Model Reports 8 min read Updated 12 Jul 2026

Nissan Qashqai 2010: reliability & common MOT faults

Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2010 Nissan Qashqai include Suspension arm (rear) (~7.6× peers) and Track rod end (~5.3× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (14,342 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.

14,342 failed first-attempt tests · 26,166 first tests (test year 2025)

Standout pattern: Suspension arm (rear) — about 7.6× more often than on similar peer cars.

Key takeaways before you buy

  • Suspension arm (rear): about 7.6× more often than similar cars
  • Track rod end: about 5.3× more often than similar cars
  • Track rod end (front): about 5.1× 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 14,342 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.

Suspension arm (rear)

This failure pattern appears about 7.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 1,019 failed first-attempt tests; 7.1% of failed tests for this model year.

Rear · 1,019 failures · ×7.6 vs similar cars · 7.1% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Track rod end

This failure pattern appears about 5.3× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 1,279 failed first-attempt tests; 8.9% of failed tests for this model year.

Any · 1,279 failures · ×5.3 vs similar cars · 8.9% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars

Track rod end (front)

This failure pattern appears about 5.1× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 3,394 failed first-attempt tests; 23.7% of failed tests for this model year.

Front · 3,394 failures · ×5.1 vs similar cars · 23.7% 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 Suspension arm (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
 Rear 1,019 ×7.6 7.1% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Any 1,279 ×5.3 8.9% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
3 Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Front 3,394 ×5.1 23.7% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
4 SRS malfunction indicator lamp
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > SRS malfunction indicator lamp
 Any 1,042 ×4.8 7.3% Likely common fault pattern
5 Drive shafts — Joints (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints
 Front 3,328 ×4.6 23.2% Likely common fault pattern
6 Parking brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
 Rear 534 ×2.9 3.7% Possible elevated fault
7 Parking brake performance
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake performance > Rbt > Parking brake performance
 Any 471 ×2.8 3.3% Possible elevated fault
8 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Ball joint
 Front 2,577 ×2.6 18.0% Possible elevated fault
9 Linkage ball joints (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage ball joints
 Front 1,279 ×2.5 8.9% Possible elevated fault
10 Ball joint (front)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Ball joint
 Front 352 ×2.3 2.5% 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 961 ×2.2 6.7% 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 332 ×17.9 2.3% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
2 Driver's door — Hinge
Body, chassis, structure > Doors > Driver's door > Hinge
 Any 25 ×8.0 0.2% Elevated vs peers
3 Driver's door — Hinge (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Doors > Driver's door > Hinge
 Front 21 ×6.8 0.1% Elevated vs peers
4 Pins and bushes
Suspension > Sub-frames > Pins and bushes
 Any 25 ×6.6 0.2% Possible elevated fault
5 Track rod end
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Any 345 ×5.4 2.4% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
6 Drive shafts — Joints (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Transmission > Drive shafts > Joints
 Front 41 ×4.6 0.3% Likely common fault pattern
7 Track rod end (front)
Steering > Steering linkage components > Track rod end
 Front 953 ×4.4 6.6% Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
8 Pedal
Brakes > Service brake pedal or hand lever > Pedal
 Any 257 ×3.9 1.8% Elevated vs peers

FAQs

We do not show a single reliability score for the 2010 Nissan Qashqai on this page. Among 14,342 failed first-attempt MOT tests (test year 2025), Suspension arm (rear) appears more often than on similar peer cars (about 7.6× more often than peers; 1,019 observed failures; 7.1% of failed tests). Treat this as a pre-purchase checklist from DVSA open data — not a guarantee for any individual car.
Among failed first-attempt tests we surface patterns that appear more often than on similar peer cars. Top example: Suspension arm (rear) (about 7.6× more often than peers; 1,019 observed failures; 7.1% of failed tests). These are statistical signals, not a diagnosis of any individual car.
Suspension arm (rear) shows up more often than on similar peer cars (about 7.6× more often than peers; 1,019 observed failures; 7.1% 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.
Common MOT problem areas for the 2010 Nissan Qashqai include Suspension arm (rear), Track rod end, Track rod end (front). These are elevated versus similar peer cars where lift clears our floors — not a full list of every possible fault on an individual car.
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.
This page highlights elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2010 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.
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.
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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