbar kit may detach from the vehicle.
43,238 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 19 July 2013 and 17 October 2014 · recall launched 8 December 2014
- Safety recall · R/2017/295Large recall — 25,435 vehicles
Rear right wheel arch protector may deform and rub against and damage brake hose
In conditions such as high speed and high vehicle loading the rear right wheel arch protector may contact the brake hose. Over time repeated contact could wear through the outer protective cover of the brake hose.
25,435 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 23 September 2013 and 26 May 2016 · recall launched 27 November 2017
- Safety recall · R/2025/128Large recall — 20,847 vehicles
Qashqai (J12) Battery Management System
For affected vehicles due to a software concern the calculated and displayed battery state of charge may rapidly fluctuate.
20,847 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 September 2021 and 9 January 2024 · recall launched 10 April 2025
- Safety recall · R/2026/290Large recall — 15,592 vehicles
QASHQAI J12 Lithium Ion Battery
For affected vehicles there is an issue involving the E power Battery Management system (BMS) where warnings and entering limp mode or loss of power cannot be ruled out.
15,592 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 8 July 2025 and 20 May 2026 · recall launched 14 July 2026
2 more recalls of 10,000+ vehicles
- Safety recall · R/2018/091Large recall — 10,791 vehicles
Body control module may fail to warn driver of indicator light malfunction
10,791 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 12 June 2017 and 15 January 2018 · recall launched 17 April 2018
- Safety recall · R/2019/102Large recall — 10,240 vehicles
Ceramic capacitor fitted to the radiator fan assembly motor controller may fail
10,240 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 6 June 2018 and 14 November 2018 · recall launched 2 April 2019
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls file (every recall since 1992), published under the Open Government Licence. Where DVSA gives one figure for a recall that covers several models, it is shown as the whole recall’s total.
Nissan Qashqai MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the Qashqai was higher in 1, lower in 6 and level in 3 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap below is 2013 registrations: 61.0% against 71.9% for all cars registered that year. The widest gap above is 2022 registrations: 93.0% against 91.2%.
Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every Nissan Qashqai DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together. 2013 registrations are older generations of the Qashqai than this guide covers, shown for comparison; the guide’s own cars start in 2014. A registration year cannot separate two generations exactly when one replaced the other part-way through a year.
| Registered | Qashqai | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20224,089 tests | 93.0% | 91.2% | +1.8 higher |
| 20212,802 tests | 90.9% | 90.1% | +0.8 level |
| 20203,236 tests | 89.5% | 88.7% | +0.8 level |
| 20195,102 tests | 86.4% | 86.9% | −0.5 level |
| 20185,105 tests | 81.5% | 84.5% | −3.0 lower |
| 20176,480 tests | 78.6% | 82.2% | −3.6 lower |
| 20166,255 tests | 74.8% | 79.4% | −4.6 lower |
| 20155,994 tests | 73.2% | 76.7% | −3.5 lower |
| 20144,743 tests | 69.7% | 74.3% | −4.6 lower |
| 20134,803 tests | 61.0% | 71.9% | −10.9 lower |
By mileage at the test
Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the Qashqai was lower in 6 and level in 2 of the 8 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.
Show the table by mileage (8 bands)
| Mileage | Qashqai | Same age and mileage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k3,185 tests | 95.0% | 94.3% | +0.8 level |
| 20k–40k9,453 tests | 89.8% | 89.3% | +0.5 level |
| 40k–60k12,366 tests | 81.9% | 83.2% | −1.4 lower |
| 60k–80k12,833 tests | 73.1% | 77.3% | −4.2 lower |
| 80k–100k10,743 tests | 65.6% | 72.0% | −6.4 lower |
| 100k–120k6,828 tests | 58.9% | 68.0% | −9.1 lower |
| 120k–140k4,020 tests | 54.6% | 66.5% | −11.9 lower |
| 140k–160k2,021 tests | 53.9% | 65.7% | −11.7 lower |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the Nissan Qashqai: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 2,802 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Family buyers wanting practical compact SUV. Strong UK-spec features (heated seats, large boot).
Buyers tempted by sub-£11k J11 1.5 dCi without service history — repair bills can quickly exceed purchase price.
Alternatives to consider
If the Nissan Qashqai doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
Nissan Qashqai: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used Nissan Qashqai in the UK?
The Nissan Qashqai J11 (2014–2021) suffers from 1.5 dCi DPF and injector issues pre-2018, plus CVT (X-Tronic) judder on the 1.6 petrol. The J12 (2021+) has fewer owner-reported faults, mainly minor e-Power inverter and rear-wiper concerns, but DVSA lists J12 recalls too (R/2025/424, a fuel pipe that can wear and leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024). Best-buy: J12 2022+. Worst: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018.
What is the best year to buy a used Nissan Qashqai in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2022, 2023, 2024. J12 generation: new platform and new engines (1.3 DIG-T, e-Power 1.5), with fewer owner-reported faults than the J11. It is not recall-free: DVSA lists R/2025/424 (fuel-pipe wear that can lead to a fuel leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024), R/2025/128 (battery state-of-charge software, 20,847, built September 2021 to January 2024) and R/2026/290 (e-Power battery management, 15,592, built July 2025 to May 2026). Check the registration.
What years of Nissan Qashqai should I avoid in the UK?
