Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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.

Is the 2021 Nissan Qashqai reliable?

Based on MOT data from 15,036 vehicles, the 2021 Nissan Qashqai has a first-time MOT pass rate of 92.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 Nissan Qashqai?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 Nissan Qashqai are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (25.7% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24.3% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (21% 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 2021 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 (2021)

15,036 real MOT outcomes analysed • 92.6% first-time pass rate

2021 Nissan Qashqai

CarHunch analysed 15,036 real MOT records for the 2021 Nissan Qashqai. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Nissan Qashqai is significantly more reliable than the UK average, with a 92.5% first-time pass rate against the national 80% benchmark—a genuinely strong result. Only 7.9% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuringly low and suggests few systemic safety concerns in this cohort.

At just over 26,000 miles median, these cars are still relatively young and lightly used, so their high pass rate reflects both solid engineering and minimal wear. The low failure count of 0.26 per vehicle tells you that when these Qashqais do fail their MOT, it's usually minor; prioritise a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brake condition and suspension, as these typically account for most advisories in this age group.

The 2021 Nissan Qashqai passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (92.6% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 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

92.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

7.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.26

Over 2.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 19k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 92.6% 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 1.8 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 15,036 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 15,036 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 25.7%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside 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 21%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear 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 10.8%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 15,036 Nissan Qashqai cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Nissan Qashqai

Based on MOT data from 15,036 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 7.9% 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 (99%)	14,906	92.6%	0.26
Diesel (1%)	91	91.7%	0.27

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 2021 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.

26,221

typical

18,535

low mileage

36,245

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Nissan Qashqai vehicles fall between 18,535 and 36,245 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 18,535 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.

✓ 18,535–36,245 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Nissan Qashqais sit.

⚠ Over 48,930 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Nissan Qashqai — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Nissan Qashqais are still on the road.

Strong survival — 14,785 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.26

Avg failures per vehicle

1.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Nissan Qashqai stacks up against a rival.

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