Nissan Qashqai (2018)

47,247 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.4% first-time pass rate

2018 Nissan Qashqai

CarHunch analysed 47,247 real MOT records for the 2018 Nissan Qashqai. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2018 Nissan Qashqai is more reliable than average, with an 88.4% first-time pass rate well above the UK benchmark of 80%, though nearly a quarter of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a concern worth taking seriously when inspecting a used example. Petrol versions edge ahead of diesels (89.3% vs 87.4% pass rate), suggesting marginally fewer issues with the petrol engine.

At 33,332 miles median, these Qashqais show moderate wear for a six-year-old car, and the 0.79 average failures per vehicle suggests most owners face routine rather than structural problems. Budget for around 6 minor advisories per MOT—typically suspension and lighting niggles—but a pre-purchase inspection should specifically check the braking system and structural components given the 23.8% dangerous defect rate.

Average reliability 8.4% above UK average
88.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
33,332
typical mileage
25,220–42,679 middle half
23.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.79
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.9 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

89.3%
Petrol
24,830 vehicles
87.4%
Diesel
22,417 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2018 Nissan Qashqai

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 23.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Nissan Qashqai

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (53%) 24,830 89.3% 0.72
Diesel (47%) 22,417 87.4% 0.85

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Nissan Qashqai vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

25,220
low mileage
33,332
typical
42,679
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Nissan Qashqai vehicles fall between 25,220 and 42,679 miles.

2018 Nissan Qashqai — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 45,135 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

45,903 45,135 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.79
Avg failures per vehicle
5.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Nissan Qashqai

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 44.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 41.8%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 39.2%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 36.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 32.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 32.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 20.7%
    Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
  • 15.8%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Nissan Qashqai?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Nissan Qashqai:

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022