2018 Nissan Qashqai — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 265,233 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Nissan Qashqai, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 89.2% was in line with the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (89.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.1% in the 150k+ group versus 6.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 10,340 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.6% | 9,464 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.4% | 8,899 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 5,774 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 4,880 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 3,649 |
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 | 8,755 |
| 2 | Wipers | 8,493 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 4,618 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4,365 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,423 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,996 |
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 | 23.8% | 63,116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 52,651 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.8% | 23,412 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.6% | 14,890 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 8,554 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 2,579 |
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 | 90,467 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 129,624 | 12.0% |
| 60-90k | 38,171 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 5,846 | 19.7% |
| 120-150k | 898 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 215 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 138,684 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 126,549 | 12.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52,492 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 52,252 | 8.5% |
| 2023 | 52,662 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 53,287 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 54,540 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Qashqai
Before buying a 2018 Nissan Qashqai, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.6% 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.
- Brakes (3.4% 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 2018 Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 265,233 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Nissan Qashqai?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by visibility (3.6%).
Does the 2018 Qashqai get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 265,233 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.