Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Nissan Qashqai?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Nissan Qashqai?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Nissan Qashqai?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2018 Nissan Qashqai vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2018 Nissan Qashqai reliable?

Based on MOT data from 47,247 vehicles, the 2018 Nissan Qashqai has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan Qashqai?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Nissan Qashqai are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (44.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (41.8% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (39.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Nissan Qashqai?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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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. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

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.

The 2018 Nissan Qashqai passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.4%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

23.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.79

Over 5.9 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 25k–43k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 5.9 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 47,247 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 47,247 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 44.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 39.2%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 20.7%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 47,247 Nissan Qashqai cars.

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

Before you buy a 2018 Nissan Qashqai

Based on MOT data from 47,247 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 602,083 Nissan Qashqai vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 28.6%

172,196

Grey 18.6%

112,200

White 13.8%

82,845

Blue 13.2%

79,581

Red 11.5%

69,496

Silver 10%

60,118

Beige 2.5%

15,246

Orange 0.8%

4,711

Bronze 0.7%

4,270

Gold 0.1%

633

Purple 0.1%

519

Brown 0%

268

Mileage Distribution

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

33,332

typical

25,220

low mileage

42,679

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,220 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 25,220–42,679 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Nissan Qashqais sit.

⚠ Over 57,616 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Nissan Qashqai — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Nissan Qashqais are still on the road.

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

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

Other model years — Nissan Qashqai: All Qashqai years → Which year to buy? →

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Or browse all models: Nissan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Nissan Qashqai stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?