2016 Nissan Qashqai — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Nissan Qashqai passed 84.8% of its 340,674 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (13.8% fail rate), the 2016 Qashqai comes out 1.4pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.4%) and tyres (4.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 14,713 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.3% versus 8.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (16.2% vs 13.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.4% | 18,275 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.7% | 16,048 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 15,146 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.0% | 13,601 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 8,801 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 4,995 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 14,713 |
| 2 | Wipers | 9,542 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 9,471 |
| 4 | Washers | 6,933 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 6,720 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 5,378 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.1% | 92,420 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.8% | 81,157 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.4% | 45,637 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.4% | 35,359 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.7% | 12,752 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 11,446 |
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 | 36,810 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 163,040 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 104,146 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 29,225 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,822 | 24.4% |
| 150k+ | 1,594 | 25.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 216,807 | 16.2% |
| Petrol | 123,867 | 13.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64,953 | 10.4% |
| 2022 | 66,428 | 12.5% |
| 2023 | 67,754 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 69,777 | 17.5% |
| 2025 | 71,762 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Qashqai
On a 2016 Qashqai, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.4% 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.
- Tyres (4.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (4.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2016 Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 340,674 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Nissan Qashqai?
Suspension, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by tyres (4.7%).
Does the 2016 Qashqai get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340,674 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.