2012 Nissan Qashqai — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 275,271 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Nissan Qashqai, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.7% was below the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (77.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.5% in the 150k+ group versus 13.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.0% | 44,009 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 38,718 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.3% | 22,827 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 18,073 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 14,211 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 12,550 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint | 25,161 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 22,365 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 21,872 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 13,790 |
| 5 | Joints | 13,423 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 12,512 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.2% | 88,672 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.3% | 75,128 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.2% | 74,868 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.8% | 38,051 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.8% | 29,706 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 25,418 |
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 | 2,257 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 37,030 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 101,376 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 88,822 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 34,841 | 33.0% |
| 150k+ | 10,900 | 33.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 163,182 | 30.3% |
| Petrol | 112,081 | 25.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54,199 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 55,611 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 56,017 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 55,820 | 30.5% |
| 2025 | 53,624 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Qashqai
Before buying a 2012 Nissan Qashqai, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 16.0% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (16.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% 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 2012 Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 275,271 2012 Nissan Qashqai MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Nissan Qashqai?
Suspension, recorded in 16.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (14.1%).
Does the 2012 Qashqai get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 33.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 275,271 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.