Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Nissan Qashqai 2009: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Nissan Qashqai include Pins and bushes (front) (~27.7× peers) and Suspension arm (rear) (~17.2× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (10,485 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

10,485 failed first-attempt tests · 18,193 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Pins and bushes (front) — about 27.7× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

Pins and bushes (front): about 27.7× more often than similar cars
Suspension arm (rear): about 17.2× more often than similar cars
Track rod end: about 5.7× more often than similar cars

Common faults

These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).

Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.

Based on 10,485 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Pins and bushes (front)

This failure pattern appears about 27.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 265 failed first-attempt tests; 2.5% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 265 failures · ×27.7 vs similar cars · 2.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Suspension arm (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 17.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 1,094 failed first-attempt tests; 10.4% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 1,094 failures · ×17.2 vs similar cars · 10.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Track rod end

This failure pattern appears about 5.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 959 failed first-attempt tests; 9.1% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 959 failures · ×5.7 vs similar cars · 9.1% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

#	Fault pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes	Front	265	×27.7	2.5%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Suspension arm (rear) Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm	Rear	1,094	×17.2	10.4%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3	Track rod end Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end	Any	959	×5.7	9.1%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4	Track rod end (front) Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end	Front	2,525	×5.5	24.1%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
5	SRS malfunction indicator lamp Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp	Any	902	×4.9	8.6%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Sub-frame (front) Suspension > Sub-frames > Sub-frame	Front	246	×4.4	2.3%	Likely common fault pattern
7	Drive shafts — Joints (front) Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints	Front	2,258	×4.1	21.5%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Individual direction indicators (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators	Front	297	×3.2	2.8%	Likely common fault pattern
9	Road Wheels — Attachment (front) Road Wheels > Attachment	Front	223	×2.8	2.1%	Possible elevated fault
10	Ball joint (front) Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint	Front	1,875	×2.5	17.9%	Possible elevated fault

Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).

Wear patterns

These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.

#	Pattern	Location	Failures	vs similar cars	Share of fails	Confidence
1	Brake pads (rear) Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake linings and pads > Brake pads	Rear	652	×2.2	6.2%	Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault

Advisories

Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.

#	Advisory pattern	Location	Notes	vs similar cars	Share	Confidence
1	Pins and bushes (front) Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes	Front	299	×17.0	2.9%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2	Pins and bushes Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes	Any	25	×7.5	0.2%	Elevated vs peers
3	Position lamp (rear) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Position lamps > Position lamp	Rear	98	×6.9	0.9%	Elevated vs peers
4	Pedal Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal	Any	281	×6.6	2.7%	Elevated vs peers
5	SRS malfunction indicator lamp Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp	Any	67	×6.1	0.6%	Likely common fault pattern
6	Pins and bushes (rear) Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Pins and bushes	Rear	206	×5.9	2.0%	Likely common fault pattern
7	Individual direction indicators (front) Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Direction indicators > Flashing type > Individual direction indicators	Front	391	×5.8	3.7%	Likely common fault pattern
8	Suspension arm (rear) Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm	Rear	1,333	×4.7	12.7%	Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

FAQs

Is the 2009 Nissan Qashqai reliable?

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2009 Nissan Qashqai on this page. Among 10,485 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Pins and bushes (front) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 27.7× more often than peers; 265 observed failures; 2.5% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.

What common MOT faults stand out on the Nissan Qashqai 2009?

Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Pins and bushes (front) (about 27.7× more often than peers; 265 observed failures; 2.5% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.

Why does Pins and bushes (front) stand out?

Pins and bushes (front) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 27.7× more often than peers; 265 observed failures; 2.5% of failed tests). That does not prove a causal design fault — age, mileage, and usage still matter. Treat it as a pre-purchase check point, not a manufacturer TSB.

What are common problems with the 2009 Nissan Qashqai?

Common MOT problem areas for the 2009 Nissan Qashqai include Pins and bushes (front), Suspension arm (rear), Track rod end. These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.

How should I read advisories vs fails?

Advisories flag issues noted at the test and are not a fail rate. We show advisory patterns that look elevated versus peers among failed first-attempt tests, separate from common failure rows. Use them as early-warning checks, not as a pass/fail score.

What does this Nissan Qashqai 2009 MOT report cover?

This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2009 Nissan Qashqai (registration year) using UK DVSA open data for the selected test year. Patterns are ranked against similar age and mileage peers. It is a buyer checklist from MOT defect statistics — not a full service history or manufacturer TSB list.

Does this include engine and gearbox problems?

No. MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules. Patterns here come from MOT defect statistics only and should not be read as engine or gearbox reliability scores.

What is PRS, and why does it count as a fail?

PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

About this data

Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.

PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.

Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).

Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.

Limitations.

MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.

Display rules config: 1

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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See brand-wide MOT rankings and year guidance for Nissan (separate from this model-year report).