Worst years: 2014–2017 (1.5 dCi). J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018 had cascading DPF and injector issues; ownership in the UK often stacked £2,000+ in repairs by 60,000 miles.
How much does a used Nissan Qashqai cost in the UK in 2026?
What sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026, for Nissan Qashqai cars registered from 2014: £4,750–£11,985, median £7,850 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a Nissan Qashqai in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
What real-world fuel economy does a Nissan Qashqai achieve on UK roads?
Typical real-world consumption: J12 e-Power: 44–51 mpg. J11 1.5 dCi: 47–57 mpg when running well.
How does a Nissan Qashqai compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, Skoda Karoq. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the Nissan Qashqai most suitable for?
Family buyers wanting practical compact SUV. Strong UK-spec features (heated seats, large boot).
Who should NOT buy a Nissan Qashqai?
Buyers tempted by sub-£11k J11 1.5 dCi without service history — repair bills can quickly exceed purchase price.
Are there safety recalls on the Nissan Qashqai?
DVSA lists 8 safety recalls for the Nissan Qashqai that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2020/220 (299,631 vehicles in the whole recall, built between 28 September 2015 and 3 March 2018): Possible reduced retention force of the rear door child lock switch; R/2025/424 (101,557 vehicles, built between 4 May 2021 and 17 October 2024): Qashqai (J12) Fuel Pipe; R/2014/157 (43,238 vehicles, built between 19 July 2013 and 17 October 2014): Towbar may detach. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.
Is the 1.5 dCi DPF + injectors (J11) on the Nissan Qashqai a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: 1.5 dCi DPF + injectors (J11) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Nissan Qashqai, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Engine warning light; limp mode; DPF full message. Years affected: J11 1.5 dCi 2014–2018. Typical issue from 50,000 miles. Indicative repair cost in the UK: DPF clean £400–£700; injector set £1,400+; combined often £2,000+. What to check before buying: Avoid 1.5 dCi if possible. Diagnostic scan mandatory. Service history showing repeat DPF events is a red flag.
Is the CVT (X-Tronic) judder (J11 1.6 petrol) on the Nissan Qashqai a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: CVT (X-Tronic) judder (J11 1.6 petrol) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Nissan Qashqai, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Shudder under acceleration; rubber-band feel; warning at high speed. Years affected: J11 1.6 DIG-T petrol. 50,000+ miles. Indicative repair cost in the UK: CVT replacement £2,500–£4,000. What to check before buying: Long test drive including motorway acceleration. Any judder = walk away.
Is the 1.2 DIG-T petrol oil consumption and engine failure (J11) on the Nissan Qashqai a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: 1.2 DIG-T petrol oil consumption and engine failure (J11) is reported by What Car? and Parkers and Autocar for the Nissan Qashqai, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Oil level dropping between services, rattles or chattering from the engine on a cold start, and in bad cases engine failure. What Car? reports excessive oil consumption on the 1.2 petrol from some owners. Parkers says the engine uses oil, which can starve it of lubricant and wreck it. Years affected: J11 with the 1.2 DIG-T (115hp), sold until the 1.3 DIG-T replaced it in autumn 2018 (Autocar, 1 October 2018). Parkers says some have been reported to fail from 30,000 miles, and many owners have complained of engine trouble at about 50,000 miles with a full service history. What to check before buying: Check the oil level on the dipstick before the engine has been started, then start it from cold with the bonnet open and listen for rattles or chattering, as Parkers advises. Ask for the full service history and any record of oil being topped up. Parkers would only recommend this engine for a car with an impeccable history at a price too cheap to ignore.
Is the Nissan Qashqai 1.2 petrol reliable?
Parkers says the 1.2 DIG-T in the 2014 to 2021 Qashqai is not particularly reliable and has oil consumption problems, and would only recommend it for a car with an impeccable history at a price too cheap to ignore. Its buying guide says some have been reported to fail from 30,000 miles, and What Car? reports excessive oil use and rattling timing chains. These are owner reports with no failure rate behind them, so check the oil level and listen for rattles on a cold start.
Is the Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T petrol reliable?
Autocar reported in October 2018 that the 1.3 replaced the 1.2 and 1.6 petrols in the Qashqai. Parkers says the 1.3 does not use oil as quickly as the 1.2 but still suffers timing chain tensioner problems, so listen for rattles when it starts and when it accelerates, and advises the 140hp version. None of the pages read gives a failure rate, so treat both points as questions to ask the seller and ask for the service history.
Does the Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi diesel have a cambelt or a timing chain?
What Car? says the 1.5 diesel in the 2014 to 2021 Qashqai needs a new cambelt every five years or 75,000 miles, at a cost of about £500, and that every other engine uses a timing chain. Parkers' buying guide says all second-generation engines use a chain, so the two pages disagree. Autoza has not found Nissan's own interval on a Nissan page, so ask a Nissan dealer, with the registration, which interval applies to the car.
Check these next
The guide above is about the Nissan Qashqai as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse Nissan Qashqai listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the QashqaiVehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly payment on a £7,850 QashqaiThe median asking price on Autoza on 29 October 2026, not what buyers pay: change it to the car you are looking at.
- What is your Qashqai worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
Looking to buy a Nissan Qashqai in the UK?
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