2008 Nissan Qashqai — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 98,752 MOT tests, the 2008 Nissan Qashqai recorded a 66.2% pass rate. That is 6.9 percentage points worse than mid-size SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 26.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.2%) and suspension (19.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and ball joint — track rod end alone was recorded 15,626 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 36.1% versus 20.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 32.9% fail against 35.5% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 98,746 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 19,922 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.8% | 19,553 |
| 3 | Steering | 12.9% | 12,702 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.5% | 11,376 |
| 5 | Brakes | 8.7% | 8,590 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.2% | 5,161 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 15,626 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 12,053 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 11,890 |
| 4 | Joints | 10,332 |
| 5 | Suspension arm | 5,858 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 5,721 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 38.6% | 38,112 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.5% | 31,127 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.7% | 28,335 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 14,252 |
| 5 | Other defects | 14.0% | 13,805 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 13,209 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 271 | 20.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,996 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 18,758 | 31.0% |
| 90-120k | 35,832 | 34.3% |
| 120-150k | 26,905 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 12,959 | 36.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 64,182 | 32.9% |
| Diesel | 34,564 | 35.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,983 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 22,124 | 34.0% |
| 2023 | 20,328 | 34.0% |
| 2024 | 18,088 | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 15,229 | 33.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Qashqai
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Steering (12.9% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT?
66.2% of the 98,752 2008 Nissan Qashqai MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Nissan Qashqai?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.2% of tests, followed by suspension (19.8%).
Does the 2008 Qashqai get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.7% in the 0-30k band to 36.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 98,752 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.