2017 Nissan Qashqai — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 339,002 MOT tests, the 2017 Nissan Qashqai recorded an 87.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and brakes (4.0%) 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 12,907 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k — 3.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.4% fail against 13.6% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 339,002 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 15,220 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 13,413 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.8% | 12,756 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.9% | 9,983 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 7,050 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 4,982 |
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 | 12,907 |
| 2 | Wipers | 10,456 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 7,316 |
| 4 | Washers | 5,520 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4,804 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,903 |
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 | 26.6% | 90,096 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 76,073 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.4% | 31,939 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 28,393 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 10,961 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.1% | 6,977 |
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 | 69,974 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 177,515 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 73,993 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 14,625 | 20.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,277 | 22.2% |
| 150k+ | 605 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 191,081 | 13.6% |
| Petrol | 147,921 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64,950 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 66,440 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 67,441 | 12.3% |
| 2024 | 69,118 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 71,053 | 17.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Qashqai
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 4.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (4.0% 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.
- Visibility (3.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2017 Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 339,002 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Nissan Qashqai?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Qashqai get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 339,002 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.