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Nissan Qashqai steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 222,364 MOT tests · Updated

At 7 years, 0.7 in 100 MOT tests of the Nissan Qashqai failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 222,364 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 1,474 MOT tests with a fail
  • When it starts: clear of 1.2 times from 8 years and at every older age seen
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 0.4 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.7 fails per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 7 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Nissan Qashqai steering fails by age

Nissan Qashqai steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Nissan Qashqai. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.010203 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 160,434 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 161,836 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 190,696 MOT tests56 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 215,769 MOT tests7 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 222,364 MOT tests78 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 219,937 MOT tests9 years: 3.5 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 206,163 MOT tests910 years: 5.7 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 188,092 MOT tests11 years: 9.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 165,341 MOT tests1112 years: 13.1 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 152,233 MOT tests13 years: 15.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 129,694 MOT tests1314 years: 17.3 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 101,864 MOT tests15 years: 18.6 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 77,522 MOT tests1516 years: 18.8 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 43,826 MOT tests17 years: 19.2 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 20,633 MOT tests1718 years: 16.8 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 7,708 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Nissan Qashqai All class 4 vehicles the same age
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
3160,4340.20.1
4161,8360.10.2
5190,6960.10.3
6215,7690.20.5
7222,3640.70.8
8219,9371.61.2
9206,1633.51.8
10188,0925.72.1
11165,3419.22.5
12152,23313.12.8
13129,69415.32.9
14101,86417.33.2
1577,52218.63.3
1643,82618.83.4
1720,63319.23.6
187,70816.83.9

All first-use years of the Nissan Qashqai pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.

What fails in the steering at 7 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.4. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.5 diesel: 0.9 per 100 at 7 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 98,102 MOT tests)
  • 1.2 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 7 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 83,029 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 7 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 9,645 MOT tests)
  • 1.3 petrol: 0.5 per 100 at 7 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 3,264 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 diesel: 0.8 per 100 at 7 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 28,265 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt.

Check one Nissan Qashqai, not the average

The figures here describe Nissan Qashqai cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Nissan Qashqai problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Nissan Qashqai have more steering problems than other cars?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 222,364 MOT tests).

How common are Nissan Qashqai steering problems?

0.7 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years failed on steering, against 0.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 222,364 MOT tests).

What is the most common Nissan Qashqai steering fail?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (906 MOT tests with it).

At what age do Nissan Qashqai steering fails start?

8 years: from then on the rate stays clear of 1.2 times all class 4 vehicles the same age at every age seen, 1,313,013 MOT tests.

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 2,264,112 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare